MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "I am a farmer by DNA."
Standing among the bountiful rows of vegetables in Farai Munyangadzi's backyard, one would have to agree with this statement he made.
Munyangadzi was called an "inspiring agricultural innovator" by Mossel Bay Municipality's executive mayor Dirk Kotzé, who visited the exceptional vegetable garden on Munyangadzi's property in Albert Luthuli Park on Tuesday, 22 April.
Recommended
Because it is such an exceptional garden, it was recommended Kotzé visit it.
The 41-year-old famer said he started his garden in 2020, during the Covid pandemic.
Speaking to Mossel Bay Advertiser, who visited him on Wednesday morning, Munyangadzi said that although he grew all sorts of vegetables and some herbs, he started out only growing lettuce.
Currently, his produce includes kale, spinach, eggplant, pumpkin, mielies, potatoes, sweet potatoes and more.
Farai Munyangadzi amid the kale in his garden.
"I was lying idle at home during the Covid lockdown.
"I grew up in a village where everyone grew vegetables, so I thought I would use my time to start my own garden. I thought it would be fun," said Munyangadzi.
"Although I started the garden for fun and it was a lot smaller five years ago, I saw my vegetables were growing nicely. I extended the garden and just never stopped."
He said the vegetables in the garden changed from time to time, but not the effort and work that went into growing them and maintaining the soil.
"When I first started the garden, I had to prepare the soil. There were lots of rocks that I needed to move and I had to feed the soil because it was not good soil.
Farai daughter, Tawana and his wife, Shonipai Munyangadzi also help with the gardening.
Compost
"The soil you see now has been worked over and fed lots of compost.
"My mother and grandmother were really great farmers. They taught me, and my dream is to impart this knowledge to anyone willing to learn," he said.
Munyangadzi said that while he wishes to extend the land on which his crops currently grow, he wants to use his garden and expertise to train and mentor others.
"I want to help people sustain themselves. If people can grow their own spinach, potatoes, etc, they can live off the vegetables they grow."
Ann Klaaste, Johanna Basson, Melissa Sebolai and Whitney Klaaste enjoy some kale from Munyangadzi's garden.
In fact, Munyangadzi's neighbour, who has been watching the garden flourish for the last several years, asked for some help creating his own crops and garden and six months later, mielies, kales and a few other vegetables can be seen growing in the garden next door.
Munyangadzi added that he entered into a partnership with Aharon Baruch, a local coffee roaster, about a year ago.
He said Baruch had given some plants to people in Albert Luthuli Park and when he saw Munyangadzi's garden and passion for farming, a partnership blossomed, along with a friendship.
Aharon Baruch with the coffee chaff mixed with compost he supplies to Farai Munyangadzi. Photo: Aydn Parrott
Coffee chaff
Baruch supplies Munyangadzi with compost, which includes coffee chaff (the husk of the coffee beans) and all the by-products used at Baruch's coffee shop. It was Baruch who recommended the mayor visit the garden.
Baruch said that anyone can have a garden as long as they have compost, seeds and and water.
"That is everything you need."
If anyone would like to donate compost for the garden, contact Baruch (082 774 1728) or Munyangadzi (073 092 2493).
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