[Scpg] You Tube Permaculture in Schools: Food & Trees for Africa Celebration 2007 South Africa

[Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uADS8x-XinU

Food and Trees For Africa (FTFA)www.trees.org.za (Permaculture 
Organization in South Africa ) and Woolworths Trust EduPlant 
Celebration of Permaculture School Gardens 2007 in South Africa
Schools food gardening and greening programme that promotes and 
supports schools in the growing of good food using resource-efficient 
Permaculture techniques

Press release in 2007 about the program

Woolworths Trust EduPlant 2007 Launches With Permaculture Workshops
  With threats of global climate change looming large, the challenges 
of sustainable living will top many an agenda in 2007.  Woolworths 
Trust EduPlant launches its 2007 programme with a series of free, 
empowering workshops that will help educators to create food-rich, 
sustainable environments at South African schools.



Co-ordinated by Food and Trees For Africa (FTFA), Woolworths Trust 
EduPlant in association with the Department of Water Affairs and 
Forestry, Landcare SA and SABC Education, is the leading schools food 
gardening and greening programme that promotes and supports schools 
in the growing of good food using resource-efficient permaculture techniques.



Through their participation in EduPlant, thousands of schools across 
the country have become champions of community development; promoting 
food security, improved nutrition and self-reliance.  Last year, more 
than 380 schools participated in the Woolworths Trust EduPlant 
programme.  Each year, Woolworths Trust EduPlant starts out by 
holding free one-day workshops in all nine provinces.  All interested 
educators are encouraged to attend.



As many a South African educator can attest to, Woolworths Trust 
EduPlant workshops are inspiring and enjoyable events.  Group 
interaction and experiential exercises are used to create a fun and 
meaningful learning environment.  Educators learn all about 
world-renowned permaculture ethics and techniques.  Permaculture is a 
valuable system of environmentally-friendly gardening and farming, 
design-driven to mirror the healthy patterns of Nature's own 
eco-systems.  Workshop topics include water harvesting, soil 
improvement, natural resource mapping, recycling design as well as 
how to involve learners in the school's living, learning laboratory.



During the year, motivated teachers are supported in their efforts to 
design and create improved, sustainable, food-rich school 
environments.  They then enter their school gardens into the annual 
Woolworths Trust EduPlant competition where they could participate in 
the exciting finals event and win prizes.



In 2007, EduPlant also celebrates the announcement by the Woolworths 
Trust that it will continue as the major sponsor through to 
2010.  Chairman of the Woolworths Trust, Mr Brian Frost says: 
"Long-term commitment is important to sustain a programme such as 
EduPlant where the benefits to schools accrue year after year. At the 
entry level, Woolworths Trust EduPlant helps schools to improve the 
nutrition of hungry learners and to enhance and protect the school's 
physical environment.  However, the benefits of EduPlant are 
far-reaching and ever-increasing.  We look forward now to the 2007 
Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme with the aim of empowering more 
and more South African learners and educators."



A key strength is that Woolworths Trust EduPlant gives people the 
knowledge and skills that enable them to grow their own good food, to 
comprehend the interdependence of natural systems, to care well for 
their environment and to share their food gardening expertise with 
their communities.   Many of the educators who participate in the 
programme become 'champions' of food security in their communities by 
teaching other schools and community groups how to grow their own 
permaculture gardens.  The schools themselves become hubs of 
environmental awareness, sustainable living and nutritional 
knowledge, as well as resources of good food.  They play an important 
role in promoting self-reliance and home-grown sustainable 
development, thereby increasing their community's confidence and 
capacity to drive their own development.