Celebrating Arbour Day

Did you know that in South Africa, each year on Arbour Day there are two classes of indigenous trees that are chosen to be planted? Ones that are common, and ones that are rare.

This year, in the common category it is the Acacia xanthophloea – fever tree or koorsboom; the rare species are Rothmania capensis (Cape gardenia, Kaapse katjiepiering), Rothmannia globosa (Bell gardenia, klokkies-katjiepiering), and Cladostemon kirkii (tonga-kerrie, tongakierie).

Plant trees, and save them

For most people, Arbour Week has always been about planting trees: it is something very visible, tangible and allows one to leave a legacy that will more than likely last several generations.

However, when planting, we also need to think about saving trees. Most forests in the world are concentrated in the developing world. This situation is quickly changing, as agriculture – and particularly cooking – is driving deforestation in some of the world’s poorest countries.

South Africa is no exception, where rising electricity and fossil-fuel prices are driving increasing numbers of people (more than two million households already) to use wood and charcoal to meet their daily energy needs.

Worldwide, more than 3 billion people (half of the world’s population) rely on wood, charcoal or dung to cook their meals, heat their houses and boil water.

Not only does the use of open fires constitute a serious health risk (indoor air pollution kills one person every 20 seconds) and contribute significantly to climate change, but it is also one of the key drivers behind deforestation.

Open fires are notoriously inefficient, with the vast majority of energy being lost – forcing households to use much more wood or charcoal than necessary.

Arbour Week is therefore not only a time to plant trees, but also to save them: a simple yet effective way of doing this is through using highly efficient rocket stoves. These stoves use at least 50% less wood and emit up to 70% less smoke and greenhouse gases. They keep their heat for hours, serving a dual purpose as both stove and heater.

The stoves are developed by the Aprovecho Research Center in the United States, specifically for low-income households that frequently use wood or charcoal.

The stoves consist of a sheet metal outer cover, cast-iron stove top and (most importantly) an aerated ceramic clay inner.

About 100 000 of these stoves are in use in India and China, and they last at least two years if used daily.

For more information on the StoveTec rocket stoves, contact Restio Energy on (021) 850 0771 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The stoves retail for between R300 and R400 (depending on the model), and wholesale prices are available for those interested in retailing them in their area.

Dutch NGOs contribute to an integrated community project

On 27 August 2010, a partnership food gardening project at the Boy Boy Preschool in Grahamstown was launched.

This launch marked the beginning of a seed distribution network.

The project was started to create a food garden that supplemented the home kitchens of unemployed community members, spread permaculture values and assisted with medicinal herb-growing and distribution.

The seed distribution for the people of Xolani, members of the student governing board, parents at the preschool, local groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the immediate area takes the project out into the community.

Two Dutch organisations, the NDCO and the 1% Club, raised funds in 2009 for the local social enterprise, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), to help this preschool develop permaculture gardens to educate and feed the learners and members of the surrounding community.

Despite the recent drought, the Boy Boy Preschool gardens have become the centre for a network. It has even opened up a section of arable fenced land to interested parents and members of the Singaphi neighbourhood to be involved in growing food.

FTFA’s permaculture manager Patrick Leckie says, “This project is remarkable because despite major setbacks due to drought, it is proving that with hard work and commitment, a community can come together to make a real difference to their environment. By sharing what they have learnt, what they are growing and by sharing seeds, the project members are showing us what a ‘community’ really means.”

Many trees have been planted, and structural improvements have occurred to the garden and the preschool itself over the past year. The infrastructure, tools and training provided by FTFA over this past year forms the foundation for this community project, one in which the practice of organic gardening methods is shared.

FTFA hopes this garden will continue to serve to educate, feed and integrate the neighbourhood, who will share seeds and resources.

According to the committee chairperson of the Masekhule (“let us grow”) group Dumisane Sophile, “This is part of the green revolution, and Robyn Hills [FTFA project officer] has shared a lot of good training and education, which the community is benefiting from.”

For more information

on this project, contact Hills on

082 786 7564

e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .