Where the Pefferville community once discarded waste is now where they find daily sustenance.Tired of the mess and smell caused by an illegal rubbish dump directly outside his house, resident Harry Steward said he decided to roll up his sleeves, clean the area up and start a community food garden instead.
Steward, a tavern owner, said the idea came to him at a meeting with SAPS members and other tavern owners in the area two years ago.
“Someone mentioned that these dumping grounds would be better used to plant vegetables to feed the community and I became inspired to do something about it,” Steward said.
“I hired people to clean the area up. It took four months to clean it completely. There was all kinds of rubbish here. We had more than 900 black bags to discard when we finished.”
Planting began soon after and two years later, turnips, onions, chillies, green peppers, cabbage and spinach are thriving.
Vegetables are picked once a week and given to disadvantaged households and to a local soup kitchen.
A wire fence has been put around the garden with an information board, erected by Buffalo City Metro, stating the land had been adopted by Steward. “The community has really been great about this project and they really appreciate all of this, which motivates me to continue. This is hard work and I have to pay people to assist me,” Steward said.
Ward councillor Derrick Green said it was something he wanted to introduce to his entire ward. “This is a good idea. Illegal dumping grounds are a major problem in this area.
“When I hear of an area which is particularly bad, I go out and clean it up. A few hours later someone will go out and dump in that same area again. It’s frustrating,” he said.
Two of Steward’s sons, who manage the garden, said the community needed to be educated on the dangers of illegal dumping. “Children are playing in the garbage and getting sick,” Sylvester Steward said.
Steward said a dumping area down the street was next on his list.
“I just need some help from the municipality to clear this land because it needs a bulldozer. I can put a fence around the whole property and give portions of the garden to members of the community who love gardening to look after it,” he said.
From tip to veggie heaven
Tired of the mess and smell caused by an illegal rubbish dump directly outside his house, resident Harry Steward said he decided to roll up his sleeves, clean the area up and start a community food garden instead.
Steward, a tavern owner, said the idea came to him at a meeting with SAPS members and other tavern owners in the area two years ago.
“Someone mentioned that these dumping grounds would be better used to plant vegetables to feed the community and I became inspired to do something about it,” Steward said.
“I hired people to clean the area up. It took four months to clean it completely. There was all kinds of rubbish here. We had more than 900 black bags to discard when we finished.”
Planting began soon after and two years later, turnips, onions, chillies, green peppers, cabbage and spinach are thriving.
Vegetables are picked once a week and given to disadvantaged households and to a local soup kitchen.
A wire fence has been put around the garden with an information board, erected by Buffalo City Metro, stating the land had been adopted by Steward. “The community has really been great about this project and they really appreciate all of this, which motivates me to continue. This is hard work and I have to pay people to assist me,” Steward said.
Ward councillor Derrick Green said it was something he wanted to introduce to his entire ward. “This is a good idea. Illegal dumping grounds are a major problem in this area.
“When I hear of an area which is particularly bad, I go out and clean it up. A few hours later someone will go out and dump in that same area again. It’s frustrating,” he said.
Two of Steward’s sons, who manage the garden, said the community needed to be educated on the dangers of illegal dumping. “Children are playing in the garbage and getting sick,” Sylvester Steward said.
Steward said a dumping area down the street was next on his list.
“I just need some help from the municipality to clear this land because it needs a bulldozer. I can put a fence around the whole property and give portions of the garden to members of the community who love gardening to look after it,” he said.
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