The document summarizes plans for the Oranjezicht City Farm project in Cape Town. A small steering committee aims to turn an unused public green space into an educational organic farm. The farm would serve the local community by increasing access to fresh vegetables and building skills in urban food production. The location is well-suited due to its history as the site of the original Oranjezicht Estate homestead gardens. The farm seeks to be financially sustainable through produce sales and partnerships. It also aims to be environmentally sustainable and serve as a model for urban agriculture projects.
6. “In front of the house stood a flagpole and when the
van Breda’s hoisted their flag, mariners and their
pursers, burghers and their wives and children, went
up to Oranjezigt to buy farm produce. They would
then wander through the gardens filling their baskets
and carts with fruit and vegetables which were
brought to a tree in the cobbled yard where it was
weighed on a scale hanging from an oak tree. There
were people everywhere strolling through the
beautiful gardens while van Breda’s band of thirty
slaves played their fiddles and flutes. Cakes, wine
and sweets were also served.”
Annalize Mouton, 2005.
14. Who is involved?
• Small Steering Committee
– Mario Graziani
– Kurt Ackermann
– Mark Stead
– Saul Roux
– Dave Curran, Pauline McConney
– Belinda Muti, Clive James, Dave Hart
– Leslie Katz
Get off the ground
Liaise with City
• NFP
– Run by a board made up of representatives of community
15. Partnerships
• City of Cape Town
• CIBRA
• OH Watch
• Oranjezicht Heritage Society
• Soil for Life
• Abalimi Bezekhaya
• Wessa
• Institute for Zero Waste in Africa
• Madame Zingara Group
16. Oranjezicht City Farm
A non-profit project celebrating local food, culture and community
Our Mission:
• The Oranjezicht City Farm is a community of adults and younger folk working together to
engage in small-scale food production in the City Bowl of Cape Town.
Our Vision:
• To improve under-utilised public green spaces by creating demonstration gardens for
hands-on community-wide food gardening education, thereby increasing access to fresh
vegetables.
Our Goals:
• Serve as an educational resource on small scale organic food production for City Bowl
residents
• Increase access to nutritious fresh vegetables for the community
• Increase the number of organic gardeners in the City Bowl, leading to more outdoor
activities and healthier lifestyles
• Build capacity and skills of youth and adults seeking work in urban food production
• Promote connections and foster relationships between and among individuals,
garden communities, and NGO’s
• Improve unused or under-utilised public green space in the City Bowl,
preserving and protecting undeveloped land
17. Farm as a catalyst for change
• Changing awareness (i.e., education)
– Parents (food choices, resource use, empowerment)
– Children (food origins, nature/agriculture, food)
• Changing behaviour
– Consumption patterns (food, resources)
– Production patterns (grow your own)
• Changing relationships
– Participation within the community
– Links to other communities (e.g., Abalimi Bezekhaya)
23. We will use the layout of the garden
to show the original layout of the
Homestead and turning circle
24. All paths for the public
are at least 2m wide
and accessible from all
directions.
This is wide enough for
two couples hair and or
a wheelchair and a
wheelbarrow.
25.
26.
27.
28. Finances
• Capital cost of R100k raised – Madame Zingara
• Wholesale (to restaurant)
• Retail provides affordable and quality farm
produce – farm stall and subscription
• Partnership with suppliers for retail
• Small ‘tea room’ and ‘shop’
• Gardening and garden advisory services
• Membership model encourages local buy-in
• Online store has more comprehensive offering
29. Why is the farm good for Cape
Town?
• Will be able to pioneer an innovative
sustainability project and demonstrate its
commitment to urban agriculture.
• Job creation and skills development.
• Project can assist in realizing and contributing to
the vision of a sustainable future.
• An opportunity to showcase best practice
environmental solutions and activities. The
project will pioneer the first SA inner city
farm. The intention is to develop good practice,
which can be replicated in other
neighbourhoods in Cape Town and in other
cities throughout SA and beyond.
30. Time frames
• Signing of Cooperative Agreement with City Parks
• Application to Heritage Western Cape
• As soon as permission is granted, installation of
water reticulation and irrigation system, organic
seedling production, composting and
vermiculture would commence
31. How can you be involved?
• Serve on the board
• Assist with work in the garden
• Help to fundraise
• Donate funds or equipment
• Marketing, website, social media, newsletter, etc
• Other
