Lotus Gardens historic reports

This was one of Thatu’s very first projects and after working together for over two years, our support is no longer active, although we maintain contact with the school. 

Thatu's relationship with Lotus Gardens School near Pretoria (Tshwane) came about because the Principal of St Luke's Church of England Primary School in Kingston, Surrey, Sandra Baxter, asked us to help fund a much desired food garden at Lotus Gardens for which no funds could be sourced locally. St. Luke's and Lotus Gardens have a long-standing twinning relationship.

So in January 2006, Thatu and St. Luke's joined up to provide the initial tools, plants, and professional expertise to get started.

John Nzira of Ukuvuma, a leading permaculture expert, trained the community and school volunteers. The community volunteers were from the poorest families who were receiving weekly basic food parcels from the school. The project was supervised from the school by two teachers, Mrs Maseneke and Mrs Madiba, and Nancy Jeopela, the Nursing Sister.

In January 2006, the ground was cleared and an herb, vegetable and fruit garden laid down.

                    Keeping it clear: the early – and hard work

Within days the previously bare ground had been transformed. More than 1,000 seedlings were planted including cabbage, beetroot, onions, spinach, thyme and aloe vera, by 5 community volunteers helped by learners.

            Planting: the first spinach crop was a big success

At the end of February, helped by copious rain, the first spinach was harvested. Quite an achievement! 

Two Thatu trustees, Susan Law and Margery Povall, visited Lotus Gardens in March 2007. Reports on the food garden had not been positive. There had been great heat and little rain which had affected the crops. Some volunteers had got discouraged by lack of crops. Others found it difficult to work in the heat, coming only in the early morning.

There were crops, but the abundant spinach seen in March of the previous year was replaced by miserable stunted looking plants.

            Let’s talk: a meeting was held about the garden

In an effort to revitalise the project a meeting was held with the volunteers, school staff, a school governor and John Nzira of Ukuvuna. The meeting was a great morale booster, particularly appreciated by the volunteers.

The volunteers seemed to understand that the future of the project really was in their hands. But sadly, promises of such things as regular monthly meetings with the principal with their committee did not happen. However a determined and hard core of volunteers continued, and was given training about self -management and marketing - both essential for such a project to be sustainable.

As Thatu's financial support finished, we were able to reflect on useful lessons from the experience. The school lacked direction when the entrepreneurial head resigned as the project started. The pupils were hardly involved in the garden. The number of volunteers never reached the expected total. There was insufficient consistent coaching, training and guidance, and perhaps over-optimistic hopes of employment from working in the garden.

But a small but dedicated group had continued to try and make the most of the garden. They have produced vegetables for themselves and some to sell.

In March 2009 George Roberts visited at Thatu’s request and found that core community activity still alive and some faint possibilities of regeneration.  

We have always to consider carefully the best use of our donors’ contributions and in all the circumstances we have decided not to finance this. However we will keep in touch because sometimes shoots sprout [literally and figuratively] a long time after an initial [apparently unsuccessful] intervention.

UK Registered Charity No. 1108655