Mrs Sikiti’s gardening workshops ‘grow’ children

THE FOUNDER of Thunariso Organic Garden, Thozama Sikiti, has not only used her garden to supply freshly grown vegetables to crèches in Cape Town, but she has also now opened her garden gates to teach children how to grow their own vegetables.

Referred to as “Mrs Sikiti” by her doting green-fingered pupils, she said she sought to teach children that gardening is not only for old people, it is afor everyone, because gardening is a useful, life-long skill, and organic food is beneficial for people of all ages.

“When I started farming, I did not have any fancy equipment or tools. I started in my backyard. I did not know much, but God showed me. I started with my children, who invited their friends. Before I knew it, I was training a group of children to grow organic food and the benefits of eating organically.”

Mrs Sikiti said that she now lives a passionate life teaching children how to garden so that they may become “custodians of the future” through gardening.

She said the children who attended her gardening workshops were excited to learn about growing their own food. It gave them an important life skill that they could use to feed their families or make money for themselves by growing and selling vegetables.

The vice-principal of Ubunye Educare Centre, Esther Cupido, said the Grade R independent school is heavily dependent on the donations received by Thunariso Organic Garden.

She added that the vegetables grown by Mrs Sikiti feed about 120 children at their school every week.

“We get fresh carrots, cabbage, beetroot, spinach and much more. During the winter cold, the vegetables helped us make fresh vegetable soup to keep the children warm. The veggies are always delivered with a smile.”

Athayanda Ntshinga, 4, who is a pupil at Alutha Educare Centre in Khayelitsha, took part in the gardening workshop with her classmates. She said that it was the most fun she had ever had.

“We learnt to dig. We learnt how to plant seeds and water plants. It was so much fun. Mrs Sikiti even taught us how to collect cabbages from the soil without breaking the leaves.”

Athayanda said she encouraged other children to learn how to garden so they could some day grow their own vegetables at home.