issue 11 

Worm bin donated to nourish food gardens

Enviroworks recently handed over a large worm bin with an army of 500 red wrigglers to the catering company, Sweet and Lovely, in Kayalitsha to help re-nourish replenished soils and grow healty food.

Enviroworks, a consulting firm specializing in environmental management,  wanted to do something in response to email requests received during World Environment Week to give back to less resourced communities. What better mechanism, they thought, than to help sustain the magic of soil?

Nutritious topsoil is the lifeblood on which all photosynthesizing organisms survive. This is essential in the production of crops, biological and natural processes. Unfortunately in some areas, topsoil is eroded through excessive use of chemical sprays and fertilisers or leached through run-off.  So it  loses its value as a resource.

Subsistence farming can provide nutrition

In previously disadvantaged communities this is too often the case, as soil quickly becomes depleted from over-use. This places the surrounding terrain under strain. Integrated subsistence farming is one such activity which can potentially alleviate poverty, provide malnourished communities with essential dietary requirements and a means to generate their own income. But how do individuals obtain the skills base to apply their own entrepreneurial spirit?

Fortunately there are non-profit organizations, such as Learn to Earn, which work to strengthen such communities through skills development. Learn to Earn is a non-profit skills development and job creation organisation, working with unemployed people from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Currently in their 21st year of operation, the company has trained over 9000 individuals in market-related skills. Nokuthula Sigaba is one such a graduate who has since begun her own catering company, Sweet & Lovely. She suppliesg confectionaries to Khayalitsha and surrounds. Nokuthula is currently moving and expanding her business, establishing a coffee shop at the Learn to Earn offices. 

500 strong army off to work

Enviroworks  felt it fitting to donate a worm bin to Ms Sigaba’s small business and help her nourish her soil with worm juice. They recently visited Learn to Earn and met with Susan Wishart, their general manager, and Nokuthula Sigaba to hand-over the worm bin and its 500 strong army of composting worms. The worms feed on a variety of house hold waste from bread and grains, to vegetables, coffee grounds and even cardboard. The worm’s byproduct is in effect extremely nutritious and fertile liquid compost.

Nokuthula will use this compost to feed her food garden, the produce from which will go back into her coffee shop products.

Enviroworks is a company of compassionate individuals eager to contribute to the environment and sustainable livelihoods and encourages other businesses to do the same.

For further information visit www.enviroworks.co.za and find out more about Learn to Earn go to www.learntoearn.co.za.

Images:

1 - Mark Day (Enviroworks), Nokuthula Sigaba (Sweet Lovely), Vuyiso (Full Cycle) & Susan Wishart (General Manager - Learn to Earn)

2 - Preparing the wormbin.