Overview for neighbours, volunteers and friends Updated: 21 September 2012

Pieter Van Breda acquired the Oranjezicht Estate in 1731

Pieter Van Breda acquired the Oranjezicht Estate in 1731

“In front of the house stood a flagpole and when the van Breda’s hoisted their flag, mariners and their pursers, burghers and their wives and children, went up to Oranjezigt to buy farm produce. They would then wander through the gardens filling their baskets and carts with fruit and vegetables which were brought to a tree in the cobbled yard where it was weighed on a scale hanging from an oak tree. There were people everywhere strolling through the beautiful gardens while van Breda’s band of thirty slaves played their fiddles and flutes. Cakes, wine and sweets were also served.” Annalize Mouton, 2005.

Oranjezicht City Farm

celebrating local food, culture and community

Who is involved?

•  Small Steering Committee –  Mario Graziani –  Kurt Ackermann –  Mark Stead –  Saul Roux –  Dave Curran, Pauline McConney –  Belinda Muti, Clive James, Dave Hart –  Leslie Katz Get off the ground Liaise with City

•  NFP –  Run by a board made up of representatives of community

Partnerships •  City of Cape Town •  CIBRA •  OH Watch •  Oranjezicht Heritage Society •  Soil for Life •  Abalimi Bezekhaya •  Wessa •  Institute for Zero Waste in Africa •  Madame Zingara Group

Oranjezicht City Farm A non-profit project celebrating local food, culture and community Our Mission: •  The Oranjezicht City Farm is a community of adults and younger folk working together to

engage in small-scale food production in the City Bowl of Cape Town.

Our Vision: •  To improve under-utilised public green spaces by creating demonstration gardens for

hands-on community-wide food gardening education, thereby increasing access to fresh vegetables.

Our Goals: •  Serve as an educational resource on small scale organic food production for City Bowl

residents •  Increase access to nutritious fresh vegetables for the community •  Increase the number of organic gardeners in the City Bowl, leading to more outdoor

activities and healthier lifestyles •  Build capacity and skills of youth and adults seeking work in urban food production •  Promote connections and foster relationships between and among individuals, garden communities, and NGO’s •  Improve unused or under-utilised public green space in the City Bowl, preserving and protecting undeveloped land

Farm as a catalyst for change •  Changing awareness (i.e., education)

–  Parents (food choices, resource use, empowerment) –  Children (food origins, nature/agriculture, food)

•  Changing behaviour –  Consumption patterns (food, resources) –  Production patterns (grow your own)

•  Changing relationships –  Participation within the community –  Links to other communities (e.g., Abalimi Bezekhaya)

A Superb Location Currently the unused bowling green

This image shows the current layout of the land  

Formal gardens were part of the original homestead:

Formal gardens

Turning circle with pond

Farmhouse

1926 aerial photo

Barn

No drawings of the specific gardens from the Oranjezicht homestead are known to exist. The OZCF design is based on elements of Cape formal gardens of the 17th to 20th centuries, including the formal garden adjacent to the historic Nieuwland manor house.

Versailles, 18th c.

Other design references:

Farm design:

Lookout Area

Pond

Entrance Gate

Shaded Trellis

Fruit Trees

Compost Area

Benches

Pots / Planters

Superimposed on site:

All paths for the public are at least 1.2m wide and accessible from all directions. This is wide enough for two people or a wheelchair or a wheelbarrow.

Why is the farm good for Cape Town?

•  Will be able to pioneer an innovative sustainability project and demonstrate its commitment to urban agriculture.

•  Job creation and skills development. •  Project can assist in realizing and contributing to

the vision of a sustainable future. •  An opportunity to showcase best practice

environmental solutions and activities. The project will pioneer the first SA inner city farm. The intention is to develop good practice, which can be replicated in other neighbourhoods in Cape Town and in other cities throughout SA and beyond.

Time frames

•  Signing of Cooperative Agreement with City Parks •  Application to Heritage Western Cape •  As soon as permission is granted, installation of

water reticulation and irrigation system, organic seedling production, composting and vermiculture would commence

How can you be involved?

•  Serve on the board •  Assist with work in the garden •  Help to fundraise •  Donate funds or equipment •  Marketing, website, social media, newsletter, etc •  Other

Thank you

•  Website: www.ozcf.co.za •  Email: cityfarm@ozcf.co.za