Back on Track

Themba, Tony and Stephen proudly display some of the tomatoes harvested and ready to be sold.

 A few months ago a violent storm damaged the tunnels at the Carryou Ministries' farming programme at Vleikop.
 The damage caused, seriously curtailed food production for the Elandsvlei and Toekomsrus Drop-in Centres.

Storm damage

 "We were able to limp along, but couldn't produce the quantity of crops grown in the past," says Stephen Ngakane, manager at the facility. "We also faced water problems."

Money

 As always, finding money to make the repairs and get activities back on course was a problem, until Carryou Co-Founder, Tony Jamison, stepped in and personally provided the more than R20 000 required.
 "When children are in need, I cannot stand idly and do nothing," he said.
 Recent heavy rains and hot weather resulted in a never-ending battle with weeds, and this week Stephen and Themba, a volunteer from nearby, were hard at work, digging out the invading plants and preparing the ground for the planting of winter crops.

Harvesting

Planning the planting of winter crops

 In the meantime they continue to harvest and sell tomatoes.
 "We intend to plant spinach, onions, cabbage and carrots," says Tony, who is now working in close co-operation with Stephen.

The war against weeds never ends!

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."

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.

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.

Cable theft at Vleikop fails to stop work on the tunnels

 On Friday morning last week, Stephen Ngakane (55), caretaker at Carryou Ministry's new Vleikop farming facility awoke to discover 16 metres of electricity cable had been stolen and they were without power.

 "This is the fifth time in less than a year that the cables have been stolen," says Ngakane. "The thieves switched off the power at the box in the street and then dug up the underground cables."

 The theft is inconvenient and costly but it hasn't stopped work on the construction of the tunnels.

 "We have rented a generator and work continues," says Stephen. "We have children to feed."