FARMING FOR THE FUTURE

By Abigail Baker

We would all like to make more of a difference in our communities and in the lives of those who need it most. However, many of us find ourselves lacking the opportunity, time and energy to take active steps by ourselves, thanks to the humdrum of our daily lives.

The organisers and pioneers of Backyard Farms have created an initiative that helps women in townships to generate an income from their own back gardens, and allows us, as consumers, to contribute to their efforts.

What is Backyard Farms?

The team at Backyard Farms (BF) find women in underprivileged communities in the Western Cape who have empty or unused backyards, and provides them with all they need to run their own little chilli farms. This includes compost, seedlings, potting soil, watering cans, fertiliser, and chilli plants - or some spinach, carrots, onions, kale, butternut or potatoes, through their partnership with The Pebbles Kitchen.

The women are trained in greenfingered ways so that they can yield the best crops, and the BF team returns to the micro-farms throughout the process to provide support, before buying all the crops to create the famous Backyard Farms chilli sauces.

After the manufacturing process, the sauces are sold all over the country, including at Wellness Warehouse, and directly by the farmers themselves within their communities.

What makes this initiative so special?

It was while running an emergency feeding project during the 2020 lockdown that Backyard Farms Founder Dom Johnson-Allen decided that he needed to do more than simply hand out food in underprivileged communities, but rather to empower members to create their own sustainable source of income.

The approach is inspired by the wellknown saying: “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”

Dom and his team upskill women in communities in need so that they can contribute to their own upliftment and financial independence - improving their lives and living standards, as well as that of those around them through a sustainable business model and infrastructure. SHOP THE SAUCES IN STORE, OR SCAN THE QR CODE TO BUY THEM ONLINE

How you can get involved

1. Savour the sauces

With the festive season on the horizon, now is the perfect time to try the delicious Backyard Farms creations - either to spice up your festive fare, or to wrap up as a unique and worthwhile gift.

The range includes options for everyone:

• The Backyard Farms Tikka Masala Curry Sauce is a wonderfully aromatic and mild curry sauce that is perfectly suited to any veggie, chicken, pork, or red meat dish.

• The Backyard Farms Mango & Chilli Sauce is for those who enjoy a little tingle at the back of their throats. It sits at about a medium on the hot scale, and will give any meal a deliciously fruity twist.

• The Backyard Farms Yababa Sauce Hot will definitely light a fire in your belly, as it includes their unique chilli paste (with rooibos tea), onions, and garlic. User beware!

2. Make a Direct Difference

Take it a step further by helping the team to grow and strengthen their network by buying a yababa chilli bush or a whole starter chilli farm kit for a new partner to join the Backyard Farms journey.

NEW at Wellness WarehouseMULTI DAILY VITAMINS & MINERALS

Support bone health and tissue regeneration with nutrients like Vitamins A, D, C and various minerals.

Effectively metabolise dietary fat, protein and carbohydrates at a cellular level. Support your gut microbiome with Orafti™ inulin fibre.

Protect your heart and cardiovascular system.

Optimise your immune system with Vitamin C, Chromium, Zinc and Selenium.

Maintain your nervous system. Repair and protect healthy DNA.

Your health depends on hundreds of complex enzyme reactions. Flora Force Multi provides the nutrients to maintain this harmony.