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FEATURE

Cabbages, bell peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables are grown for the community using permaculture methods. Marigold companion planting is used in the
main productive bed.
DITHAKA DIKOPANE

COMMUMITY FARM

Dithaka Dikopane is an agricultural co-operative

situated in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg. It is
run as a small-scale farm and was founded by Petros
Madondo. Literally translated, it means “the peers

have come together”. Busi Wawa, a trainer for FTFA, has mentored
Dithaka over the past year.

adondo is the project leader and rocky, not ideal for planting, and members had and recently applied for a food gardening
has an extensive knowledge of to pay the surrounding neighbours for water. intervention from Food & Trees for Africa
Morganic farming. He responded to Despite not having funds for infrastructure (FTFA). After assessing the project, FTFA
the dire socio-economic conditions in the or plant material, they persevered, and with matched it, under their Food Gardens for
Walkerville community and together with a powerful vision as their driving force, they Africa programme, with support from
three partners, salvaged an unused, derelict have been able to overcome the various Shoprite Holdings.
piece of land with permission from the obstacles they encountered.
local councillor. The idea was to start a food Since receiving the intervention, Dithaka
garden to serve the community, as well as to In a year with very few resources, project has been able to enlist the help of two
create employment opportunities for young members and the Walkerville community additional workers, expanding and doubling
people in the area. succeeded in building the foundations their productivity. Members have received
of a well-run operation and are currently ongoing training on agro-ecology techniques
When the co-operative started the food able to produce consistently for gate sales from a dedicated FTFA facilitator. For the past
garden project, the land was unfenced and and retailers in the area. They also donate ten months, they have also been supplied
vulnerable to theft. In addition, the soil was to surrounding, disadvantaged families with all tools and equipment needed, as well
as planting materials such as seed, compost,
fertilisers and seedlings.
Robyn Hills, head of programmes at FTFA,
says that the organisation’s outcomes are to
obtain a yield while supporting soil health
and creating habitats. “These are never
mutually exclusive in our community farms.”

Acknowledgements
Information supplied by Food and Trees for
Africa, www.trees.co.za
Photos courtesy of Mark straw, email
markstraw@rocketmail.com
Shoprite Holdings supports the Dithaka project A worker picks gooseberries www.meetup.com/joburg-photowalkers n

Landscape SA • Issue 112 2022 3