The year started with a visit to the Kos in die Karoo gardeners in Van Wyksdorp on Sunday 14th January. We visited the church grounds where various members of the community are using the grounds to grow vegetables. They have formed a cooperative and their expenses are combined equally and so are their profits. The water is obtained from the reserve dams and they are filled using the waterway that feeds the town from the mountain. There is an abundance of water. The building of the two dams was funded by Dept of Agriculture and Landcare and built by the local community.
We visited a few other gardens where the growing energy is still strong. There is a manure and grass drop off site in the community and members continue to collect for their gardens. This makes it easier to continue growing. When interviewed, most gardeners are eating from their gardens and are NOT buying any vegetables at the local shop.
Kos in die Karoo project in Vanwyksdorp doing well.
(Photo: Monica Vaccaro)