On my third day of volunteering in the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve, I joined an early morning hike through the fynbos vegetation, endemic to South Africa. Surrounded by thick mist, the path was barely visible, the air heavy with quiet, the sky and earth blurred into one. Immersed in this unfamiliar landscape, it felt as if I had stepped onto a different planet. I couldn’t see far ahead, only where to place my next step. At the time, I didn’t realise that this hike would become the perfect metaphor for my volunteering journey I was about to begin.

That fog mirrored the uncertainty I felt upon arriving as a volunteer - unsure of how I could contribute with my background in psychology rather than ecology, and unsure where I would find my place in it all.

As I kept walking, the trail led uphill at first. Learning to follow conversations in languages I didn’t speak fluently, attempting tasks I’d never done before, growing more sensitive to different perspectives. Volunteering in a Biosphere Reserve, my tasks were as diverse as the landscape: assisting with environmental education, supporting communication efforts, helping coordinate field trips, engaging with local communities in various ways. But beyond completing tasks, it was a matter of being present - to observe, to listen and to remain curious.

Eventually, the fog began to lift, and my steps grew more confident. The path opened up, as I learned how conservation work isn’t solely about nature, but most importantly it’s about people. About collaborative efforts across cultures and generations, rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose.

Somewhere along that trail, just after we turned back, I was rewarded with seeing a single King Protea, South Africa’s national flower, with its pink colour glowing majestically against the green vegetation. It turned out to be the only one I’d see in the wild throughout my entire stay. In hindsight, that moment has become symbolic for the many small, unexpected encounters and meaningful relationships that quietly shaped this volunteering experience into a deeply personal journey.

Do we really appreciate soil as we should? That skin on the surface of the earth, which takes so long to grow, is extremely fragile, and yet without it there would be no living things.

Everything we wear, live in, drink, read and use, ultimately comes from soil. It hosts our food supply, filters water for clean rivers, creates amazing landscape and should be revered as the most complex ecosystem on the earth.  

It is also the warehouse of excess carbon, kept full by plants that take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis, and produce carbon, essential to plant growth. When plants and other dead organic matter enter the soil, it becomes food for microbes that produce enzymes which convert the soil carbon back into carbon dioxide that goes back into the atmosphere. Fungi and bacteria, both decomposers ensure the right consistency of biomass, which together with minerals are the building blocks of soil.

This is how it should be!

But ignorance and greed have played havoc with huge areas of land, rendering the soil into nothing more than lifeless dirt. Once we have eradicated the living soul of soil, it is a long process to restore it. It took millions of years to make, but with good management and the right boost, it is amazing how it will regenerate itself.

Chemical fertilizer is salt-based, and kills the living organisms, which results in more and more industrialised nutrients required. Good for some pockets, but a killer to any ecosystem because the balance between living organisms has been compromised, demolishing eco systems. A system that is addicted to fertilisers, cannot be sustainable. It is sick, gets more symptoms and becomes susceptible and easy prey to pests.

This not only effects the plants, but has a direct effect on our health. Plants grown in dead soil, lack the minerals, vitamins, proteins and the multitude of other nutrients our bodies need. But no problem for Mr big pocket, he will sell us all of this in a capsule!

Destroyed soil does not host natural forests, so essential for the water cycle. Coastal forest absorb mist blown in from the sea, and feed the soil, as well as through transpiration feed the onshore wind with more water. Which is then fed to the next forest further inland, and then onto another. Through this process water is passed on to inland forest across the world. Destroy coastal soils, and the knock-on effect will cause desertification thousands of kilometres inland. Desert don’t produce much food!

Technology has allowed for positive scientific information to be shared with such a broad sector of society, allowing so many more people to realise that soil is an integral part of us. There is a new exciting awakening to the importance of preserving it in its natural form, and reversing the damage that has been done.

As Biosphere Reserves, with all our partners have been doing all we can to encourage this “soil” revitalisation awareness. Please come and join us.

Breeding microbes

Nutrient rich soil with a flourishing ecosystem

The Biosphere Greenhouse and Food Garden host a multitude of practices in growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers as well as compost production. It is a hands-on educational environment for young and old alike. CWBR facilitates workshops at the Biosphere Hub, installs, and assist in existing vegetable gardens at visited locations. Taking into consideration the positive aspects and limitations of each individual space utilizing it to a fullest potential. The practice of growing one’s own food is learned through practical involvement from getting the soil ready, planting, and shared knowledge in caring for the garden.

The Biosphere Hub garden is looked after by visiting volunteers and is overseen by the Biosphere core team.

“We as volunteers are working in different areas in the garden. From planting seeds in the green house to replanting the seedling on the patches around the garden. During the summer month, the garden comes to a point where we can start harvesting the vegetables.” #foodlovers

A brief summary of some practices in the CWBR Food Garden

The Greenhouse. The infrastructure and design of the greenhouse provides an ideal space to produce a vast amount of seedlings throughout the year with a semi-controlled environment. Currently, the space is also housing a jungle of vegetables and herbs that flourish due to the conditions. At the moment the CWBR greenhouse is bursting with spinach, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, corn, and herbs. 

Wormery for fertilizer. Selected food waste, hay, horse dung, and lots of worms covered in cardboard in an enclosed environment (such as a wooden crate) creates an environment where worms can reproduce and break down the waste to fertile soil. Installing a tap in the worm box to collect a liquid from the worms brings great benefits to the garden. Organic produce. The bi-product, worm leachate or worm juice, is full of good microbes that increase growth in vegetables – especially pumpkins, is a natural insect repellent, and can stop root rot. The spray mixture is diluted 1 juice/10 water.

The seedlings once large enough to be moved outside are planted in Huglekultur raised garden beds. These beds are long lasting compost heaps that regenerate themselves, created from twigs, branches, and reeds. They are ideal for areas with hot weather and do not require much irrigation. When planted, the seedlings are covered in hay and cardboard for mulch and to retain moisture as well as be protected from the strong sun.

Companion planting, a practice as old as time used by people worldwide. Companion planting has benefits such as growing healthier plants with higher crop yields, making the most out of the space in your garden, pest control, and attracting pollinators.  The natural chemicals exuded from the root networks of the plants create a thriving environment. The opposite is also true, certain plants planted together will stunt each other’s growth, reduce crop yield, and make the growing plant more susceptible to diseases and insects.

Collecting seeds for the next harvest. Some vegetables and herbs are left behind to collect seeds or beans, for example, for the next season. When herbs and vegetable plants produce flowers, it is an indication that seed collection can be done soon from the flowers themselves. Vegetables are full of seeds that can be collected for planting.

Anything is possible. Whether in a small or big space, food gardens with the right care can flourish almost anywhere.

The CWBR Hub showcases examples of a keyhole garden, hanging garden, permaculture gardens, and always expanding with new methodologies and introduction systems to add to the cycle of food production encouraging self-sufficiency.

No limitations in imagination. The produce from the garden is shared with many and used for CWBR projects. Recipes shared, new recipes created, vegetables pickled, and herbs dried.   

The greenhouse

Seeds are planted individually in trays and labelled.

Seedlings ready for planting

A closeup look in the the thriving wormery

Beans harvested for planting next season

From the greenhouse to the garden

Kale

Yellow pear tomatoes

Mustard spinach & kale

Pomegranates

Flat white pumpkins

Pickling Cucumber

Row of flowering leeks

Cherry tomatoes

Rainbow spinach

Melon

Corn

Parsley

Thyme

Basil

Rosemary

Edible Flowers

Volunteer luncheon with edible flowers to bring extra colour and decorate the dish

Flowers from leeks

Flowers from mint

Nasturtiums have a peppery spicy flavor

Tulbaghia violacea, Wild garlic

The Importance of pollinators

Pollinators are an essential part of seed production. Organic food gardens create a symbiotic relationship between plants and insects.

with Bonnie People Project, MAKE, and Care Career Connection

Arranged by Luxembourg volunteers, the purpose was to have a kids’ fun activity day and to provide the opportunity for the facilitators from the organizations to get to know each other better.

The two groups from different areas arrived just after 9, ready for a packed programme. The kids got to know each other over breakfast and were excited about the day ahead.

They were split into groups for the hike up to a viewpoint overlooking the valley. The purpose of splitting into smaller groups was to encourage the children from the different areas to interact with each other.

Once back, the children rotated between activities which included karate, dance, art and crafts and food gardening. Members of Care Career Connections arrived just in time for lunch and had time to join in some of the activities.

For lunch the volunteers prepared hamburgers, salads, and for dessert, a delicious ice-cream!

To mark the event with a memorable item to take home, the children left with tote bags on which they had made personalized prints and an apple for the road.

It was a very successful day with laughter, play, learning new things, and getting to know new people. Two boards, with the Bonnie and CWBR logo were also signed by all who attended the day.