Strandfontein siblings say their father is smiling at them from heaven because they have put the green fingers they had inherited from him to good use.

Jonathan van Breda, from Strandfontein, is the Best Overall Gardener; and his sister Jacqueline Manuel, also from Strandfontein, is the Best recycler — according to the Pat Feathersone Home Food Gardener Awards 2024, which were held in Constantia on Friday August 23.

They were chosen from 300 home food gardeners, from Mitchell’s Plain, Delft, Retreat and Philippi who had completed a 12-week home food gardening programme offered by Soil For Life, a non-profit gardening organisation.

The organisation teaches people to grow healthy, organic, food using simple, low-cost, environmentally-friendly methods.

The awards is named in honour of its founder Pat Featherstone who died two-years ago.

Other Mitchell’s Plain runner-ups included Shaheedah Abrahams, from Rocklands, for the Best Container Gardener; Priscilla Maart, from Portland, for the Most creative gardener category; and Arthur Maart, from Rocklands, for Best overall garden.

Ms Manuel said their father had sowed in them a love for working with the earth.

“He is smiling at us from heaven,” she said.

She said they learned to sustain their families with their gardens.

“I learned how to save water, lower our municipal fees, we eat from my garden. Our bin has become lighter and we can make our own compost,” she said.

Ms Manuel said they learned to recycle and save money.

Mr Van Breda said they used to help their father in the garden.

He enjoyed the course which expanded their skills in fertilising and tilling the soil.

“They taught us new techniques, succession planning, when you work with the soil you learn all of the time. Gardening is so simple and easy,” he said.

Sandi Fortune, Soil for Life home gardens programme coordinator, said gardens were judged according to how much of the skills learned were incorporated into preparing the soil, recycling, weed tea, mulch, succession planting, bartering and selling of their wares were evident in their work.

Weekly training sessions are held thrice a week at different venues in and around Mitchell’s Plain.

Registration costs R30, including a start park with manual, seeds, compost, mulch and sawdust, training and resources as the programme progresses.

To register and for more information call Sandi Fortune on 073 159 2128.

Pictured at the back, from left, runner-up for Best overall garden Arthur Maart, from Rocklands, and Soil For Life facilitator Joy Erasmus, from Westridge. In front are second place winners for the Most creative gardener category Priscilla Maart, from Portland; for the Best Container Gardener Shaheedah Abrahams; and home food gardener Ruwayda Adonis, from Rocklands.

Home food gardeners receive grow bags and Spekboom plants.

Winners in the Pat Featherstone Home Food Gardeners Awards 2024.

Soil For Life staff, from Constantia, are ready to serve, train and mentor home food gardeners in their backyards.

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