With patience and in Sophia Grodes\u2019 case, \u201cgreen fingers\u201d, a once bare vegetable garden targeted by vandals has been transformed into a thriving garden feeding learners as well as the frail and the elderly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vegetable garden, situated at Marine Primary School in Ocean View, produces seasonal vegetables such as spinach, turnips, radishes, carrots and herbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe vegetable garden is 50% for the school and 50% for a soup kitchen but it was vandalised. The women who ran the garden said their spirit just died after the vandalism,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four months ago, Grodes stepped in to assist with planting and crop rotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat we are growing goes straight into the pot for the soup kitchen; there\u2019s an agreement with the school that the rest goes to school children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hope for Frail and the Elderly is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) that caters for 11 elderly people between the ages of 60 and 80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost of the elderly are bedridden, so the food is being delivered to their homes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grodes is no stranger to gardening. She is one of the founding members of the Ocean View Organic Farmers kos gangster\u2019s initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have since moved on but I\u2019m still in the community. I am moving between Marine Primary and Kleinberg Primary to assist with their gardens, which form part of Neighbourhood Farms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She adds that she is working on the fertility of the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe variety of vegetables is small because you need to do a crop rotation, which is tricky. You need to know how, where and when to plant. For now, we are working on the fertility of the soil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret Pontec, who assists with peeling vegetables at the NPO, says she also enjoys working in the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe founder of the soup kitchen is currently cooking from her budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith the help from the veggies, less is spent on purchasing dry ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe elderly residents then receive a warm, cooked meal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grodes says they hope to assist the elderly with a Santa shoebox for Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur dream is to do a Santa shoebox for the 11 people which are five women and six men, just to give them a Christmas gift and do something special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll they do is spend time in bed and some can\u2019t walk or even talk.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With patience and in Sophia Grodes\u2019 case, \u201cgreen fingers\u201d, a once bare vegetable garden targeted by vandals has been transformed into a thriving garden feeding learners as well as the frail and the 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