Thatu and RHODES PARK Library Garden

The Rhodes Park Library is on two major roads, so its progress is obvious to those passing by and Thatu was told about the project by various local people.

 So in March 2007 Susan Law and Margery Povall visited the garden and met Edith, her manager Grenville Shenker, and two volunteers. Before this, Thatu supporters Rose Long and Shirley Kerr had both been impressed on separate visits. 

Thatu introduced John Nzira, the permaculture trainer, to the project and he gave a talk on permaculture gardening to an enthusiastic group of Friends of the Library.  Margery Povall gave the garden a gift for seeds.

Susan said: “The results Edith has achieved are remarkable considering that she has a full-time job as well. She and her manager have ambitious plans to develop the rest of the ground, and turn the library into a gardening resource centre.”

Vegetables are taken to the hospice in transport supplied by a local firm who also pay for a gardener to work one day a week.

            Volunteer Sibusiso Dladla with Edith Mvelase

                   Looking great: Edith’s garden

Two local part-time health workers help out in the garden when they can and volunteers also come from the hospice when possible.

In January 2008 the Thatu trustees took the decision to make a donation to the project from the Small Grants Fund.

Margery said: “I am pleased that Thatu is able to support the Rhodes Park Library project so that they can buy more seeds and tools to keep the garden producing while they work to create a long-term foundation for the garden.”

There is great potential in the garden. We continue to keep in touch when visitors send us reports.

UK Registered Charity No. 1108655