…more info on this workshop.

In other words, get out there and grow and eat more fresh fruit and veggies!

If you’re interested in learning how to do this Soil for Life has excellent workshops that can teach you all you need to know.  We also have the best soil enhancers, fresh vegetables and preserves on offer. So feel free to come and visit us or give us a call.

Christmas gifts and delicious food makes a trip to the Market great for kids, big or small. This unique experience gets you in the mood to tackle your Christmas shopping.

The market is bigger than ever before and Soil for Life will be the beneficiary of this event enabling you to make it a truly memorable Christmas for others.

So get into the Christmas spirit while browsing the twinkling stalls and soaking up the unique, bustling atmosphere.

1st – A 25m² Organic vegetable Garden, Grow To Live workshop (2 days) and two support visits.

2nd – A Grow To Live workshop (2 days), a planter box and the materials needed to set it up.

3rd – A choice of any one of the Soil for Life morning workshops.

4th – An autographed edition of Pat’s book “Grow to Live”.

5th – A vegetable box full of delicious, organic seasonal vegetables from Soil for Life’s garden.

Tickets cost R100,-
The lucky draw will take place on 25 November 2011 at the Soil for Life AGM.

All proceeds raised go towards Soil for Life’s work in the townships across Cape Town. Your contribution will help us to keep growing people who are more food secure, self-sustaining and better able to support their family and other dependents.

Please use the bank details below to complete your EFT.
As payment reference please write ‘Your full name, the letters LD, followed by the number of tickets you’d like to buy. For Example: James Brown LD X6

Bank details Soil for Life:

ABSA (Cheque account)
Wynberg Branch
Branch Code: 632005
Account Number: 405 685 5300

Come join us for a fun night of food, drinks, prizes and quiz ridiculousity as part of a FUNdraiser for Soil for Life.

Venue: The Mac (Med School, 2nd Level of Barnard Fuller Building)

Start time: 7:00 pm

Entry:  R50 per person (including a free glass of wine)

Team: 5-6 people per team

Pay at the door.
Alcohol and food will be on sale.

To confirm your attendance please call or email Louise Vaughan, 0711522775 or louise@soilforlife.co.za or on facebook.

CLEANSE, ENHANCE, ENRICH YOUR LIFE WITH HEALING HERBS

In bygone days, everyone knew how to draw from Mother Nature’s bounty to nourish, maintain and heal the body – both on the outside and within.

It’s time to recall and use that knowledge. Learn all about propagating, growing and using herbs in the fun, hands-on Soil for Life way and go home brimming with knowledge and inspired!

PART 1 will deal with infusions, decoctions, tinctures etc. and you’ll make your own nourishing skin cream to take home.

In PART 2 you can learn more about the healing properties of herbs and just how easy it is to propagate your own.

PART 1: 29 October 2011.
PART 2: 5 November 2011.

9 am to 3.30 pm both days.

Cost R250 per session. Or book for both for R450.

e-mail  info@soilforlife.co.za or call (021) 794 4982 to book. Payments can be made directly into the Soil for Life account : ABSA Wynberg, (632005), Account 4056855300. Proof of payment to  info@soilforlife.co.za. Electronic gift vouchers available.

For everyone who asked for more… Bookings are now open for Pat Featherstone’s Preserves workshop with a difference.  Learn to make your own jams, chutneys, pickles, curds and cordials in a beautiful setting with loads of fun and laughs along the way.

PART 1 will focus on jams, cordials and curds.
PART 2 will cover  all you need to know to come up with fabulous chutneys using interesting ingredients.

Stun your family and friends with Christmas gifts that taste a whole lot better than store-bought equivalents  – at a fraction of the price.  Especially if you have a thriving veggie garden to draw from!

Join us from 9 am to 1 pm on 26 November 2011 for PART 1 and 10 December 2011 for PART 2.
Cost: R250.00 per workshop.  Or book now for both at a discounted price of R450.

Venue: Soil for Life Training and Resource Centre, Brounger Road, Constantia.  Only 20 bookings per session can be accommodated, so book NOW!

E-mail info@soilforlife.co.za or call 021 794 4982 to book.  Payments can be made by EFT to ABSA Wynberg, 632005, Account 4056855300.  Proof of payment to info@soilforlife.co.za Electronic gift vouchers available.

Soil for Life hosts a Corporate Social Investor breakfast on 21 September 2011 in Constantia. We are passionate about ensuring sustainable development and having a real impact in the communities in which we work, implementing effective food security initiatives. We invite committed Investors and influencers to join us.

“We believe that, each of us have a role to play and are responsible for the impact of our lives in the organisations we serve. This breakfast is a platform for sharing and growing these experiences.” Says, Penny de Villiers, Marketing Manager, Soil for Life.

Influential speakers are going to address some core issues around CSI and sustainability. Andy le May, M.D. of icology, a sustainability consultancy, presents a very powerful presentation which he magically moves you to action and personal accountability, using a unique and insightful process. Whilst Prof Ralph Hamann (Associate Professor of the UCT, Graduate School of Business) challenges us with new perspectives regarding the role Corporate Social Investors play and how innovation can create powerful change. The breakfast will end on a fascinating note as SA’s leading science writer, Leonie Joubert addresses SA food security issues and shares some of her research regarding the impacts on children. Leonie is currently working on her book covering this subject and is renowned as the author of “Scorched: South Africa’s changing climate.” Then its, all board the “Green Bus Company’s” sponsored vehicle, for a tour of what inspirational work is taking place in our communities on our doorstep. A breakfast session you won’t forget.

View full invite details here.

Venue: Soil for Life, Stables Lane( off Brounger Way /Peddlars on the Bend) Constantia.

RSVP : Tanya. Email info@soilforlife.co.za Telephone: 0871502747/0217944982

Cost: No charge (space limited)

The Department of Trade and Industry and Unltd awarded this team with the “Social Entreprenerus Award” and R50 000 towards developing their business further.  Enablilng them to fence in the property, buy water tanks and expand.  The criteria of the competition was to prove that individuals had a successful business idea and that the business had a strong social impact.

Visible impacts are….

• A change in behaviour; no longing seeing  rubbish as something to be thrown away but a useable item in gardening.
• Education in the use of waste, which is now used to enrich the soil, making successful growing possible in impossible sandy wastelands.
• Raised awareness and an increased sense of pride in the school grounds which has resulted in a better attitude towards littering and recycling. 

Soil for Life now uses this site as a base in which to serve the community and train others to replicate what they have done. They also purchase compost and seedlings from the growers supplimenting  their income 

This school initiative  also involves a group of 12 pupils who have formed  a school gardening  club.  This educates and teaches children along the same principals.

We salute you brave, hardworking ladies who have stepped out of poverty.  We thank our donors, funders, members who contribute to changing people lives in a meaningful and visable way.

Spier and Soil for life spent the day creating an awesome vegetable and herb garden at the efficiently run Eerste River State Hospital. The first objective is to be able to supplement the daily meals with highly nutritious organic vegetables as there is a nutritional need for complex carbohydrates  in the diets of AIDS as well as other patients.  The garden will also offer patients the opportunity to go outdoors and gain a little  exercise, sunshine, stress management and basically improve psychological well being.

 Eerste River Hospital

 Eerste River Hospital was commissioned in September 2002 servicing the Eastern Sub-District as well as Delft.  The hospital has various departments: Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Emergency Unit and Surgery.  However this hospital has become a life line for aids sufferers in the region and currently supports over 1300 aids patients monthly as well as various clinics in the area. With the Department of Health’s new drive to increase testing these numbers are going to continue growing.

 5.7 Million South Africans are infected with HIV, the largest number of people living with the virus in any single country. 1000 South Africans die from aids each day.  SA has the continent’s largest number of aids orphans at over 1.4 million children.* (source UNAIDS 2008)

Thanks

 A special thanks to Spier staff who volunteered their time and energy and not only did they financially support this project but they physically made sure that it happened.

 Thank you also to Santam who supplied seeds and seedlings and maintenance of the garden.

 Hospital food will never taste the same again!