The Hammarsdale Agric-ECD Gardens Project 2025

In Hammarsdale, a practical collaboration between PEP stores, NIYA Consulting and the DO MORE FOUNDATION is helping Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres improve how they feed and teach young children. Through the Agric-ECD Gardens Project, 40 centres have set up vegetable gardens aimed at reducing food costs and making nutritious meals more accessible. This was made possible by the generous funding allocated from PEP stores.

The goal is simple: create small gardens that are easy to maintain, lower centre expenses, and give children regular exposure to where their food comes from. Each garden adds fresh produce from cabbage, spinach, beetroot, green peppers, onions to tomatoes all added to daily meals served at the centre. Any unsed product provides an additional income stream to the centre through sales within the community. Altogether, over 12,800 seedlings have been planted across these sites over the past year.

A key part of the work has been partnering with Elangeni College using vertical garden technology. Fourteen students joined the project team to support garden maintenance and ECD training, gaining hands-on agricultural experience while strengthening local capacity. This arrangement benefits both the centres and the students, building a small but meaningful link between learning institutions and community needs.

Training for ECD gardeners has been another core feature that has taken place at the communal garden based within the Use-It Waste Benification centre. Seventeen gardeners took part in sessions covering practical topics like soil preparation, planting, pest management, and composting. These sessions also included broader discussions on waste and climate impacts, encouraging small changes that add up over time.

Consistent communication with ECD centre heads has been crucial. Open lines of dialogue have helped everyone understand the day-to-day challenges and adapt the support where needed. This approach has built trust and encouraged local ownership, which is essential for the gardens to last beyond the initial setup.

Importantly, the project didn’t face major weather or natural setbacks this year, giving the gardens time to take root and become part of everyday routines. Centres are already seeing the value in planning ahead and investing further in their plots.

Looking forward, the gardens are expected to continue easing food costs and improving the quality of meals for children. They’re also creating small opportunities for children to learn by watching and helping in the gardens which incluided lessons in life sciences, where food comes from, and basic care for the environment.

The Hammarsdale Agric-ECD Gardens Project shows what can be achieved with practical partnerships, straightforward goals, and steady support. By focusing on local ownership and skills, it’s laying the groundwork for gardens that continue to serve these centres into the future.