Infodoc : Sciences, Techniques et Culture

This ethnobotanical study examines school-based community garden projects in an urban South African context. This research focuses on sites in the Western Cape implemented by the Food Gardens for Africa programme of Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA), a national Non-Governmental Organisation. Sites from varying organisations are included for comparative purposes. The methodology for collecting the data included site resource assessments, semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, participatory visual analysis, and participatory observation. The indigenous plants established in the sites included (in order of frequency) Artemesia afra, Leonotis leonorus, Carpobrotus edulis, Tulbaghia violacea, Pelargonium spp, Bulbine frutenscens, Celtis Africana, Searsia lancea, Amaranthus spp, and Har[...]

This ethnobotanical study examines school-based community garden projects in an urban South African context. This research focuses on sites in the Western Cape implemented by the Food Gardens for Africa programme of Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA), a national Non-Governmental Organisation. Sites from varying organisations are included for comparative purposes. The methodology for collecting the data included site resource assessments, semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, participatory visual analysis, and participatory observation. The indigenous plants established in the sites included (in order of frequency) Artemesia afra, Leonotis leonorus, Carpobrotus edulis, Tulbaghia violacea, Pelargonium spp, Bulbine frutenscens, Celtis Africana, Searsia lancea, Amaranthus spp, and Harpephyllum caffrum. Due to the bio-cultural and biodiversity approach to the study,it was identified that these plants all have traditional cultural value, either with medicinal, spiritual or edible qualities, and the two tree species Celtis Africana and Searsia lancea which have protected conservation status. This said, these plants were either established prior to FTFA intervention, or were mainly introduced due to their environmental services. Despite the abundant biodiversity and bio-cultural diversity within the country, the gardens focused on few exotic food species. It is recommended that FTFA seeks to create best practice design and implementation procedures to appropriately take into account local preferences, and social and environmental considerations. With the recognition that food security improvements should remain a priority of such interventions, I suggest that integration of agro-biodiversity and local bio-cultural values may extend the role of these interventions: enhance dietary diversity; create intercultural exchange in a culturally diverse society; prevent the erosion of traditional phytomedicinal knowledge; contribute to sustainable resource management; and promote nutritional security.