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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

Boost for hockey in the Free State and South Africa

2006-06-20

The University of the Free State (UFS) will soon be one of a few universities in South Africa that are able to host national and international hockey tournaments in the country.

Two astro hockey fields are to be built on the western side of the UFS Main Campus in Bloemfontein. This is one of a number of major capital projects approved by the Council of the UFS earlier this month.

“The plans are drawn and the contractors are ready to move on site to start with the cleaning and digging process of the two astro fields,” said Mr James Letuka, Director of KovsieSport at the UFS.

According to Mr Letuka, the UFS will fund the building of the one astro hockey field whilst the building of the second court will be a joint venture between the university and high schools in Bloemfontein.

The two astro fields will be built on what is currently the Number 4 cricket field next to Shimla Park Rugby Stadium.

“This project will go a long way towards halting the outflow of good hockey players from the Free State. Hopefully they will find our facilities an attractive option,” said Mr Letuka.

“The astro fields will also place us in a good position to provide training camps for national teams, development teams, as well as international teams,” said Mr Letuka.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
20 June 2006

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