Micro Food Gardens Innovation Weeks: A Journey of Co-Creation and Empowerment

Micro Food Gardens Innovation Weeks: A Journey of Co-Creation and Empowerment
A project of The City Partnership Cape Town-Aachen and dooiy
in collaboration with RWTH Lehrstuhl für Landschaftsarchitektur
in partnership with Community Women Action, Khayelitsha Canoe Club, Eduponics, Neighbourhood Gardens, Gugulethu Urban Food Forest Initiative, Igalelo Labafazi, Impact Konnection, Salt River Secondary School and Tembaletu Protective Workshop
Film produced by LIFEbrand, directed by Carson Honor

Join us on an inspiring journey through the Micro Food Gardens Innovation Weeks, where local change-makers, German architecture students, and residents of Cape Town's informal settlements come together for a groundbreaking three-week program. Our mission is to tackle food insecurity and empower communities by helping them grow their own vegetables.

Day 1: Insights and Inspiration
In March 2024, we launched a three-week innovation program in Cape Town. We teamed up with local change-makers and German architecture students to help residents of informal settlements grow their own vegetables. Day one was all about gathering insights from experts and understanding local gardening motivations. Together, we’re tackling food insecurity and empowering communities!

Day 2: Spark of Creativity
Day two focused on generating new ideas for urban gardening in informal settlements. Lightning presentations of existing innovations sparked inspiration, leading to fresh ideas and collaborations. We’re making strides in tackling food insecurity and empowering communities. Stay tuned for more updates!

Day 3: From Ideas to Action
On day three, participants presented their innovative ideas for urban gardening. The most promising concepts were refined and selected for prototyping. Witness the amazing development of these ideas and the collaborative spirit in action!

Day 4: Prototyping with Passion
Day four was incredibly fun as we built prototypes with the Khayelitsha Canoe Club. From self-watering towers to vertical container gardens, our innovative solutions aim to tackle food insecurity and empower communities. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey!

Week 2: Testing and Refining
The final day of our Design Sprint involved testing prototypes in the Khayelitsha community. We placed the Multifarming Shelf on various plots, locals built the My Flow Grow tower using dooiy’s instructions, and we introduced the Sonke Masilime signpost project during a discussion event with small-scale farmers. The feedback was incredibly encouraging! 🌱

Following this, active members of the Gugulethu community built, assessed and refined the prototypes, guided by Sheile and Nomvoyu from GUFFI. All completed prototypes were handed over to the involved community organizations.

Week 3: Engaging Young Minds
In the third week, we collaborated with enthusiastic learners in Salt River. The kids built numerous Multifarming Shelves and offered valuable feedback from a youth perspective. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey of innovation and community empowerment! 🌍💚

#Innovation #CommunityEmpowerment #SustainableLiving #CapeTown #FoodSecurity #DesignSprint #UrbanGardening #Collaborate #Create #Inspire

Collaboration Partners
‪@LIFEbrandcommunications‬
Carson Honor
‪@communitywomenactioncwa1773‬
@khayelitshaCanoeClub
‪@eduponics‬
@neighbourhoodgardens
GUFFI (Gugulethu Urban Food Forest Initiative): @guffiorg
Igalelo Labafazi
Salt River Secondary School
Tembaletu Protective Workshop
impact konnection
@GrowingSystem_rwth
@AndiDreger
@tribecc.a
@bucngesi
‪@CityofCapeTown021‬
‪@StadtAachen‬
‪@RWTHAachenUniversity‬
‪@lehrstuhlfurlandschaftsarc6921‬