MEC for Finance Ms Ina Cronjé has urged everyone, including shack dwellers, to use their small piece of land in their backyards to grow vegetable gardens. Cronjé was the guest of honour at the official opening ceremony of the three days Sunday Tribune Garden and Leisure Show which is starting today till Sunday.
The official opening held on Thursday night at the Pietermaritzburg Royal Showground's saw best exhibitors being awarded for their displays and all guest had a special preview of the exhibitions. Whilst previewing the Sunday Tribune Stand which was assembled by Ms Sue Tarry of Sue Tarr Landscapes this was elected as the best stand and was awarded with 'Gold with laurels and best on show'.
Cronjé said that "this display resembles exactly what we as government have been saying and what we want to see through out the province. Small piece of land used beautifully to grow vegetables and it proves that everybody can do it, no matter where you are, whether you are well-off or dwelling in an informal settlement."
Ms Tarry said that the setting for her exhibition is Cator Manor. "We built a shack out of old corrugated iron and old timber. Bits of rusty corrugated iron have been used to edge and retain the vegetable garden and scraps of wire, iron and old timber for fencing. We have used vegetables to illustrate how much one can grow in a small plot of land," said Tarry.
"Many people are living in the shacks and they use their limited resources and spontaneous creativity to turn a small plot into a cheerful productive home and garden. It is a revolution that is turning shacks into chic and miniature plots into a combination of naïve beauty and self sufficiency," said Tarry.
"This is inspirational as it is in line with our 'one home one garden' initiative. It also shows what people can do with the little they have. I invite everyone to come and view the stand to see the possibility of growing vegetables in a small piece of land in your small back-yard as it is displayed in the Sunday Tribune stand," said Cronjé.
For more information, contact:
Musa Cebisa
Cell: 071 687 8777
Sue Tarry
Cell: 082 448 8246
Issued by: Department of Finance, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
25 September 2009
