Down! But definitely not out!

The Carryou Ministry farming project at Vleikop has had to face a number of obstacles recently.
 Two violent wind storms resulted in extensive damage to one of the tunnels. But despite the odds stacked against them, the team, under the watchful eye of Stephen Ngakane, has continued to produce enough food to supply all of Carryou's feeding programmes, in addition to producing a surplus that was directed to needy families in the community.

 "We produced record quantities of vegetables like spinach, tomatoes and beetroot," says Ngakane. "When it comes to feeding children, you cannot allow anything to get in the way."

Costs

 The cost to repair the tunnels runs into thousands of rands - money Carryou simply does not have available at the moment.
 "We will also have to wait until the end of the growing season," says Stephen. "Because repairs will entail removing the netting that forms the walls and roof of the structure, leaving the crops inside vulnerable to the attention of neighbouring cattle and goats."

 The current situation is inconvenient and makes much of the work awkward and uncomfortable, but winter crops are in the ground and tending to them goes on unabated.
 "The need for the food we produce, remains," says Stephen. "We cannot let anything get in the way."

Successes and challenges of the Carryou Ministry Farming Programme

A large variety of vegetables was produced to feed children at our two drop-in centres

 The Carryou Ministry farming project at Vleikop has been in operation for some time now and has enjoyed a number of successes.
 At the recent Annual General Meeting, Reverend Lawrence Mabaso reported back on the project's successes and challenges.
 "The soil was tested by the Agricultural Research Institute and two big tunnels were erected, and an irrigation system and fencing was put in place," he says. "We placed a couple who serve as supervisors and are looking forward to training them in farming, and are also planning to train five additional people who can assist.
 "We were able to supply tomatoes, spinach, watermelon, cabbage, carrots and lettuce to feed the children at our two drop-in centres. EPWP volunteers and underprivileged members of the community, as well as our neighbours who assisted with the planting, also benefitted from the crops.
 "But to fully utilise the facility we must overcome certain obstacles and are looking for funding to develop the empty, fertile land to produce vegetables to be distributed to poverty alleviation programmes and for sale," says Rev. Mabaso.
 "We also seek funding to train 10 EPWP people already involved in the project to become skilled farmers as well as money to fence the entire property to protect the crops from nearby livestock.
 "It is also important the wind-powered borehole pump be changed to electric or solar-power, to ensure continuous water supply for crop irrigation," he says.

Two large tunnels were built

To ensure continual water supply, the wind-driven bore hole pump will have to be replaced with an electric or solar-driven unit

Can you help? Please!

"I look at the land lying unused and it makes me sad." - Stephen Ngakane

Unrealized potential!

 As has been reported before, Carryou Ministry has a farming project at Vleikop, on the outskirts of Randfontein, that was started late last year.
 Vegetables are grown in two tunnels, built and erected by Carryou staff members, with financial aid from the US Government. The land is part of a ten-year lease and, on the property is a house, where, in the future, vulnerable children will receive care and shelter.
 "The programme has so far been a resounding success," says Stephen Ngakane, manager of the project. "Much has been achieved. We have harvested both summer and winter crops and supplied cabbages, carrots, beetroot and onions to not only Carryou's feeding schemes in Toekomsrus and Elandsvlei but also been able to help needy members of the local community.
 "The farming project has provided employment to many of the poor and we have been able to slowly develop and upgrade our facilities. For example, we have installed tanks and an irrigation scheme," he says.
 "But we are only using a small percentage of the land and that is enormously frustrating. There is so much more we could do and so many more people we could help, if we had access to more agricultural knowledge and resources. I look at the land lying unused and it makes me sad.
 "We are need to find farmers and organisations who can provide us with the skills, advice and resources we need for this project to reach full potential and become self-sustaining," says Ngakane.
 Can you help? Are you a farmer who can offer advice? Do you know someone who can help?
 If so, please call Carryou Ministry General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso at 011-412-2013. Your help is needed.

Implementing farming skills learned in China

 Lesiba Mmethi (28), HR Officer at Carryou Ministry, has just returned from a three-week training course in China.
 "The opportunity came about through the Chinese Embassy," says Carryou General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso. "We initially came into contact with them when we were setting up our bakery and, through the West Rand Chamber of Commerce, they provided local training courses for our bakery staff members.
 "A few months ago they told me, as result of inter-government initiatives, around 300 short training courses are available in China to qualifying candidates and Carryou was eligible to send someone.
 "Lesiba was an obvious choice and it was decided he should study something in the field of agriculture, as this would be of great benefit to our farming programme and he could pass on the knowledge gained," says Rev. Mabaso.
 "That was one of the conditions for attendance," says Lesiba. "Students must implement what they are taught and are required to report back to the Embassy on how they did so."

Developing countries

 The three week-long course saw 25 students, from a variety of developing countries around the world, travel to Beijing, Yangling, Xian and Shaanxi where they were given lectures by university professors and taken on field visits to farms in the area.
 "What struck me most, is the way the Chinese farm every possible square inch of land," says Lesiba, "and how they are able to obtain such high-yields from small plots.
 "That opened my eyes to new possibilities, not only in our farming programme but in South Africa in general. I learned many ways to farm more efficiently and how water can be used more sparingly yet still produce high yields.
 "Now my first priority is to get the soil tested, to determine what nutrients are lacking and rectify the situation. This will allow us to broaden crop selections. In addition, we need to re-examine our irrigation systems to see if we can be more water-efficient.
 "I grew up in Mpumalanga and have always been interested in farming, so this is an exciting opportunity and challenge," says Lesiba. "I'm looking forward to implementing what I learned and making a difference."

Farming project fills many mouths

Stephen Ngakane and a new crop of tomatoes

  The Carryou Ministry farming venture At Vleikop, on the outskirts of Randfontein, has been a roaring success. The summer harvest is drawing to a close and winter crops are now in the ground.
 "Not only were we able to provide fresh, healthy, vegetables to feeding programmes run by Carryou Ministry but we also supplied cabbages, spinach, beetroot and carrots to a nearby creche and to around 60 members of the local community, who assist in the vegetable garden," says caretaker and overseer, Stephen Ngakane.
 "It is my goal to be even better and produce more this year. All the vegetables are grown organically, using cow manure supplied to us by a neighbour and I can honestly say, we have succeeded in making a positive difference in the lives of many.
 "Many of the crops we hope to harvest in winter are planted and, as we've learned a great deal since starting this programme, I am confident we will do even better this year.
 "It is my hope and dream that soon, we will be able to farm more of the land we have, as there is a lot of poverty in the area and a great need to provide food for the hungry," says Ngakane.

The first crops!

Stephen Ngakane, manager of the Carryou Ministry farming project at Vleikop

 All the hard work of the past few months is starting to bear fruit - or in this case vegetables!
 Carryou Ministry was recently given a ten-year lease on a small holding at Vleikop on the outskirts of Randfontein and staff members erected two tunnels, as part of a farming project that will provide food for the organisation's feeding schemes, generate income from the sale of surplus produce and provide employment, training and skills for a small number of unemployed people. "We received an aid grant from the US Government to help get the project underway," says Rev Mabaso, Carryou Ministry General Manager.
 Seed was provided by the Randfontein Municipality and private sponsors, and members of the surrounding community assist as volunteers as part of the projects.

 "We've harvested some spinach so far," says Stephen Ngakane, manager at Vleikop, "and in the next couple of weeks will be ready to pick onions, carrots, beetroot and cabbages."

The first sods are turned at Vleikop

Randfontein Town Council donates seeds. (L-R) Thembi Matuwane, MMC Social Services, Brenda Mahuma, MMC Public Safety, Sylvia Thebenare, Executive Mayor, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, Carryou Ministry General Manager, Pam and Tony Jamison, Carryou Ministry founders.

 There were scenes of joy at Carryou Ministry's Vleikop Farming project this morning when the Randfontein Municipality handed over seeds so the first crops can be planted.
 The occasion, although a day early, was part of the local Town Council's Nelson Mandela birthday celebrations and a number of dignitaries, Including Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare, were present.
 Also there were Carryou Ministry founders, Pam and Tony Jamison, as was a large number of members of the surrounding community who came to sign up for a farm-worker training programme (see the previous post).
 "It is fitting that we are here today to start a project that will provide both employment, training and food for many," said Carryou Ministry, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, "especially when we bear in mind how important planting and nurturing a seed was to Madiba. He wrote, while on Robben Island, gardening was the only thing the prisoners had control over."

Rev. Lawrence Mabaso and Umshini Consultants Chairman, Cecile Kirk

 "This is a very important project that must be taken seriously by the community," said Randfontein Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare. "We must remember this was barren land that through the efforts and support of many people will soon produce food.
 "A family of four can be fed from a piece of ground the size of a household door," she said, "so just imagine how many people these two tunnels will feed! We, as the municipality, will do everything in our power to support you."
 Cecile Kirk, Chairman of Umshini Consultants, who will be organising and running the Farm Workers Training Course, explained how it would work and what is required.
 And then, to the joy and delight of all present, the first soil-sods were turned and the first seeds were planted.

Members of the community register for the Farm Workers Training Course

The community becomes involved

A small token of appreciation was presented to Pam Jamison

Councillors Thembi Matuwane and Tshidi Kimane, join Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare and get stuck in.

An opportunity to get trained as a farm worker

There is good news for people living in the Vleikop, Dannydale area of Randfontein!
 On Thursday, 17 July 2014 at 09h00, Carryou Ministry will be holding a special event to commemorate and be part of Nelson Mandela's 67 minutes of Community Service. It will take place at Plot No 15, Acacia Avenue, Dannydale.
 "At the same time we will be looking for people interested in being part of an eight month-long farm workers' training programme," says Carryou Ministry, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso.
 "A small stipend will be paid."
 To be considered for the training programme, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Have passed grade 12 or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) 
• Physically disabled people will also qualify
• All races will be accepted and welcomed
• Both young and old up to 70 years will qualify if healthy.
• People who qualify should live in the Vleikop or Dannydale area

Anyone interested can provide their details at our offices at 13A Park Street South, Randfontein or can submit them to our tenant, Mr Stephen Ngakane, at Plot 15, Acacia Avenue, Dannydale, Westonaria.
You can also call 011 412 2013 during office hours for further details.

How to get there:

Take the road that runs past the Lafarge Cement factory. Cross over the stop street at Highway Spar and continue straight on down the hill past the old age home on the left. Turn left into Acacia Avenue.