Bitterfontein is a small village of 1100 inhabitants located in the heart of the Karoo and is 390 km from Cape Town. This is one of 17 community gardens in Bitterfontein: they are all family-owned and about 16 square meters in size. The farmers, who have received training on composting, now make compost in their own gardens. At this time, only vegetables are grown, but they are planning to introduce fruit trees. Only men, most of whom are elderly, unemployed or disabled, work in the garden. Thanks to the Slow Food project, fresh vegetables are available at a fair price for the inhabitants of Bitterfontein. The groups that manage the gardens are showing great interest and enthusiasm as they are now able to independently produce the food that they need.
In collaboration with the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, the Surplus People Project (www.spp.org.za) is helping the growers apply agroecological principles.
Area
Bitterfontein, Matzikama municipality, West Coast district, Western Cape