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RAND WATER

WATER WISE COMMUNITY

FOOD GARDENS

Water Wise is Rand Water’s environmental brand that
has been active since 1997. Its key responsibility is to
provide education and awareness about water and

environmental conservation to various target markets
(adults, green industry, business, communities,
general public) in an effort to promote the sustainable
use of water.

urrently, water resources have been can be placed on the surface of the soil to
put under pressure due to increased help retain soil moisture. This technique
Cdemands by consumers, as well as reduces the need for irrigation.
the impact of climate change. The increase
in potable water demand by consumers Tools and resources that are necessary for
will lead to an increase in the extraction of gardening and participation certificates are
water from natural water sources, impacting also provided to the community groups. This
severely on downstream users and the includes garden tools, rain tanks, fencing,
aquatic ecosystem. and seeds.
In an attempt to alleviate socio-economic Water Wise adopted two community food
issues in Gauteng, Water Wise offers gardens in Tshepong, Vereeniging. The
community programmes such as food first group is the Tshepong Old Age Centre
gardens and community activations adopted in September 2017. It comprises
designed to address these issues. The six members ranging in age from 60 – 70
Water Wise food gardens assist community years. The food garden is an extension of the
Training at Tshepong Old Age Centre members to initiate, maintain and sustain various extramural activities they partake in
a food garden. The program entails and its aim is to help feed people at the centre
customised training (theoretical and as well as their family members. Currently,
practical components) on the following the community has received training in
criteria: the necessary agricultural skills to maintain
• Soil – techniques used to identify soil successful water wise food gardens. Water
type, as this determines soil amelioration Wise has put a fence around the garden
techniques, as well as water use patterns. for security purposes and provides the
• Hydrozoning – the grouping of plants community with gardening resources.
based on their watering needs to help
eliminate the needless watering of Another community food garden in
plants. Sebokeng is the Success-Mpumelelo-
• Seed sowing and transplanting – Katleho group that is registered as a Non-
community members are trained on Profit-Company and was established
how to sow seeds in trays or directly in in 2018. There are four members in this
the ground, as well as how to transplant group, which was adopted by Water Wise in
seedlings. September 2021. An additional 15 members,
• Companion planting and crop rotation mostly pensioners, also participate in
– companion planting is the planting the company’s activities. The aim of the
of crops that benefit one another. vegetable garden is to help alleviate hunger
Crop rotation involves the restriction in their community by donating vegetables
of planting crops in the same soil for a to feeding schemes, and selling vegetables
period of years for disease prevention, to make a profit and sustain themselves.
insect control, nutrient balance and Currently, the community group has
nutrient enhancement. received gardening resources from Water
• Watering – the importance of water Wise and is still undergoing training.
conservation is echoed through the
use of watering cans which direct water For more information visit the Rand Water
straight to where it’s needed, drip website and click on the Water Wise logo,
irrigation, the use of greywater, rain or email us at waterwise@randwater.co.za.
water harvesting, and other water saving Alternatively, have a look at our social media
practices. content on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Training at Success-Mpumelelo-Katleho • Mulching – Mulch is any material that And remember, always be Water Wise! n

18 Landscape SA • Issue 115 2022