Phindiswa Cwayi: Hope Growing in My Backyard

If you had told me a year ago that my backyard would one day feed my family, I wouldn’t have believed you. But today that’s exactly what it does – and it all started with a conversation. It was October 2024 when I first heard Sisi Lindiwe speak about helping families create home gardens. She talked about planting – not just vegetables, but dignity, health, and hope. Her words touched something deep in me. I had always wanted to grow my own food but didn’t know where to begin. So I asked her, ‘Can you help me too?’ And she did – without hesitation. I first attended training sessions on how to prepare soil, how to make compost, propagate my own seedlings, and how, when and what to plant. Sisi Lindiwe also taught us how to maintain our food gardens.

With her guidance and encouragement, I started my first garden. The soil was dry, the space small, but my heart was full of determination. Slowly, things began to grow – not just the plants, but my spirit too. Today, I harvest fresh spinach, beetroot, onions, and green peppers from that same backyard. There are days when we don’t have money for food but we no longer go to bed hungry. When I look at my garden, I see more than vegetables. I see security. I see independence. I see love. Before the garden, even a simple bunch of spinach was sometimes out of reach. With many people in my care and very little income, healthy food always felt like a luxury. Sisi Lindiwe didn’t just help me plant vegetables – she helped me plant a better future. Today, when life feels heavy, I step into my garden. And instead of worrying, I pick dinner from the earth. Thank you, Sisi Lindiwe. Thank you for believing in us, for teaching us, and for reminding us that sometimes hope grows from the ground up. – Phindiswa Cwayi