“We helped to do that”

The day has finally come where we launch our Feed the Soil Drop and Swop at Constantia Village.

It’s been a long time coming in terms of the need for an accessible facility and we are so excited that the Constantia Village team was so willing to partner with us on this programme. The beauty of it is that they’re already so invested in making a difference in our environment and minimizing waste to landfill. The shopping centre already has a thriving recycling operation at the rear parking area collecting clean bottles, paper, cardboard and plastic and it has now become a one-stop venue by adding kitchen waste. We look forward to seeing you at the Drop and Swop on Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm.

Sue, one of our members at the Sea Point pop-up was so disappointed last week when she came to share with me that she has introduced this programme to all her neighbours in their apartment building, and out of the 20 plus neighbours, only 4 bought into the concept of collecting their kitchen waste to support our programme.

To her this was a huge disappointment, but to me, that meant that four more individuals has been made aware of the effects of moving waste away from landfills, four more will consciously consider what goes into their garbage bins, four more will contribute towards urban farmers being able to receive nutrient rich compost to grow their organic veg.

The truth is, the only way we’re going to save our planet, is one person at a time, making a change and then allowing the ripple effect of its impact to snowball. The process might be slower than we wish it would but Sue has created impact in those four households, which is ultimately not just four individuals, but every other person connected to them who they will now share this message with.

A mom shared with us on Thursday at Vredehoek that she showed the newsletter and some of the programme pictures to her 10 year old daughter who saw the once dry and barren looking land now producing great harvests and with excitement she said: ”Mom, we helped to do that”.

Now how is that for impacting change. We are not looking for hit and run programmes, we really are seeking sustainability and for many who comes after us to not just experience the results of it but to be impacted to the point where they too would want to proudly say … “we helped to do that”.

With heart and soil

Danny & The Ladles of Love Team