FROM SMALL SEEDS

LEE CURRIE LOOKS AT ONE INGENIOUS INITIATIVE THAT STARTED DURING

LOCKDOWN WHICH HAS RESULTED IN

JOB CREATION, QUALITY VEGETABLES, AND SOLVING A LITTER PROBLEM

Who can a rabbit warren with runners forget and walkers ecstatic to be out the despite the fact that it was quite days overcrowded,” he recalls. during As there were no toilets lockdown when we weren’t available on the promenade allowed outdoors to exercise? at the time, Duncan opened Then when we were permitted a the facilities in the cafe to precious three-hour stint, people the public. Then, in tune with all but exploded out of their the general camaraderie of homes. For many, uMhlanga those passing by, he began Promenade was their first to distribute complimentary choice – and Duncan Heafield, coffees. However, his owner of Bellezar Beach Cafe generosity created a – remembers it well. Open problem – the single-use from 5.30am, his cafe opens beverage cups were rapidly directly on to the promenade. accumulating. With the help “The promenade looked like of the UIP and Cabana Beach

ABOVE: Duncan and Zethu preparing the produce for farmers market day held on Tuesdays at Cabana Beach Resort. TOP RIGHT: The seedlings in their cups are planted straight into the soil, resulting in quality vegetables to be proud of. LEFT: Trays of seedlings in biodegradable coffee cups – the start of a new initiative.

Resort where Bellezar is housed, dedicated bins were placed along the promenade.

“At one stage there were about 600 cups in the bins in just one day. The cleaners were in lockdown and the refuse sites were closed, so we had to think of something. We then had the idea to plant vegetable seedlings in the cups with a view to growing our own produce. We purchased some seedlings from a co-op farm near uMhlanga and after sanitising the cups began to experiment with a variety of

vegetables,” explains Duncan.

“Before long we had so many seedlings we ran out of space – even my house resembled a seedling hatchery. Then we heard of a lady farmer near Verulam, Zethu Mdletshe, who had been growing vegetables for restaurants and farmers markets, but had become severely affected by the lockdown. It seemed logical to give her the seedlings to grow for us and buy the produce back. Cabana donated monkey proof tunnels and Zethu started to grow carrots, spinach, kale, tomatoes, peppers, etc, organically grown and of excellent quality. The vegetables now feature on our menu and Zethu also supplies two other restaurants nearby.”

Later when Cabana was open to visitors, the guests’ children became involved in planting the seedlings as part of their activity programmes.

To date a staggering 120 000odd cups have been collected with more coming in hourly. “We’ve now started growing vegetables like mangetout and experimenting with micro herbs. What is even more special about this initiative is that the cups are biodegradable and planted straight into the ground. We’re also delighted that five more people have since been employed at the farm,” smiles Duncan.

Festive Living Treasures

Last year 800 decorative plants, mostly succulents, were delivered to several old age/ frail care homes in Durban during the festive season by Bellezar and Cabana. In

May this year the public were invited to decorate pot plants “to give them something to do during lockdown” via Bellezar’s Facebook page. Duncan received an overwhelming response, later delivering over 1 000 plants with personal messages to the homes. “Many of these people weren’t able to see their families at all, and it was amazing how much they appreciated a small plant. We plan to deliver 1 500 plants to the various homes this December.”

While we continue to live with the terrible toll the pandemic is taking, sometimes a feel-good story shines brightly through the darkness. This is one of them. *