Oranjezicht City Farm Celebrating local food, culture and community

Presentation to Residents and Friends 22 July 2012

Pieter Van Breda acquired the Oranjezicht Estate in 1731

Pieter Van Breda acquired the Oranjezicht Estate in 1731

“In front of the house stood a flagpole and when the van Breda’s hoisted their flag, mariners and their pursers, burghers and their wives and children, went up to Oranjezigt to buy farm produce. They would then wander through the gardens filling their baskets and carts with fruit and vegetables which were brought to a tree in the cobbled yard where it was weighed on a scale hanging from an oak tree. There were people everywhere strolling through the beautiful gardens while van Breda’s band of thirty slaves played their fiddles and flutes. Cakes, wine and sweets were also served.” Annalize Mouton, 2005.

Oranjezicht City Farm

celebrating local food, culture and community

Who is involved?

•  Small Steering Committee –  Mario Graziani –  Kurt Ackermann –  Mark Stead –  Saul Roux –  Dave Curran, Pauline McConney –  Belinda Muti, Clive James, Dave Hart –  Leslie Katz Get off the ground Liaise with City

•  NFP –  Run by a board made up of representatives of community

Partnerships •  City of Cape Town •  CIBRA •  OH Watch •  Oranjezicht Heritage Society •  Soil for Life •  Abalimi Bezekhaya •  Wessa •  Institute for Zero Waste in Africa •  Madame Zingara Group

Oranjezicht City Farm A non-profit project celebrating local food, culture and community Our Mission: •  The Oranjezicht City Farm is a community of adults and younger folk working together to

engage in small-scale food production in the City Bowl of Cape Town.

Our Vision: •  To improve under-utilised public green spaces by creating demonstration gardens for

hands-on community-wide food gardening education, thereby increasing access to fresh vegetables.

Our Goals: •  Serve as an educational resource on small scale organic food production for City Bowl

residents •  Increase access to nutritious fresh vegetables for the community •  Increase the number of organic gardeners in the City Bowl, leading to more outdoor

activities and healthier lifestyles •  Build capacity and skills of youth and adults seeking work in urban food production •  Promote connections and foster relationships between and among individuals, garden communities, and NGO’s •  Improve unused or under-utilised public green space in the City Bowl, preserving and protecting undeveloped land

Farm as a catalyst for change •  Changing awareness (i.e., education)

–  Parents (food choices, resource use, empowerment) –  Children (food origins, nature/agriculture, food)

•  Changing behaviour –  Consumption patterns (food, resources) –  Production patterns (grow your own)

•  Changing relationships –  Participation within the community –  Links to other communities (e.g., Abalimi Bezekhaya)

A Superb Location Currently the unused bowling green

This image shows the current layout of the land  

This image shows an overlay of the original Homestead  

This image shows the intersection of the past and the present

This will inspire the layout of the farm

We will use the layout of the garden to show the original layout of the Homestead and turning circle

All paths for the public are at least 2m wide and accessible from all directions. This is wide enough for two couples hair and or a wheelchair and a wheelbarrow.

Finances •  Capital cost of R100k raised – Madame Zingara •  Wholesale (to restaurant) •  Retail provides affordable and quality farm

produce – farm stall and subscription •  Partnership with suppliers for retail •  Small ‘tea room’ and ‘shop’ •  Gardening and garden advisory services •  Membership model encourages local buy-in •  Online store has more comprehensive offering

Why is the farm good for Cape Town?

•  Will be able to pioneer an innovative sustainability project and demonstrate its commitment to urban agriculture.

•  Job creation and skills development. •  Project can assist in realizing and contributing to

the vision of a sustainable future. •  An opportunity to showcase best practice

environmental solutions and activities. The project will pioneer the first SA inner city farm. The intention is to develop good practice, which can be replicated in other neighbourhoods in Cape Town and in other cities throughout SA and beyond.

Time frames

•  Signing of Cooperative Agreement with City Parks •  Application to Heritage Western Cape •  As soon as permission is granted, installation of

water reticulation and irrigation system, organic seedling production, composting and vermiculture would commence

How can you be involved?

•  Serve on the board •  Assist with work in the garden •  Help to fundraise •  Donate funds or equipment •  Marketing, website, social media, newsletter, etc •  Other

Thank you

•  Website: www.ozcf.co.za •  Email: cityfarm@ozcf.co.za