Backyard garden helps KZN woman grow food, income and hope

A small backyard garden has become a lifeline for Zandile Shinga from ePlazini in KwaZulu-Natal, helping her put food on the table while earning extra income to support her family.

By Lebogang Mashala, editor of African Farming

With jobs scarce and the cost of living continuing to rise, Zandile has transformed a modest piece of land behind her home into a productive vegetable garden. Recently, she earned R1 250 in a single week by selling surplus green peppers and chillies to her neighbours. Beyond the additional income, she grows fresh vegetables for her family, reducing her grocery expenses and ensuring they enjoy nutritious meals.

“Farming has helped me become independent,” says Zandile, who joined the rural development non-profit organisation Thanda’s Household Gardening Programme in 2023.

“The garden feeds my family, and when I have extra produce to sell, I can earn money for things my daughter needs, like school uniforms and stationery. It has made a real difference in our home.”

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A practical response to rising living costs

Zandile’s story reflects the growing importance of household food production as South African families grapple with rising food prices, persistent unemployment and shrinking household budgets.

For many low-income households, buying enough nutritious food has become increasingly difficult. Home gardens provide an affordable way to supplement family meals while creating opportunities to earn money.

According to Thanda, when household incomes and social grants can no longer cover the cost of a basic food basket, families often sacrifice the quality and diversity of their diets first. This places children’s health at risk, particularly during the first 1 000 days of life when proper nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development. South Africa continues to face high levels of childhood stunting, with an estimated one in four children affected.

Growing resilience through knowledge

Recognising these challenges, Thanda launched its Household Gardening Programme in 2022 to strengthen food security through sustainable household food production.

The programme equips participants with practical skills such as composting, mulching, seed saving and other low-cost regenerative farming techniques that reduce production costs while improving yields.

When pests recently threatened Zandile’s crops, she did not have to spend money on chemical pesticides. Instead, she successfully controlled the infestation using natural methods, including sawdust and chilli-based treatments taught by her Thanda mentor.

To further improve household nutrition, Thanda has also trained more than 650 household gardeners to produce protein-rich foods, helping families diversify their diets while reducing dependence on bought food.

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Food gardens are economic assets

Home food gardens should be viewed as more than agricultural projects, says Angela Larkan, executive director and co-founder of Thanda.

“Prevention begins long before a child enters a classroom. When households have steady access to diverse, nutritious foods, they are better able to support healthy pregnancies and early childhood development. But when household budgets stretch to the limit, families often have no room left to absorb market shocks.”

She believes food gardens strengthen both resilience and financial independence for families.

“Too often, food gardens are viewed solely through an agricultural lens, but their impact is social and economic. When a household grows its own food, it becomes less dependent on cash to survive an unstable economy. Whether it is a rural homestead or a small container garden, home food production gives families greater control over their future.”

Zandile Shinga has transformed a modest piece of land behind her home into a productive vegetable garden that earns her up to R1 250 a week. Photo: Supplied

Simple steps to improve household food security

As economic pressures continue to affect households across South Africa, Thanda is encouraging more families to establish home food gardens as a practical solution for improving nutrition and reducing food costs.

The organisation recommends:

Start with easy-to-grow, high-yield crops such as spinach, beans, tomatoes and chillies.
Improve soil health by making compost from kitchen and garden waste.
Apply mulch to retain moisture and reduce water use.
Save seeds from healthy plants for future planting.
Control pests naturally using chilli sprays or ash-based barriers.
Use containers, tyres or small backyard spaces where land is limited.

For Zandile, the rewards extend far beyond harvesting vegetables. Her backyard garden has become a source of dignity, self-reliance and hope, demonstrating that even a small piece of land can make a meaningful difference to a family’s wellbeing.

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