Sinethemba’s Garden, Zithulele, 2 September 2026

Sinethemba’s Garden, Zithulele
2 September 2026

On 2 September 2026 AgriVision Foundation visited Sinethemba and witnessed a beautiful success story unfolding in Zithulele. Our journey with her began in April 2025 when she first started renting a large piece of land and felt completely overwhelmed by its size. We guided her to begin with a modest 3 × 5 metre garden using seed kindly sponsored by Enza Zaden, encouraging her to expand only once she felt comfortable.

Barenbrug also donated cover-crop seed, which she sowed on unused sections of the land. Over the following months the garden steadily improved, yet many challenges remained: heavy rain, insects, goats, chickens and poor soil. A soil analysis enabled her to correct deficiencies with lime, after which the quality of her produce began to rise noticeably.

Sinethemba persevered in learning to grow her own seedlings; what was once difficult she now does with ease. As a hardworking single mother of three who manages the garden entirely on her own, her progress is truly inspiring. She is now selling vegetables regularly to the local community and her garden continues to expand.

During this visit we focused on building healthy, weed-free beds to improve crop quality and reduce her workload. The irrigation kit previously sponsored by Vegtech is being carefully incorporated as she rebuilds sections of the garden. We also helped her prepare effective homemade pest sprays that have worked wonders.

Encouraged by her dedication, her landlord has taken steps to keep goats and chickens out. Sinethemba is now planning successive plantings so she always has produce to sell. Rome was not built in a day, yet her consistent commitment over the past year is clearly bearing fruit. AgriVision Foundation remains privileged to walk alongside this determined woman as she grows in skill, confidence and livelihood through sustainable agriculture rooted in faith and perseverance.