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Mandela Day honoured

Today is International Mandela Day and Madiba’s 95th Birthday! We have all been called to GIVE BACK on this day! The objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere.

Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.”

My sister, Marion, and I took this opportunity to visit the newly created Oranjezicht City Farm in the center of Cape Town with shovels, rakes and gumboots in hand to volunteer our time. There was hot coffee and beautiful cakes and sandwiches waiting for us and a great, big smile from those who had the inspiration to transform a bowling green to bowls of green! The call to all South Africans to give up 67 minutes of  their time to make the world a better place was our cue to help green the city.

Everything has been donated – the local restaurants bring kitchen refuse for composting, organic compost was delivered by the truckloads – for free! – dedicated gardeners volunteer their time to dig, plant, weed, mulch….. , seeds and plants donated and all done by the community members. Experts give of their time to teach and there is always a grateful smile when another volunteer arrives! No matter the weather! This is what community is all about!

[one_half]Beautifully spaced rows of seedlings[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Sand Stones donated to make paving[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Large composting area[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Funny Scarecrow[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Kept clean by volunteers[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Well irrigated and labelled plants[/one_half_last]

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If you want to know more about this City Farm visit – http://www.ozcf.co.za

What a Happy Mandela Day xxxxx

By Barbara

Country living is the best! Being a true spirit of the earth, my garden is all about vegetables and fruit trees and herbs and chickens roaming free. I was keen to really start gardening when we moved to Philadelphia in 2005, but not your typical suburban-type garden – sterile and bug-free! I wanted an edible garden.

12 replies on “Mandela Day honoured”

What a beautiful farm – and what a great tribute. So positive. It seems things are always negative here – rioting or protesting or something of that nature (or maybe that’s just what the media focuses on). I love that people were asked to think beyond themselves to do something good, and I love that you talked about the smiles from other volunteers. Even a smile is a truly wonderful thing these days.

I am rather amazed that there is a day to give back each year. It is wonderful people get involved and share their expertise and time. I think once people help in the community, it plants the seed to do more throughout the year.

Nice post, Barbara … nice meeting you there and sharing the spirit of our wonderful venture!

I know!! It is an amazing coming together of spirit and on this day there were so many projects happening – making food parcels, planting trees, painting schools … and that was just Cape Town. We can all give one hour a month! I know I will 🙂

Oh YES!! For sure. I mentioned this just now to Alan’s comment! What a wonderful world it would be if we could all give 1 hour a month.

This looks so great Barbie!! Next year I want to go with you. So sorry I missed it this year. Well done to the two of you!

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