Food Gardens Cookery Day

On 28 May 2026, we proudly hosted our pilot Lunch Ladies Cookery Day in Vaalwater. Ten dedicated participants representing schools, childcare facilities, community organisations and elderly care facilities came together for a hands-on learning experience focused on nutrition, alternative produce options, flavour enhancement and the exciting opportunities that school and community gardens can provide.

The Food Gardens programme, numbering 24 gardens, helps feed over 3,000 children in the region.

A special thank you to Chef Wesley Doesburg, who facilitated an engaging and highly practical training session at the Community Hall in Vaalwater. Herbs took centre stage, as well as new ways of cooking vegetables, inspiring participants on how to enhance meals while improving nutritional value.

One of the highlights was a visit to Laluka Organic Farm, where participants had the opportunity to see, smell, taste and harvest a variety of fresh produce, gaining valuable insights into what can be grown and incorporated into their kitchens and communities.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing great enthusiasm for future sessions and a strong interest in exploring even more nutritional, produce and cooking options.

This pilot programme has laid a strong foundation for future growth. The next step will be working with participants to identify new produce they would like to grow in their gardens and use in their cooking, with support for seed procurement and implementation.

We look forward to seeing how this initiative continues to grow!