Umlazi      Conservation Conversation

The Garden of Life Project

 

Having completed Tangencya 1 in 2005, whereby I worked with six Zulu wood carvers on a cooperative sculpture, whose aim was to promote indigenous African tree appreciation and link the material (wood) back to the living tree,

I was then invited back this year to continue the conservation theme. 

 
Andrew St. Ledger at Silverglen Nursery

This time my brief was to establish an indigenous tree nursery in a township.  After much communication via email, including some changes, the plan evolved to include a medicinal plant nursery alongside the trees, with a view to exploring assisting the HIV problem via natural medicines, and the potential of creating an income for the community.  My visit coincided with a wonderful three day course at Silverglen indigenous plant and tree nursery, on establishing a medicinal plant nursery for Sangoma’s (traditional healers).  On arrival at Silverglen, the teacher, Petrus Mongameli, was a little bit surprised to see a white Irishman interested in learning with the Sangoma’s. However, I settled in very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to access very important knowledge as well as gain an unique insight into a very special part of Zulu culture, the tradition of healing through the muti plants coupled to invoking the spirits of the ancestor’s, whom the Zulu culture, like all earth based indigenous cultures, see the spirit world as very real, in the same way as time was always seen, compared to a river flowing with the past, present and future, always accessible.

We learned the history of Silverglen, now a 300 hectare nature reserve where all plants and trees are grown from seed collected within the reserve.  This is a very valuable seed bank in terms of recreating biodiversity for conservation and treestoration projects.  This seed energy is true wealth as the seeds hold the information in their DNA which allows us to restore degraded landscapes utilising the complexity of resources provided for, by the indigenous trees and plants.

Silverglen emphasized how important the native trees and plants are, and the inter relationships that exists between plants, animals, fungi, insects etc. within ecosystems.  This tied in nicely with my message that the native woodland of any place is the most important land-based habitat for all wildlife and biodiversity.

The Convention on Biodiversity (1993) which followed on the Rio de Janeiro (1992) where Agenda 21 (what we all must do to survive the 21^st Century) was agreed by 172 nations, including South Africa.  This Convention on Biodiversity, which has been the major driving force in the new international attitude to nature conservation, was created to maintain and restore the world’s native biodiversity which is disappearing at an alarming and accelerating rate.  Sustainability is defined in the Convention as whatever does not lead to the long-term decline of native bioderversity.  The Convention states: “Noting further that the fundamental requirement for the conservation of biological diversity is the in situ (place of origin) conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings”. The Convention then defines sustainable use as “the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biodiversity”.  Thus the needs in the definition of sustainability as “development which meets the needs of today’s generation without compromising the needs of future generations” refers to their needs in relation to the conservation of native biodiversity. Without this understanding, the definition is so vague as to render almost any development “sustainable”.  At all times it is clear that native biodiversity is the overwhelming concern and forms the basis of the idea of sustainability.  Should anyone have any doubts about this, the Convention is on the Internet, where these points are written in black and white. 

The Convention of biological diversity draws heavily from the absolute primordial law which nature has laid down – the law of the interdependence of all physical existences.  Nature never separates her animal and vegetable world:  in their lives, as in their decay and deaths, beasts and plants are absolutely interlocked.  She does not even recognise monoculture (growing of single species as a crop) in her vegetable kingdom.  Her sowings and harvestings are mixed and intermingled to the last degree, the prairie, the forest, the moor, the marsh, the river, the lake, the ocean include in their several ways an interweaving of existences which is a dramatic lesson. 

The garden project at Umlazi draws on these understandings, using an idea called forest gardening, which is a copy of nature’s common sense approach to gardening which included using useful trees, shrubs i.e. medicinal and fruiting, with vegetables mixed in with medicinal plants, some of which we planted on the edge of the vegetable plot to ward off insects, snails etc.  This is called companion planting, which eliminates the need for pesticides etc.  Wild garlic is one such native plant who’s pungent odour wards off many pests that can otherwise cause a lot of damage in the garden.

We also established two mounded soil circles in which we planted many medicinal plants in a spiral fashion, which maximises the light, nutrients etc. in a small space, allowing for greater yields.

We emphasized the importance of good compost rich with humus (living material, earthworms, insects, fungi) to make the soil more fertile.  In soils rich in humus the roots of the crop and the particles of the soil come into contact in two ways, firstly by means of the soil solution which contains, among other things, small quantities of nitrates, phosphates and potash salts.  Secondly, by means of the mycorrhizal (fungi/mushrooms) association:  this is a partnership between the active cells of the roots with the threads of fungal matter, this forms a living bridge between the plant and the humus in the soil.  The roots and fungus grow together. 

The relationship is one of symbiosis, the precise details are yet to be investigated.  A fungus living on the humus (living material) in the soil, invades the cells of the active part of the roots and lives there, finally being itself digested by the plant.  The fungus boosts the plant’s immune system as they contain natural antibiotics, and in turn feeds on sugars produced by the plant.  The crop grows by means of the soil solution and the digestion products produced by the fungus.  It is only when the plant is nourished in this double fashion that we get disease resistance and high quality in our crops, our animals and ultimately ourselves.  This is the basis of organic farming/growing.

At the start of the project I met up with Leishle Mbokazi who runs an NGO called “Vuka” who are actively working on environment projects in the community.  Leishle agreed to help and partner this garden project which was a great help.  I also contacted Wally Menne whom I already knew from my forestry work in Ireland, we are campaigning to change forest policy away from monoculture, exotic plantations, back to continuous cover, multi-use, sustainable native forestry.  Wally is active here in the same area and Ireland shares the same percentage of indigenous forest cover as South Africa, a measly 1%.  Wally was also very helpful as he runs an indigenous plant nursery in Durban and has a vast knowledge and experience in this area.  Wally and Leishle agreed to network to support the Umlazi garden when I’m gone, along with my assistant, Xolani Qwabe, who was my interpreter at the Silverglen course. He has taken a passionate interest in the medicinal plants and trees.  As an art student he is going to write his thesis on traditional medicine, the ancestors and link it to his art world, which is extremely welcome as he can promote this information in a fresh and exciting way to a whole new audience.  Xolani will also establish his own nursery in a place where his late father grew these plants before.  This is good news as he is repairing the links in the chain of traditional knowledge in this very positive way.  I could not have asked for a better assistant and I thank his lecturer for the choice, Themba Shibase. 

Xolani also attended the Silverglen course as my interpreter.  Therefore, he too gained an insight into growing the muti plants from seeds and cuttings.  We were shown the remarkable fertility of these plants, whereby one can reproduce the whole plant from stem, tissue, leaf and wood cuttings.  This shows Sangomas that they do not need to take the whole plant, that the same plant can continue to supply new plants indefinitely without destroying the mother plant (source).  We learned to grow from seed also. 

After a mix of practical and theoretic learning, the course finished with a film of a Sangoma initiation ceremony and background to the preparation.  This was very valuable in order to complete the circle, so to speak.

We also had a mild examination to refresh our learning experiences and consolidate what we had learnt.  The method of marking/correcting this test was very refreshing as it was not solely concerned with the written examination.  Marks were also awarded for merit and how one had applied oneself to the course.  The end result being that everyone passed and will receive a certificate to boost their confidence.

We started the project proper with a meeting with Mercy and some of her friends who are already involved in growing vegetables.  This contact was made through Leonard Zulu and I would like to thank him personally for his wise choice of community.  We had a look at the existing garden which had some vegetables growing and some banana trees on the perimeter.  There was a bonfire site in the garden where all the wastes were burnt, including aluminium and plastics, both hugely toxic to the air and soil.  I emphasized the importance of not burning these cancer causing wastes and tried to encourage recycling and separation of wastes i.e. using old milk cartons to provide plant pots for future plant transfers.  The rest of the site was in a degraded state also.  I also spoke to the women about the origins of the soil, history of trees and plants on this planet, the traditions of recognising the spirits in trees, plants and water, as well as the vital functions performed in balancing earth’s natural systems:  soil, climate control, etc.  Trees and plants are the skin of the earth regulating the temperature etc.  All stability of air, soil and water is conferred by trees and vegetation.  I explained how we have to turn now from this destructive economy to one based on an ethical approach i.e. a creative economy.  Unless we play fair to the earth, we cannot exist physically on this planet.

You can gauge a country’s real wealth by its indigenous forest cover, what shall it profit us if we balance our budgets at the cost of the destruction of the earth beneath our feet? Forests, woodlands and plants are linked to biological, social and spiritual well-being.

A way forward is to recognise that local communities are the best protectors and enhancers of their local environment once they have been informed.  The loss of their traditional knowledge has been another example of cultural fragmentation.  Like loss of memory, this can be restored too.

It is possible to literally grow local economies and restore degraded sites using the idea of native treestoration.  This will be a huge growth area in the future and needs to be grasped now as another avenue of expansion for biodiversity and local communities.

We agreed to start the project the next day via a clean-up of the site and the establishment of fencing to protect and demarcate the site, create a sacred space, which, in fact, it now is.

The fencing I had prepared at the sculpture centre by recycling abandoned bamboo poles from a discontinued Tangencya project.  I burned the ends of the poles so they would not rot in the ground so easily.  This is an ancient method of wood preservation that does not include chemicals.

Mercy agreed to have some help on hand to help.  Unfortunately due to logistical problems we arrived late.  When we finally got there the helper had cut down five banana trees which we wished to use for cover as well as noise barriers, there is a motorway on the doorstep of this community.  The helper meant well.  He was told we were tidying up and in this mechanistic age, this means to too many people a scorched earth policy.  Without correct information we can do so much damage unconsciously.

This was frustrating but also provided a lesson.  The trees will grow back thankfully and I used the stump to show how much water the roots bring up from the ground.  The grandchildren of Mercy were fascinated by this.

We set to work and transformed the site quickly with the help of many hands, all of which spontaneously volunteered, showing the power of the garden/nature to encourage cooperation.

Many neighbours and friends commented on this quick transformation over the course of three or four days.

Zhulelei, a grandson of Mercy, came to Silverglen with us and we booked him into the medicine plant course.  This is a powerful development to ensure the success of the project.

We went back to Silverglen and purchased suitable plants and trees and began planting same.  An example of completing another circle/cycle, having begun the project in Silverglen via the muti course.

Mercy and community were so happy, it was very satisfying to have helped out in such a meaningful way.  Mercy told me how no one had ever helped them in such a way.  Quite powerful.

Once again I had been privileged to be welcomed in this Zulu community and witness the respect for elders, ability to have fun, good humour, the sharing of scant resources, the freedom of young children playing etc., in stark contrast to the security restrictions so many wealthy (so-called) people live with.

I helped to set up a support network to guide this seed energy project and am optimistic this project will grow and provide leadership and inspiration to many other communities, NGO’s etc going into the future.  The fact that the garden grows provides much inspiration.  The ancient peoples believed the earth was a sentient being and felt the behaviour of mankind on it.  As we have no proof to the contrary, it might be as well to accept this point of view and act accordingly.

Planting a tree is a looking forward kind of action, yet not too distantly.

Andrew St Ledger

 

More Info

http://www.cas.org.za/projects/tangencya.htm
http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2005/experiences-3354.html