Gardens

Sustainable Gardening Options for Monwabisi Park

The mission of the Gardens Team was to work with the residents of Monwabisi Park to research and implement a sustainable agricultural system that could help provide nutritional and aesthetic benefits to the community. The goal of this project was to analyze the feasibility and benefits of creating a community-based gardening system in Monwabisi Park. In addition, the team researched methods of removing pathogens from the potentially harmful byproduct of the proposed dry composting toilet system.

Objectives

1. Characterize the Key Aspects of the Local Environment
2. Develop Community Based Educational Supplements
3. Research and Implemented Different Types of Individual Demonstration Gardens
4. Research and Propose Methods of Removing Pathogens from Compost and Integrating Byproducts into Community Gardening Efforts

Motivation

Monwabisi Park is an impoverished community that faces many hardships. We chose this project because each improvement is a step towards helping community members. By creating a plan to  promote and facilitate gardening in the community, we can work towards a sustainable agricultural system that could help improve the living conditions in Monwabisi Park.

Major Accomplishments

1. We researched, planned, and constructed various demonstration gardens.
2. We composed a proposal for continued research on composting options for the Indlovu Project’s new Water & Sanitation Centre.
3. We developed the “Feed a Family” gardening kit, available through the Shaster Foundation’s website.
4. We designed ‘how-to’ gardening pamphlets in English and Xhosa for distribution through the community centre.

Read More about our Accomplishments

Our Sponsors

• Soil for Life
• Zero Emissions Research Initiatives

Read More about the Gardens Team’s Partners

2009 Gardens Team Executive Summary[PDF, 2.4 MB]

[09Gardens]