In 2006 Penduka started a gardening project with TB patients. The aim of the gardening project is to provide and empower TB patients with basic gardening skills.  They can then set up small vegetable gardens at their own homes. The gardening project started when a garden at the Katutura Health Centre was handed over from Johanniter Hilfswerk to Penduka in order to minimize the cost of buying of vegetables for the feeding programme.

Penduka TB Programme currently runs 5 community gardens, all named after our late nutritionist Ms Linda Larsdotter. One big garden is situated at the TB Hospital and another at the Katutura State Hospital.  The rest are at various locations in the Katutura suburbs including the Katutura Health Centre,  the Disability Resource Centre, Ombili DOT point and at the Katutura Old Aged People’s Home.

Now, the aim of the gardens is not only to teach patients how to set up a small garden but to support the the feeding programme with vegetables. About 9 former TB patients are working in the gardens as they want to support Penduka TB programme together with the other employees and volunteers working in the gardens.

Several kinds of vegetables are cultivated in the gardens such as spinach, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, celery, cabbage, garlic etc. The seeds are bought and sown in the gardens. After a while the vegetables are harvested. These are then taken to the Penduka kitchen where they prepare the food for the patients at the Penduka DOT points.

We are currently seeking financial support to start a small mushroom garden to provide more variety in the meals for the patients and to provide income through sales for the feeding programme. Any donations or ideas as to how to finance this would be very welcome !