Pharma Dynamics has joined a growing community of responsible corporate citizens who are looking for sustainable ways to not only improve food security, but to also boost the nutritional status of the poor and needy in city of Cape Town.
More than 60 of its staff members, including CEO, Erik Roos, rolled up their sleeves to plant more than 432 herbs and vegetable seedlings, including a variety of turnip, spinach, beetroot, cabbage, broccoli, kale, peas, leeks and spring onions this past week.
Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, says increasing fruits and vegetables in people’s diet is vital to reducing chronic diseases.
“Not only does this initiative complement our umbrella health and wellness initiative, called ‘I Change for Health’ (iC4H), which encourages well-being through healthy nutrition and exercise, but it also acts as a powerful tool that addresses socio-economic and environmental concerns.
“There are so many areas in our city where poverty bites and so many rely on feeding programmes, such as this for their survival. I hope that this initiative will encourage our staff members and others in the community to start small vegetable gardens in their own yards to broaden the impact,” says van Aswegen.
Bob Kamfosi, who has been taking care of the company’s office gardens in Westlake for more than six years, has also been given a leg up. Kamfosi will now be in charge of supervising and maintaining the 80m² herb and veggie garden along with Pharma Dynamics staff members.
Only seasonally appropriate plants using crop rotation and companion planting methods will be used. As such, the garden will produce a 10 – 20kg harvest every month indefinitely. The first harvest is expected in July of this year.
Charities or non-profit organisations in Westlake or surrounds in need of fresh produce can contact Margien Matthews from Pharma Dynamics on email via m.matthews@pharmadynamics.co.za or on 021 707 7000 in order to be added to the company’s list of beneficiaries.
