10/10/10 Event

Food & Trees for Africa and Audi South Africa cordially organised the 10/10/10 event at Olievenhoutbosh in the Tshwane Municipality. The 10/10/10 events were happening around the world and were coordinated by the 350.org.

The residents of Olievenhoutbosch came in numbers to celebrate this special days; old and young. It was a great day which was attended by the Trees for Homes manager Ms. Joanne Rolt and the majority of the Trees for Homes Community Foresters. The programme started at exactly 10:10 with Solomon Mondlane entertaining the crowd with jokes as he was a Programme manager.

The Community Based Educacators were up and down interacting with the community members. It was a busy yet fun day. “It is the 10:10 and the date is 10/10/10...” said Solomon Mondlane to the laughter of the crowd. Though it was a very hot day, but the people stood patiently listening to all speakers presented to them.

“FTFA had been in Olievenhoutbosch for sometime now together with Audi. Olievenhout cannot do without us; Audi and FTFA cannot do without Olievenhout.” Said Edwin Makushu. “What we need to do as a community is to look after our trees. By so doing, our relationship will last for a long time.” Continued Edwin.

We had a poem by Nosipho Sibanda who called upon the residents to look after their trees because of the good work they do for us. “when you are sick, you need a tree to use its roots; when you need shelter, you need a tree; when you need shade, you need a tree. Why then do you destroy trees? Trees are a life to everyone.” Cried Nosipho.

The speaker from Tshwane, Samkelisiwe Chunda also praised the community for coming out in numbers to celebrate the 10/10/10 event which was coordinated by 350.org world wide, and organised by Food & Trees for Africa in partnership with Audi South Africa. “If you have missed 10:10, you can always celebrate one at 10:10 at night.” She said.

Solomon Mondlane closed on a high note with a tree planting demonstration. The people asked questions, “What makes a tree sometimes not to grow?”.

“Many things can make a tree to stop growing.” Said Solomon. “If you don’t take care of your tree; if you don’t water your tree. Basically follow the right steps I have taught you and your tree will grow well.”

The people were very excited as they received their trees and took pictures. “We love you FTFA and Audi” They shouted. The day was so great.

Eduplant School Competition

(Miyelani and Masingita doing it for permaculture)

(A dedicated FTFA Team)

22 September 2010

The Arbor month was a month of imparting knowledge even to our future generations. Food and Trees for Africa and Audi South Africa planted 100 trees at Bokgoni Technical High School in Pretoria, Attridgeville. “This is very important. Our childred need to be taught about the importance of planting trees. If we can start this awareness in this level, then we are sure of getting everyone involved in our fight against global warming.” Said Solomon Mondlane, FTFA Community Forester.

The event was organised for the 22^nd September 2010. It was attended by the Principal of the school, Mr. Tomothy Mathopa and the Tshwane representative, Mrs. Samkelisiwe Chunda.

“We want to believe that you will take care of this trees. This is your planet and you are the generation that must be more protective to it. Love your trees; water your trees and make sure that no cut them down.” Said Mrs. Chunda.

“Thank you FTFA and Audi South Africa for thinking of us. It is our main priority as a school to promote awareness about the environment. Our learners are aware of this “animal” called, Global Warming and its negative effects in our lives.” Said the Principal.

The event went very well with the principal planting the fisrt indigenous tree in the middle of the school yard. The learners sang “Audi and FTFA” around the tree. The tree was named after the principal.

The grade 11s and 12s were the one helpind with the planting of the trees, and we also had 5 goundsmen and two volunteers who responded to the facebook invitation. The planting process took the whole day.

Arbor Tree Distribution Event (06-09-2010)

Food & Trees for Africa celebrates Arbor month this September 2010. Our celebrations started on the first day of spring, 01 September 2010 by distributing 500 trees in the Community of Olievenhoutbosch. The celebration of the arbor month has continued up until the 06^th September 2010 with another distribution of 250 indigenous and 250 fruit trees distributed in the Community of Olievenhoutbosch.

The 06^th September 2010 was yet another beautiful green day of Olievenhoutbosch. Audi South Africa sponsored FTFA’s Trees for Home programme with another 500 trees. This event was well organised by Food & Trees for Africa.

More than 500 residents attended the distribution event in a colourful day. The programme started with Solomon Mondlaane introducing his team members. Amongst them were Mr. Sipho Mathe a Senior Community Forester and the Community Based Educators. Noted was the representative of the Tshwaane Municipality Mrs. Sam Chunda.

The arbor month is a well established greening initiative which promote and create a better life for the citizens of our country, focussing on tree planting and the benefits thereof. Our target as FTFA are poor communities, who really appreciaates the trees donated to them.

Mr. Mathe took over as a Programme Director for the Day. He introduced the CBE, Ntombixolo Poni who welcomed everyone to the event. “FTFA is like a close friend to this community, and Audi is like the chief”. Said Ntombixolo in her 5 minute speech. She advised the community to look after their trees, so that they can take care of them in return.

Mrs. Chunda was also introduced to the residents as the guest speaker, “I’m speechless.” Said Mrs. Chunda. “The work FTFA and Audi are doing is marvelous. We need more of this from Audi and FTFA. Let us support them fully and make sure we take care of our trees.” Continued Mrs. Chunda.

Ntomboxolo was given another chance to thank the community for responding to the invitations. Mr. Solomon Mondlane did the tree planting demonstration. After that, the people were given a tree to take home. Everyone was happy at the end of the event. “I really like trees, and here in the city they are very expensive. FTFA and Audi are doing a great job. Keep it up!”

JSE Green Day

JSE Exhibition
Date: 29 July 2010

FTFA represented by: Hazel Moloi and Solomon Mondlane
Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) attended the JSE Exhibition on 29 August 2010. The theme for the exhibition was “JSE Green Day”. It was a great day and well organised. FTFA was the most visible brand, having been in the field for 20 years. Mrs. Hazel Moloi and Solomon Mondlane were the repreentatives for FTFA. , and we had some representatives from Miss Earth, Pickitup, Joahannesburg Water and many other organisaations.

We were kept busy the whole day explaining to the people who FTFA is. Many people were more familiar about FTFA, and they appreciated what we are doing as an organisation.

By: Solomon and Hazel

Mandela Day - 67 Minutes

(Ziyabuya la!)

It was a wonderful day at Kids Impact pre-school in Kyasands. A total number of 50 volunteers from shell attended the tree-planting event which was organised by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), and sponsored by Shell. This was part of the Mandela Day - 67 minutes of community service.

This event was well managed by Trees for All Manager, Mary Ann who worked closely with Sipho, Solomon , Mookho (all Community Foresters). Adam, Sylvester and Megan also worked closely with Mary Ann.

The event started with Mary Ann giving orders to her team and allocating different roles to each one of them. Tools were placed in order (in five different groups); trees were also divided according to the number of the volunteers. There were 50 volunteers from shell. They were devided into five groups. Each group had 10 members.

The programme started at 09h00 with Mary Ann introducing the guests (shell volunteers) and few community members to the day’s event. She also introduced the FTFA staff members and briefed everyone about Food & Trees for Africa.

Solomon Mondlane was the programme Director. He introduced everyone to different groups which were named as; mulch, water, compost, tree and hole.

The groups were also given group leaders being; Solomon, Adam, Megan, Mookho and Emmanuel. Each group leader was given a task to monitor and supervise his/her own group in the planting of trees.

Emmauel did a tree planting demonstration and was helped by Mookho.

Few questions were asked by Emmanuel and the volunteers responded very well.

After a tree planting demonstration, each group started with the planting. Heavy digging was done as the ground was very hard. Each group was required to dig 10 holes for 10 trees on marked spots.

Everyone had fun. Some volunteers were busy digging; some carrying trees; some bringing mulch and some mixing compost and watering the trees. The Impact Kids-children also helped out by stamping around the trees while singing.

By 12 mid-day, 49 trees were planted and 1 was planted by the group from shell without any assistance from FTFA Community Foresters. That marked the end of the days activities. The children ended the day by entertaining everyone by music.

Everything went well. The teachers from the Impact Kids and the children were very happy and appreciated the innitiative by FTFA and Shell. “We really thank FTFA and Shell for this wonderful work.” Said the school Director.

(Heavy digging)

Kundzima Ukuba yindoda!

(Doing for the ladies out there)

(This is my work)

Extension 36 – First Evaluation

A number of 50 trees were evaluated at Olievenhoutbosch, Extension 36. All trees in the visited homes are growing well. The house owners are happy with their trees. The only problem is that, the trees are not mulched. It is that reason, while evaluating the trees, the house owners were reminded to mulch and make water basins.

Most of the residents said they water their trees twice a week, and the complained much about they type of soil they have. “Our land is not fertile. When they were building, they removed all the good soil.” Said one house owner.

Most fruit trees has no leaves but this is because it is still winter. People need to be reminded again and again about taking care of their trees.

Getting more involved with the kids in need

Megan visited a township to engage with the kids.

Project Report As of 24-06-2010: Permaculture Visit

By Megan Kallin

I went with Busi and two potential Japanese sponsors named Fumi and Masa to visit a Permaculture project at a primary school in Randburg. Masa is the founder of a Japanese NGO called Table for Two, which is now three years old. The idea behind the organization is that they are trying to combat the global food crisis whereby some of the world’s population eats too much food and is obese, and much of the world’s population is starving. The organization mostly operates in Japan but is also trying to start projects in the USA and perhaps Canada. What they do is add a surcharge to cafeteria foods served in workplaces and at schools, and they take the profits made from this surcharge to support the feeding scheme in Third World schools. Fumi has recently started working for the NGO, and he is currently doing a twelve-week internship in Malawi in the Millennium Villages Project as part of his masters degree in Development. His program is very similar to mine.

We drove to view an FTFA project at a primary school in Randburg, and we were welcomed there by the school grounds caretaker who is looking after the garden even though the school is on holiday. I was very impressed by all of the greenery on the school grounds- I’m sure that it will look even more beautiful in the summer. The Permaculture garden itself is quite large and it is flourishing despite the dry and cold weather. They had planted mostly spinach as well as parsley, celery, beetroot, and spring onions. They had also planted carrots and spinach underneath netting to protect the plants until they grew bigger. There was a sprinkler turned on watering some of the plants and they also had rainwater collection drums set up in a few places. There were also many water tanks and a plant nursery. There was a sign up in the garden explaining which plants were good companions, and there was a great deal of intercropping. They also use crop rotation.


The caretaker was very good to show us around the garden and explain everything to us. He was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot, and Fumi said that he learned a lot as well. The caretaker explained that they plant spring onions in winter because in summer they release more of a scent and attract pests, but if they are planted in winter then the plants will be strong and resilient against the pests. Tomatoes cannot be planted in winter because they cannot survive the frost. They cannot plant nearly as many plants in winter as they can in summer. The caretaker also showed us their compost heap and explained that they do not compost onions and garlic, but that they save these to use as natural pesticides. He said this pesticide works quite well. He also showed us their liquid manure composed of chicken manure, which they use to help fertilize the garden naturally. We also saw the orchard, and there were some small apple trees that had just been planted.

I was quite impressed with the project and the enthusiasm of the caretaker, who is supposed to be on holiday now but has volunteered to help out with the garden and with paving a driveway to the school. Fumi and Masa seemed quite impressed as well. Fumi is currently working on an agriculture project where they use chemical fertilizers to increase yields, and he and Masa were both impressed with what could be accomplished using organic fertilizers and natural processes.

Tree Evaluation Extension 23/24 - 17 June 2010

17th June 2010

Solomon Mondlane visited 92 houses taking pictures of each and every planted tree in every home. He also had an opportunity to speak with the house owners concerning the trees that were donated to them by Audi.

“My tree is doing well. I am following everything you told me to do guys.” Said Mr. Mabuyane with pride.

80% of the trees evaluated are doing well. The people water them twice a week. The challenges are that, most trees were not mulched and the water basins were not made around them.

During the evaluation I reminded the house owners about the importance of mulching the trees and making the water basins around them.

They promised to do that.