"Most of those children are malnourished. The parents cannot afford to feed their children a balanced diet. Food schemes, grants and 'handouts' do not work because the recipients become dependent on them and never learn to be self-sufficient. I realised that to address the enormous challenge of malnutrition in our poor communities, I must find a lasting solution," Linda said.
"I needed to find a long-term solution to the problem. It is not good enough to address the symptoms. A solution must be found for the multifaceted problem in these communities. The people are poor, work is scarce, and the government is not making a lasting difference. Grants and handouts are not the answer – they must learn to be self-sufficient. That's how I started the vegetable garden project, but first, I must tell you where my inspiration comes from." Linda spent her honeymoon at KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu-Natal in 1980.
She said, "It was here that I learned about sustainable agriculture and how to become self-sufficient by starting vegetable gardens in our places. Over the years, I have regularly spent time at KwaSizabantu to learn more, because I realised that they had the solution to the problems my people were struggling with." "After a visit, I returned to my place and taught the mothers how to plant vegetable gardens for themselves. I encouraged them to plant enough to sell to their neighbours and families. Those vegetable gardens not only directly addressed the problem of malnutrition, but also established successful gardens that brought them an income. In this way, the people regained their dignity and could care for their needs."
Linda is a public health practitioner who is passionate about farming. She was born into a farming family in a rural village near Tzaneen, Limpopo. Her career has taken her to several post-war countries, including Mozambique, where she lived for a few years. She now lives in Tzaneen in Limpopo. "I want to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones for development," said Linda. "I use climate-smart farming methods to strengthen household and community food security."
Read the full story in issue 49 by following the link: https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/uaik/