Ghetto Gardeners

Ghetto Gardeners affectionately known as “GG” was established in 2018 by Ludwe Qamata from Site C in Khayelitsha with the purpose of empowering young and old with organic vegetable development skills and knowledge. GG encourages a positive change within community and household spaces by transforming unused and used areas to beautiful gardens. Ludwe having spent years in prison turned his life around and as such is helping other young people involved in criminal activities to stop and join him and others in their movement “Carry the spade and walk Us” is the motto they live by. With 12 members all around the community of Khayelitsha, they are responsible for 108 community and household gardens they help cultivate, planting, maintaining and supplying vegetables door-to-door. GG aims to grow a sustainable program that renders high quality training to the youth and help produce nutritional vegetables for community consumption and sale.

Ludwe and the GG team have their base at the Sinovuyo Seniors Club and together with some of the seniors are responsible for the garden, planting crops, maintaining and harvesting produce for the club’s daily lunch and for seniors to take home. The garden has a variety of organic vegetables like spring onion, beetroot, spinach, cauliflowers, broccoli, cabbage, turnip, potatoes, lettuce, green peppers and herbs such mint, basil and coriander.