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GROW your own vegetables

24 August 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

UFS vegetable garden — A variety of vegetables, including beans, spinach, onions, and carrots, are sheltered in 40 vegetable boxes in the two 300 m² tunnels opposite the Welwitschia Residence on the Bloemfontein Campus.

At the University of the Free State (UFS), research findings have indicated that 59% of students do not know where their next meal will come from. The recent COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the unemployment rate of 34,9%, adding to the likelihood of our students being affected even more by food insecurity.

One of the initiatives the university has created to address the issue, is a vegetable production and training programme. The purpose of the programme, which was established by the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, KovsieACT, and the Food Environment Office, is to teach students how to produce vegetables.

A variety of vegetables, including beans, spinach, onions, and carrots, are sheltered in 40 vegetable boxes in the two 300 m² tunnels opposite the Welwitschia Residence on the Bloemfontein Campus. Not only is this initiative providing students with fresh produce that supplements the food parcels they receive from the Food Environment Office through the No Student Hungry Project. It also provides them with the opportunity to get involved on a voluntary basis in the food production process, including the planting and harvesting of the vegetables.

Food production is an important skill in growing one’s own food. Moreover, it is also a valuable skill for students to transfer to their communities back home.

From mid-August through to the end of October is planting season for a number of vegetables. Starting spring on a high note, the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, KovsieACT, and the Food Environment Office invited food security activist, Thabo Olivier, to address the university community and provide some valuable guidelines to grow your own food in innovative ways.

Date: Thursday 1 September 2022

Time: 13:00

Venue: Thakaneng Bridge

Invest in your future and join the event, which will include hands-on harvesting from the vegetables gardens as well as a food demonstration.

More information: Teddy Sibiya on SibiyaLT@ufs.ac.za at KovsieAct.

News Archive

UFS student missing after being accosted in Phuthaditjhaba

2014-10-15

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) management and Student Representative Council (SRC) at the Qwaqwa Campus are working around the clock to find Sinethemba Shezi, third-year BEd student, who was accosted on Friday 10 October 2014 at approximately 20:30 whilst walking to the campus with a friend.

The students wanted to study at the campus facilities, as they stay off-campus.

The matter was immediately reported to the university’s Campus Protection Services, who alerted the South African Police Service (SAPS). A search party, made up of members of the SAPS, the UFS Protection Services and the SRC, searched the area throughout the night.

Mr Shezi is still missing, despite various SAPS units – dogs, helicopter and divers – searching the area over the weekend until this afternoon (Tuesday 14 October 2014).

The campus community and the SAPS are doing everything possible to find Mr Shezi. His family is receiving support from the university.

The university management appeals to anybody with information to assist by calling one of the following persons:

Prof Prakash Naidoo
Campus Principal
+27(0)72 621 7135

Mr Teboho Manchu
Campus Vice-Principal: Support Services
+27(0)83 629 9343

Mr Tautona Moloi
Head: Protection Services
+27(0)81 015 3299

Issued by: Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Tel: +27(0)51 401 2584
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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