In 2010 Comhousing took the initiative to add value to the low cost housing units that they had built in certain Kwazulu-Natal Municipalities, through the planting of 7 300 fruit and indigenous trees. These trees were distributed through Food & Trees for Africa’s Trees for Homes programme.

This greening project aimed to encourage homeowners to take pride in their homes through the improvement of their surroundings, encouraging environmental and greening. This was accompanied by awareness and providing education for homeowners to help them to look after their trees, as well as to encourage the establishment of backyard food gardens to contribute to food security and alleviate poverty. Through the Trees for Homes programme unemployed community members are identified and are given basic training in how to plant trees, the benefits of trees and clean and green suburbs and gardening, how to communicate with their neighbours about the value of trees in our lives, how to plant and maintain trees, and basic climate change information. 70 volunteers from the targeted areas were trained as Community Educators through this Comhousing Trees for Homes project

The first phase of the project, which encompassed the role out of 7 300 trees at the end of 2010, was a huge success. The project allowed for the participation of people from all walks of life and from every corner of these disadvantaged areas. It promoted environmental sustainability by encouraging homeowners to construct reliable protective structures around their trees, avoiding the wastage of water through the use of grey water, encouraging backyard food gardens and providing stature, strength and sustainability to the landscapes of these villages

The positive impact born from the first phase of this Comhousing project ensured that the future of this Trees for Homes project was secure. Mr Johan Strauss, Chairman of Comhousing, said that he and his Board were pleased to have been able to make a positive and sustainable contribution towards the environment in these areas. The value of the role-out in terms of education and awareness alone cannot be underestimated, “We are truly proud of what FTFA has achieved on our behalf. As we close out a successful 30 year history of formal housing delivery to the less privileged people of our province, this role-out represents “the cherry on the top”.

The second phase was implemented during October 2011 where another 7 300 fruit and indigenous trees where distributed in the same areas within Kwazulu-Natal. Furthermore, the project has encouraged the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development to make a meaningful contribution by supplying vegetable seeds to most of the communities. The relevent municipalities have also contributed in various ways to the success of this role-out.

The Mayor of Abaqulusi, as well as many local stakeholders and community members, celebrated the launch of the second phase of this Comhousing greening project by distributing a further 500 trees and vegetable seeds to the community of Louwsburg at a tree planting ceremony at the Mzamo Community Hall, 76 Joubert Street, Ward 1, Louwsburg on 10 October.