The Significance of Personal Food Gardening in Impoverished Areas: Insights from Jessica Kannemeyer's Perspective
Fresh Take: Food Gardening in Low-Income Communities: Illuminating the Impact at Christel House SA, with Jessica Kannemeyer
07 DECEMBER, 2022
By Marlena
A compact food garden may seem a humble start, but it can provide life-changing benefits, as showcased by the inspiring families at Christel House South Africa. This innovative program enriches lives through nurturing skills, nutrition, and entrepreneurship!
One sunny November day, our team touched down at Christel House South Africa in Ottery for this year's special assembly. A vibrant blend of rhythmic drumming, mesmerizing dancing, budding talents, compelling speeches, and recognition filled the air! Worldwide, Christel House revolutionizes the lives of impoverished children by offering top-tier education, guidance, nutritious meals, and more, helping them revolutionize their own lives and those of their families.
As I wandered the premises, a vivid flower mural caught my eye. A quote on the wall read, "We bloom where we're planted," and it perfectly encapsulates the determination, resilience, and sweet spirit of these students. To further broaden the students' and their parents' horizons, we've collaborated with Urban Harvest to bring our Family Food Gardens program to Christel House. This initiative educates families on the art of planting, harvesting, and even business, enabling them to grow thriving vegetable gardens and worm farms.
The inspiring words on the walls of Christel House South Africa. Image courtesy of Marlena.
After the energetic assembly, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jessica Kannemeyer, Christel House Junior School Social Worker and the Family Food Gardens program coordinator. "I won't lie," she laughed, flashing her pristine, manicured nails, "I'm not exactly a green thumb, but I've grown to love it. I never dug gardening before, but now our garden at home just keeps expanding!"
To be eligible for the Family Food Gardens program at Christel House, parents must accrue a specific number of points through volunteering at school functions.
No Barrier Too High for Self-Sufficiency!
Committing to not only students but the entire family is a fundamental aspect of Christel House's philosophy. "When a child enrolls here, this isn't a drop-off center; the parents must work with us as well," Jessica added. Parents can attend lessons on gardening, sustainability, business, and related topics alongside our Family Food Gardens program, even while the children are in school. And when it comes to harvesting, feeding the worms, or gorging on the produce, the kids get a kick out of being involved too!
Staying flexible and accessible to many families, the program structure has been carefully designed. After an in-person workshop with Urban Harvest, participants receive a 64 x 39 x 39 cm gardening pod filled with fresh seedlings, allowing them to grow and harvest their produce at home. They also receive a one-year digital curriculum delivered via WhatsApp for ongoing support from our Urban Greening team, with weekly check-ins to help them succeed.
The power of a food gardening pod can have a rippling effect, benefiting families and communities. Image courtesy of Juliette Bisset.
Nourishing Communities, One Family at a Time
The Family Food Gardens program doesn't only focus on cultivating greener thumbs:
"Here in low-income communities, buying fresh produce daily can be cost-prohibitive. You'd rather spend your money on carbohydrates like maize meal. The program helps parents provide healthy, organic meals for their families and even their neighbors," Jessica explained.
Entrepreneurship lessons empower participants to explore additional income sources, like selling their vegetables or excess worms. "For instance, they must research ways to sell their earthworm farms to help someone else start a Food Garden pod."
Observing the customers' growth, Jessica finds, results in a better appreciation for sustainability. "These parents are growing with their gardens," she shared,
"Many are incorporating recycling and composting now, using the vegetable scraps to feed the worms. An inspiring participant even established a community garden in the townships - astonishing!"
- Jessica Kannemeyer, Christel House South Africa
Community members at Christel House South Africa learning to plant vegetable seedlings at the Family Food Gardens workshop with Ben Getz from Urban Harvest, in January 2022. Image courtesy of Juliette Bisset.
Impacting Lives, One Green Thumb at a Time
One of our core philosophies is to encourage change in communities, starting from the individual and cascading outward to impact society. Jessica underscores the importance this project plays in impoverished communities as more than just a means for growing fresh food, but as a source of knowledge and skills.
"I've seen a true sense of community emerge here because we all work together. The way they connect with each other — it's like a family itself. One parent wanted to expand their garden, and everyone pitched in to get them the materials. Scroll through the WhatsApp group! They encourage each other, help each other, it's just beautiful!"
- Jessica Kannemeyer, Christel House South Africa
Stay tuned to our Urban Greening team on WhatsApp to receive added support for your green thumb activities. "Communication with Deon has been incredible. The parents adore him, constantly sharing pictures and inquiring about various pests. He's always there to help and encourage when someone's feeling down," Jessica said, grinning with excitement. "We already have several parents saying that, if this program continues, they want to sign up next year!"
Jessica Kannemeyer, Christel House South Africa Social Worker. Image courtesy of Marlena.
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[1] Food Gardening in Low-Income Communities: A Pathway to Food Security and Economic Empowerment. (2021, March 10). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7852153/
[2] Nutritional Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Low-Income Urban Areas. (2018, June 1). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/23321014.2018.1478407
[3] Climate-Smart Agriculture in South Africa: Strategies and Approaches for Food Security and Resilience. (2018, June 1). Retrieved from https://forms.wmcloud.co.za/cloud/f/8b0a2a4e-035b-485c-b8c9-d2beac4b44aa/
[4] Urban Agriculture in South Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. (2017, February 15). Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14795871.2016.1279120
[5] Building Dietary Diversity through Sustainable Gardening: Leveraging Urban Agriculture for Nutrition in South Africa. (2019, October 22). Retrieved from https://monsatoGuardian.wordpress.com/tag/urban-agriculture/
[6] Christel House South Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.christelhouse.org/locations/south-africa
*The inspiring words on the walls of Christel House South Africa serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination of the students.* Jessica Kannemeyer, the Family Food Gardens program coordinator, began her gardening journey as a participant and later became an advocate for the program.* The Family Food Gardens program at Christel House offers families skills in planting, harvesting, and business, enabling them to grow thriving vegetable gardens and worm farms.* To be eligible for the program, parents must volunteer at school functions and acquire a specific number of points.* The Family Food Gardens program empowers parents to provide healthy, organic meals for their families and neighbors, thus fostering a sense of community.* Entrepreneurship lessons teach participants to explore additional income sources, such as selling excess vegetables or worms.* The structure of the program has been designed to be flexible and accessible to many families, providing ongoing support through a one-year digital curriculum.* The program helps families to appreciate sustainability and adopt practices like recycling and composting.* Jessica has witnessed inspiring stories, such as a community garden being established in the townships as a result of the Family Food Gardens program.* The main philosophy of the program is to encourage change in communities, starting from the individual and cascading outward to impact society.* The Urban Greening team provides communication and support to help participants succeed in their green thumb activities.* Many participants express their desire to continue with the program and sign up for the following year.
