Minutes for Mission - May 25, 2014: Emerging Farmers Elizabeth is the grandmother in a household of nine people. She spent most of her life working on the big commercial farms that stretch across the Western Cape of South Africa, harvesting grapes, potatoes, and onions for the farmers. But she never actually learned how to farm herself. Now, thanks to the support of the Surplus People Project in the Western Cape, Elizabeth is part of a group of six women farmers. They grow organic beets, tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, corn, watermelons, pumpkins, and squash. The staff of the Surplus People Project helped the women organize to ask the town for land and arrange for municipal taps to water their fields. They also provided the seeds and tools for the first year until the group could generate enough seeds of their own. Elizabeth also learned the important aspects of organic farming, arranging for composted manure from livestock farmers and staying clear of expensive chemical fertilizers. She can feed her family throughout the year from her plot and has food left over to sell in the community. Recently she started canning the excess produce and selling her preserves, generating a steadier income. The United Church of Canada through Mission and Service supports the work of the Surplus People Project. Small-scale farmers of the Western Cape are farming organically and sustainably for themselves and their communities. Thank you, and please continue to give generously. Mighty and tender God, our gifts to M&S help your church to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you.
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 19:30:00 +0000