Guide

Info guides

Hydroponics

Mar 23, 2026

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7 min read

🌱🐟💰 Tunnels, Growing & Funding

Good morning, family, another productive Friday gathering with Bishop leading the charge, with members joining from across the country. Here’s what’s moving forward in our growing network. The atmosphere was warm and full of momentum as we celebrated tangible progress and fresh opportunities in our shared mission through agriculture.

Emma Archer, +9

Hydroponics

🧑🏽‍🌾 📊 Balemi Agricultural Survey 2026: Key Findings from 600+ Vaal Farmers Revealed

Mar 9, 2026

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6 min read

🧑🏽‍🌾 📊 Balemi Agricultural Survey 2026: Key Findings from 600+ Vaal Farmers Revealed

Last Friday’s PV Agri meeting delivered one of the most important moments yet for urban agriculture in South Africa. The official results of the Balemi Agricultural Survey — a major new study involving 606 small-scale farmers in the Vaal townships — were presented in full by David Dickinson and Mannana Matima (WiARM).This groundbreaking report exposes the harsh realities facing township farmers (especially women): land hunger in the middle of unused open spaces, water scarcity, widespread theft, poor government support and urgent training needs. But it also lights a clear path forward.

Manana Matima, +11

Market News

⛏️ ⚠️ Advancing Community Resilience Amid Environmental Challenges

Feb 2, 2026

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5 min read

⛏️ ⚠️ Advancing Community Resilience Amid Environmental Challenges

This weeks session was particularly focused on the longstanding tensions between mining operations and affected communities, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and innovative rehabilitation strategies. Brief updates from Mr. Mbatha and Sheila further highlighted ongoing legal battles and skills-building initiatives, all aimed at empowering vulnerable populations to reclaim agency in the face of environmental and economic pressures. These discussions reflect our collective commitment to transformative action that prioritizes human dignity and ecological integrity.

Manana Matima, +9

Food Kitchens

+10

🌻 Inspiring Community Gardens: Lessons from Plettenberg Bay

Jan 12, 2026

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9 min read

🌻 Inspiring Community Gardens: Lessons from Plettenberg Bay

Highlighting the power of grassroots innovation, the meeting featured an inspiring presentation from Mary-Anne Mngomezulu of the Native Root Shelter, demonstrating how simple, sustainable practices can transform communities and empower the vulnerable.

Emma Archer, +5

Community

🐞 Cultivating Resilience and Hope: Our 1st Agriculture Meeting 2026

Jan 5, 2026

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6 min read

🐞 Cultivating Resilience and Hope: Our 1st Agriculture Meeting 2026

From drought-stricken rural landscapes to overlooked urban spaces in Johannesburg, team members shared honest updates on challenges like water scarcity and flood recovery, alongside promising initiatives to grow food in abandoned buildings—providing nutrition, skills, and dignity to vulnerable communities, including blind residents facing daily hardship. These efforts are not abstract; they address real human needs, fostering self-reliance and hope where it is needed most.

Emma Archer, +5

Food Kitchens

+10

⛏️ 🪴 Mined Land to Food Security, Progress and Challenges in Southern Africa’s Grassroots Projects

Dec 15, 2025

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8 min read

⛏️ 🪴 Mined Land to Food Security, Progress and Challenges in Southern Africa’s Grassroots Projects

Imagine land scarred by mining, lying barren while nearby families struggle to eat. Imagine churches with empty plots that could grow food and income, yet remain fallow. Now imagine ordinary people – guided by faith and practical experience – stepping forward to change that reality. That is exactly what unfolded in the latest meeting of Bishop Verryn’s agriculture and community development platform on 12 December 2025.

Paul Verryn, +6

Food Kitchens

📗 🫘 Seeds of Change Are Being Planted – Quietly, Persistently, Powerfully

Dec 1, 2025

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10 min read

📗 🫘 Seeds of Change Are Being Planted – Quietly, Persistently, Powerfully

Dear Partners, Friday morning’s rain across Gauteng and beyond felt like a blessing on every garden, every bag, every patch of earth we are fighting for. This weeks meeting was shorter than usual (the Bishop had to rush to a teenage-pregnancy prevention event in Birchwoods), but the meeting carried the same fire we have come to recognise as the heartbeat of this movement. Here’s what moved forward today:

Manana Matima, +8

Video Tuts

+10

🌞 ⛈️ Forecasting Rain: How Science Guides Our Food Security Efforts

Oct 13, 2025

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8 min read

🌞 ⛈️ Forecasting Rain: How Science Guides Our Food Security Efforts

Dr. Willem Landman shared fresh seasonal forecasts predicting a weak La Niña phase, bringing potential wetter conditions to South Africa's summer rainfall regions like Gauteng and beyond. By blending expert science with grassroots passion, we're building resilience against climate challenges—join us in cultivating sustainable futures for vulnerable families.

Manana Matima, +6

Video Tuts

🏗️ Building United Frameworks: Funding, Skills, and Nationwide Impact in South African Agriculture

Oct 6, 2025

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8 min read

🏗️ Building United Frameworks: Funding, Skills, and Nationwide Impact in South African Agriculture

Bishop Paul Verryn leads a dedicated group of changemakers in addressing critical barriers to community empowerment through agriculture, exploring innovative roadmaps for securing funding, to expand self-sustaining initiatives nationwide, and building essential organizational skills.

Emma Archer, +10

Community

Sep 8, 2025

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6 min read

🚜 🌱Mini Tractors and Moringa Magic!

Ready to harvest ideas? Workshops in Gqeberha, new Moringa seed plantings, and an upcoming IFC funding event in Johannesburg on partnerships. Discover how we're building sustainable futures together!

Manana Matima, +7

BioChar

Jul 14, 2025

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9 min read

🥕11th July 2025

Issue 2. Community Hubs update, Child-headed households, Sustainability, Waste for Food, Donations, Veg Sales, Media & more.

Manana Matima, +3

Hydroponics

🌱 4th July 2025 Report + Mid-Winter Planting and Planning

Jul 7, 2025

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18 min read

🌱 4th July 2025 Report + Mid-Winter Planting and Planning

Issue 1.

Manana Matima, +9

Guide

🌱🐟💰 Tunnels, Growing & Funding

🧑🏽‍🌾 📊 Balemi Agricultural Survey 2026: Key Findings from 600+ Vaal Farmers Revealed

⛏️ ⚠️ Advancing Community Resilience Amid Environmental Challenges

🌻 Inspiring Community Gardens: Lessons from Plettenberg Bay

🐞 Cultivating Resilience and Hope: Our 1st Agriculture Meeting 2026

⛏️ 🪴 Mined Land to Food Security, Progress and Challenges in Southern Africa’s Grassroots Projects

📗 🫘 Seeds of Change Are Being Planted – Quietly, Persistently, Powerfully

🌞 ⛈️ Forecasting Rain: How Science Guides Our Food Security Efforts

🏗️ Building United Frameworks: Funding, Skills, and Nationwide Impact in South African Agriculture

🚜 🌱Mini Tractors and Moringa Magic!

🥕11th July 2025

🌱 4th July 2025 Report + Mid-Winter Planting and Planning

The PV Agri Report