Cultivating a Greener Future Together

Dear GlobalGiving Supporters

As winter gave way to spring in Cape Town, SEED was rooted in action, cultivating gardens, communities, and future leaders. This quarter was filled with hands-on learning, tree planting, and heartfelt community outreach made possible by your support. Below we share key highlights from July through September 2025, celebrating the growth we have achieved together. Thank you for journeying with us as we sow seeds of change in our community.

Mandela Day – Cultivating Community

On Nelson Mandela Day, our team got our hands dirty in service of an alumni-run garden at Mitchell Heights Primary in Tafelsig. From prepping and weeding garden beds to sharing knowledge, it was all about strengthening local food security in Mitchell’s Plain. Alumni gardeners Hanna and Ricardo have established a beautiful vegetable garden at the school. We helped prepare the space and donated tools and seeds to support the school’s feeding scheme. This initiative truly embodied the Mandela Day spirit of service.

Training Youth in Sustainability

In early July, we hosted a Practical Organic Gardening Course, a four-day intensive held at the SEED centre in Mitchell’s Plain. It equipped local residents with permaculture gardening skills. In mid-September, we followed up with an Introduction to Facilitation training for aspiring community educators. This course helped emerging leaders build confidence in leading and inspiring others. By investing in youth through these trainings, we are cultivating the next generation of environmental champions.

Celebrating Women’s Month – Honouring Wangari Maathai

August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and we paid tribute to one of Africa’s great eco-heroines, Wangari Maathai. We shared her story with our community, a woman who believed that planting a single tree could grow a forest of hope. Inspired by her legacy, we continue to uplift and support women leaders in our programmes. In fact, 90 of the 149 students trained so far this year have been women. Empowering women remains central to growing strong and resilient communities.

Greening Schools – 25 Trees Planted at Caradale Primary

In August, we planted 25 indigenous trees at Caradale Primary School in partnership with Food and Trees for Africa. The previously bare schoolyard is now on its way to becoming a shady, green oasis for learners. The children helped dig, plant and water the trees alongside our team and course participants. This initiative not only honoured Women’s Month but also created a healthier and more inspiring environment for learning.

Launching the Community Seed Library

During Cape Town Climate Week, SEED launched its Community Seed Library in Mitchell’s Plain. The library works like a traditional one, but for seeds. Community members can “borrow” seeds, grow food, and return seeds from their harvest to keep the cycle going. This initiative promotes food sovereignty, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The launch included a free Food Justice Tour that stopped in Delft, Elsies River and Mitchell’s Plain, connecting local communities through shared stories of gardening and seed saving.

Community Outreach – From Vrygrond to Ecolution

In late August, our team visited the community of Vrygrond, where local youth and volunteers have transformed a neglected space into the Vrygrond Peace Garden. We helped complete a vibrant mural there, adding colour, meaning and beauty to the space. The garden is a safe and inspiring place for community members to grow food and find connection.

We also prepared for the Ecolution Festival held in early October. This celebration of earth stewardship included tree planting, workshops and green community networking. We were proud to represent SEED’s work and connect with others dedicated to climate action and ecosystem restoration.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning – Tracking Our Growth

We compiled a detailed MEL report in August to track progress for 2025. So far, 149 students have been trained across 10 different courses. These include urban permaculture, organic gardening, resilience and facilitation. Many of our alumni have already started gardens, taught workshops or found jobs in the green economy.

Our Garden Team has continued to thrive. Between January and July, the team harvested 230 kilograms of organic vegetables for the Rocklands community. August and September saw even higher yields, with September’s harvest reaching 58 kilograms, our best yet. The produce goes to school feeding schemes and soup kitchens, helping reduce food insecurity.

We have also introduced tools to help us better measure and reflect our impact. These include an asset register for garden tools and seeds, a Monthly Impact Chart to track key data, and a SEED Community Map which is currently in development. The map will help document where SEED is supporting gardens, schools, and feeding schemes across Cape Town. QR codes have also been placed at the SEED site to help visitors share feedback and access our donation page more easily.

We have launched SEEDing Success Stories to begin documenting the experiences and journeys of alumni from our programmes. These stories will be shared in future updates.

Looking Ahead – Market Day and Greener School Grounds

We are excited to announce our Summer Market on 8 November at Rocklands Primary, where alumni will showcase their produce, crafts and eco-businesses. We are also exploring the creation of a mural at Caradale Primary with a local artist, and working with Mzansi Organics to plant a Miyawaki mini-forest at the school. These efforts aim to bring more beauty, biodiversity, and hands-on learning into school environments.

How You Can Help

We invite you to continue this journey with us. You can help cultivate a greener future by supporting our work through GlobalGiving. Every donation helps us train youth, plant gardens, and build food resilience in our communities. If you are not in a position to give right now, please consider sharing our campaign with friends or family. Your support helps roots grow deeper and branches reach further.

Thank you for helping us sow seeds of hope.

Warm regards
The SEED Team