The Pioneer Foods Group and Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) have united to support the development of the Ratanang and Mafolofolo permaculture food gardens and environmental greening projects in the Limpopo province.

The project at Mafolofolo High School is showcasing the best of appropriate technology for permaculture – a design for sustainable land use and natural resource management, , water conservation, plant and seed propagation for natural food gardening

On 23 September 2011  both permaculture food gardens were launched from Mafolofolo High School’s premises.

Dignitaries from several local organisations including schools, government departments, NGOs, CBOs and the private sector attended this event.

This official launch event marks the end of the last phase of the permaculture food garden project development and demonstrates how the projects have assisted people at grassroots level through appropriate empowerment initiatives.

The projects have been running for 12 months and six hectares of land at Ratanang, in Sovenga, is currently productive, covered with a variety of crops including spinach, beetroot, cabbage, tomatoes, onion, Chinese mustard and fruit-trees such as moringa olifera, mangoes, avocado and citrus. The Ratanang permaculture food garden project created employment for 28 community members and supports families with organic vegetables.

Mafolofolo High School is situated in Solomondale Village which is 37km from Polokwane. The school currently has 1057 students (amongst them are 102 orphaned and/or vulnerable children) and employs 38 educators. Living conditions in the local area are very poor and even worse in the nearby informal settlements.

Mafolofolo is the only high school involved in permaculture food garden and environmental greening projects in the Capricorn district. The permaculture food garden project produces healthy organic vegetables, herbs, vegetable seedlings and supplement feeding. Food is also sold and donated to orphans and vulnerable children at school. The project is having a great impact on the lives of children and community members in terms of improving and providing a balanced diet, while generating some income. The vegetable and medicinal herb gardens are addressing nutritional and health issues, especially for people living with HIV Aids.

The educators use the permaculture food garden and environmental greening project to address the 8 active learning areas. The educators are integrating permaculture activities into the curriculum, such as measuring the vegetable beds (depth, width, length, perimeter and radius - thus aiding in the development of mathematics skills), selling the produce from the garden, entrepreneurship, economic science, and nutritional information (thus practical applications of life orientation are learnt). The Mafolofolo High School is now utilised as a permaculture resource centre where local schools, community and community based organisations get technical advice, support, resources and training.

Mr P Mokwele, project leader commented, “The Mafolofolo permaculture food garden and environmental greening project was established to assist in the fight against poverty, crime, drought, malnutrition, environmental pollution, deforestation, littering, soil erosion, climate change and water borne diseases through permaculture ethics and principles. Through the project the school environment has been transformed to the benefit of our learners and the community. The project participants won several awards, such as a Climate Hero Award and Young Aspirant Farmer of the Year Award which was handed over by Honourable MEC for Agriculture Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba.

We are extremely proud of our achievements and our contribution towards environmental development at the school. Our learners, educators and local community members are well equipped with permaculture and environmental greening knowledge, skills and information. Thank you Pioneer Foods and Food & Trees for Africa for the green support.”

Guest speakers at the launch event included: Honourable Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba (MEC for Agriculture), Mr N Masemola (MEC for Education), Chief Ms Dikgale (Tribal Authority), George Bruce-Smith (Pioneer Foods), Alex van den Berg (Pioneer Foods), Mr H Makgareetsa (Department of Economic development, Environment & Tourism), Ms T Matamela, (Department of Forestry & Agriculture), Ms P Mphogo (University of Limpopo) and Mr J Matimba (Food & Trees for Africa).