Her vegetables grow tall, her hands stay busy, and her story is as rich as the soil she plants in. But behind every spinach leaf and potato patch lies a journey of hard work, determination, and purpose. A journey that started when she crossed paths with the Outreach Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel grew up in an underprivileged family. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have much,\u201d she says, \u201cbut my grandmother taught me to use what we had.\u201d In 1991, after she got married, she moved to Orange Farm, a township in Johannesburg, South Africa: a place that became her home and the start of her gardening journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, she planted her vegetables with no tools, little knowledge, and only one goal: to feed her grandchild, whom she was staying with at her marital home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLife was tough,\u201d she recalls. \u201cBut one of my neighbours told me to plant something small, just to help put food on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She started with potatoes, and to her surprise, they flourished. \u201cThey grew like magic!\u201d she laughs. \u201cThat\u2019s when I realised the power of soil and sunlight. My grandson and I started eating fried chips, and sometimes we would cook the potatoes and eat them with pap\u201d. She remembers that from that day on, they never went hungry like they used to before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, she didn\u2019t know much about how to garden properly. That changed when Outreach Foundation\u2019s Urban farming programme arrived in her community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI joined because I wanted to grow better food, but I didn\u2019t expect to learn as much as I did,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the Urban farming programme, Rachel learnt how to prepare soil, make compost, plant according to seasons, and save water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore, I was just guessing. But Outreach Foundation gave me their urban farming skills,\u201d she explains. \u201cNow I use proper methods, and I see the difference every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to the training, her garden is now bigger, healthier, and more productive. \u201cI don\u2019t have to rely on store-bought vegetables anymore. What I grow is fresh, organic, and saves me money.\u201d She adds with a smile, \u201cI eat better because of what I\u2019ve learnt. I am also selling some of the vegetables I plant to make extra cash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At her age, Rachel values her health and believes that most of it comes from what she eats. \u201cI\u2019m a pensioner now, but I still feel strong. Planting vegetables keeps my body active, and eating organic, healthy food gives me energy.\u201d For her, gardening is both a way to stay healthy and a form of daily exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Rachel\u2019s impact doesn\u2019t stop in her yard. She now shares her knowledge with her neighbours and joins other Outreach Foundation gardening programmes that are offered in her area. \u201cI love passing on what I know,\u201d she says. \u201cHelping others reminds me that I have something to give.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She takes pride in showing others how to plant their first seeds, improve their gardens, and understand the value of growing their food. Looking out at her green space, Rachel feels a sense of pride. \u201cI never imagined this life,\u201d she says. \u201cBut with the knowledge I now have, I\u2019ve built something beautiful, and it\u2019s still growing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s celebrate her success and the impact she’s making in her community!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/outreachfoundation.co.za\/wpof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/536272624_1220140686818692_213725786660018597_n-1024x768.jpg\")
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