The Makana Story

1. The Makana Story Once upon a time, A long time ago in a land far, far away, a concept was born and its name was SUS. SUS grew up to be an activist and challenged man’s abuse of the ecosystem and set out on a path to restore the balance. This is our story ….

2. Makana restoring agriculture Background More than half of the world’s population is already living in towns and cities and urbanisation is accelerating, especially in Africa and Asia. At the same time, human activities have crossed or are about to cross the critical ecological boundaries of the planet. Cities are therefore facing major challenges in maintaining and restoring the ecosystem services on which they depend for their functioning, while also securing equal access to natural and man-made resources among the growing number of urban citizens. Challenge to ecosystem services

3. Makana restoring agriculture SWEDESD Response The Supporting Urban Sustainability (SUS) Programme is a ground-breaking initiative developed by the Swedish International Centre for Education for Sustainable Development (SWEDESD). The programme is focused on ecosystem services approaches to poverty alleviation (ESPA) in urban settings. ESPA seeks to tie together experiences of social and environmental programmes in order to tackle poverty alleviation in a more holistic manner, recognising the interdependence between humans and nature. Interdependence between humans and nature

4. Makana restoring agriculture Makana Response A team of five delegates representing a diverse mix of organisations from Makana who will bring their varied expertise to develop a pro-poor green economy scheme that will attempt to address this challenge. Taking up the Challenge

5. Makana restoring agriculture Makana Team • Mrs Marlene Mitchener, Director Umthathi Training Project • Ms Nthabiseng Moche, Masters Student Rhodes University, ELRC • Ms Zimasa Nduna, Manager Agricultural & SMME’s, Makana Municipality • Mr Kwanele Mbangi, Superintendent Parks & Recreation, Makana Municipality • Mr Ntobeko Nyengane, Environmental Facilitator, Makana Youth Community

6. Makana restoring agriculture SUS regional engagement workshop Arusha May 3rd-4th 2011 In May the Makana team joined delegates from the Municipalities of Mangaung and Arusha for a regional workshop in Arusha, Tanzania.

7. Makana restoring agriculture Learning about one another Mapping present trends in our cities

8. Makana restoring agriculture Identify & Initiate ESPA-schemes Teams were tasked to explore possibilities where they could identify, initiate or further develop ESPA-schemes in their respective cities.

9. Makana restoring agriculture Exploration Workshop Varied emotions during brainstorming and discussions

10. Makana restoring agriculture ESPA Relevance • Endeavour: • Poverty alleviation and to reduce pressure on planetary boundaries. • Reaction: • Restoration of a culture of agriculture. • Poverty alleviation through improved livelihood and income possibilities through farming. • Organic agriculture methods • Introduction of medical plants. • Ensure water quantity & quality by water harvesting. • Bring in different forms of cultivation. • Clean air by tree plantation

11. Makana restoring agriculture Collaborative Learning & Reflexive Forms of Governance Acknowledging the concept of reflexive governance by continuously evaluating the methods we are using. By collaborating and learning from others negates the need to reinvent the wheel.

12. Makana restoring agriculture Makana Response to Inquiry Our city is facing major challenges in maintaining and restoring the ecosystem services on which we depend for our functioning. In addition taking into consideration the existing poverty, high levels of unemployment, lack of easy access to affordable, fresh food and the future food demand in the Makana area there is an urgent need for investment in sustainably managed agriculture that would demonstrate that ecosystem health is essential to long-term food security and to promote sustainable livelihoods where agricultural production and resource conservation positively reinforce each other. Sustainably managed agriculture

13. Makana restoring agriculture Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011 To further collaborate, explore and produce project plans on how to initiate and further develop the project.

14. Makana restoring agriculture Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011

15. Makana restoring agriculture Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011

16. Makana restoring agriculture Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011

17. Makana restoring agriculture Guerrilla gardening Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011 Inspirational Visits Pollination Guerrilla Farming Visby Castle

18. Makana restoring agriculture Guerrilla gardening Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011 Developing the stake holding underpinning our inquiries.

19. Makana restoring agriculture Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011 Brainstorming and summary of project inquiry

20. Makana restoring agriculture Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011 Developing project plans ... Output ......

21. Makana restoring agriculture Strategic Inquiry Question What can we do to restore a culture of agriculture for the benefit of the poor in Makana? Answer Enabling the poor thereby placing livelihood and food security in the their hands

22. Makana restoring agriculture Our Vision Our vision is for an ever increasing number of people having the passion and necessary skills to develop sustainable food gardens that will support their health and livelihood security Everyone gets involved

23. Makana restoring agriculture Our Mission Our mission is to increase the quality of life of the poor in Makana by establishing income generating, sustainable agricultural nodes that support the surrounding community by providing affordable, fresh vegetables and other useful plants for medicinal, cultural and environmental purposes. Poverty Alleviation

24. Makana restoring agriculture Project Rationale The cultivating of sustainable community, school home or farm food gardens and forming agricultural nodes is the most direct way for many poor families to improve their access to a variety of micronutrient-rich food and to generate a much needed income thereby improving their quality of life and livelihoods.

25. Makana restoring agriculture Project Objectives • To establish three income generating, sustainable agricultural nodes that support the surrounding community by providing affordable, fresh vegetables and other useful plants; • Each agricultural node will consist of one community garden surrounded by ten home gardens;

26. Makana restoring agriculture Project Objectives • To green our city particularly by introducing valuable indigenous plants to the gardens and surrounding landscape; • To protect indigenous medicinal & traditional plants that are becoming endangered;

27. Makana restoring agriculture Plant the seedlings Project Objectives To introduce environmentally and practically sustainable cultivation principles and practices that result in an integrated, diverse and productive land-use system and can cope with the adverse effects of climate change Sheet – Wet paper Blanket - Manure Comforter - Grass

28. Makana restoring agriculture Project Objectives To establish gardens that are not labour or cost intensive and are appropriate to members of the community who are elderly, frail or disabled and do not have a great deal of money;

29. Makana restoring agriculture Project Objectives • To encourage job creation and for community members to engage in secured diverse livelihood strategies. • To encourage the protection of and develop an understanding of the importance of ecosystem services.

30. Makana restoring agriculture Progress to date Because our strategic inquiry is a new project within the Municipality the majority of our time has been spent on: • Setting the framework for the project • Identifying project supporters • Identifying participant supporters • Identifying potential agricultural hubs • Identifying funders

31. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation Different Skills The right ideas Ability to change Solid preparation Action Plans Strong Teams Communicating

32. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation Developing Action Plans

33. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation Acquiring Land - Application for lease of commonage land Makana Municipality Att: The Municipal Manager P.O. Box 176 Grahamstown 6140 ntombi.baart@makana.gov.za Dear Ms Ntombi Baart Application for Lease Agreement for Agricultural Purposes Supporting Poverty Alleviation by Facilitating Educating and Training to the local Community in Organic Vegetable and Indigenous Plant Cultivation

34. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation SURVEY RESULTS Feedback on survey conducted for individuals growing vegetables in their homes and individuals not growing vegetables in their homes. Goal & Mission The goal and mission of the project is to grow the number of people having necessary skills to ensure their food, health and livelihood security through a culture of agriculture for the benefit of the poor. Data Collection The selection of the garden homes for the purpose of the pilot phase project was carried out in three areas within Makana. Thirty (30) potential home gardens in total were identified for sampling. The three areas covered: Ext 7, Tanki 1, Tanki 2 and Sun City. In each area, ten (10) homes were identified, and these combined both homes growing vegetables and those who were not. Out of the ten homes, only four were not growing vegetables even though Umthathi had trained them as recently as January 2011. The reason given mostly is that they do not have proper fencing to prevent the neighbour’s chickens, goats, cows and donkeys from invading their gardens. SURVEY QUESTIONS 02 SEPTEMBER 2011 What is the current status of you home garden? What do you intend doing with the garden site you get? How important is it to have your own garden? What would you like see happening in your garden? What do you need to make your garden flourish? What kinds of vegetables do you plant? What kinds of vegetables do you wish to plant? What kinds of nutritional value do your derive from these vegetables? How does eating healthy help you and family? What is your future plan with your garden? How committed are you to having a garden? What kind of assistance do you need to improve your garden? Explain how you understand and use Permaculture vegetable production, including intercropping and organic pest control in your garden? How have you been able to help someone or a group by having a garden? Surveys & Results

35. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation ABSTRACT: The objective of the questionnaire was to determine the needs, desires and current nutritional status of the participants within identified areas and households within the local community of Makana. FINDINGS: The survey response suggests that all six individuals with gardens indicate that the current status of their gardens is “green” and growing well. All individuals with gardens indicated that they had been trained by Umthathi Training Project. The individuals indicated that they would like their gardens to grow bigger and bring out the best harvest. They also indicated that they wish to grow different types of vegetables. One of them mentioned that he would like to expand his garden and be able to supply for other people. Reflective notes and Recommendations: In the light of the above findings and conclusions, it is recommended that for the purposes of the SUS pilot project, and the inspirational site visit that only five homes on Xhora Street with gardens are specifically focused on. These will link with the commonage just behind Umthathi, which is also on Xhora Street and walking distance from each other. Considering time constrains on the first day of the regional workshop on 01 November 2011, it will not be practical to drive to either Tantyi or Sun City. FINDINGS

36. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation Stakeholder Meetings

37. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation Participants Selection and MOU

38. Makana restoring agriculture Phase I - Preparation Lease granted behind Umthathi House in Ext 7

39. Makana restoring agriculture Project Phase II - Implementation • Training • Site preparation • Cultivation • Harvesting • Income Generation • Job Creation

40. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Training Programme

41. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Securing the agricultural node in commonage area 1 Hectare land fenced with funding from NLDTF

42. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Installing a container for tools & equipment

43. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Erecting a Wendy house for product development and sales house

44. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Preparation and ploughing of site

45. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Collecting Natural Resources

46. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Water Harvesting

47. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation

48. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Home Gardens...The beginning of poverty alleviation ...

49. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Home Gardens...

50. Makana restoring agriculture Phase II - Implementation Establishing the Xhora Street Agricultural Node