About 1 in 3 South Africans Are Unemployed
Millions of hardworking people want to earn a living, but lack access to land, resources, training, and markets. Many have unused plots that could feed entire communities—but they need support to get there.
Our Three-Step Path to Success
🧑🏽🌾 Train – We teach regenerative market-garden techniques on our internship farm.
🌱 Support – We provide tools, mentorship, and market access via Orchard Food
🛒 Sell – Farmers earn income and improve food security in their communities.
When Farmers Thrive, Everyone Wins
🌿 More jobs in high-unemployment townships
🥕 Access to fresh, local, nutritious produce
🌍 Healthier soils and a healthier environment
💰 Financial stability for families
🌀 A scalable movement toward food sovereignty
Real Stories from Our Farmers
“Now farming is in my blood… I’ve learned new planting methods and we sell fresh vegetables to support my family.”
— Petrus Ngobeni
"Thank you very much for the wonderful garden. I am so grateful for what you did for us. Now we eat healthy food because of it and I maintain my family financially.
When selling beetroot and spinach people are happy because they love them, and they are fresh from the compost. Now we have more orders because of the sweetness of the beetroot."
-Veast and Bonolo Mampuru
Meet the Team Behind Market Gardens
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Brand van Dyk – Founder
Brand is a passionate entrepreneur and the heart behind the Market Garden Initiative. After seeing first-hand the impact that food insecurity and unemployment have on South African communities, he launched the initiative in 2020 to help people grow their own food, earn a sustainable income, and live with dignity. Brand also founded Orchard Food, a fresh produce company that connects small-scale farmers to markets in Gauteng. He is committed to finding creative, regenerative solutions that improve lives — one garden at a time.
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Nick Bush – Director
Nick is a seasoned entrepreneur with a heart for social impact. He played a key role in building the non-profit Soup-A-Heroes, which provided over 2.5 million meals to those in need during the last two years. His experience in fundraising, operations, and scaling community-based projects brings invaluable strength to the Market Garden Initiative. Nick is dedicated to building systems that create long-term opportunities for South Africa’s emerging farmers.
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Petrus Ngobeni – Farm Manager & Director
Petrus is a dedicated farmer and one of the first success stories of the Market Garden Initiative. Today, he leads the day-to-day operations of our internship farm and provides hands-on mentorship to new interns. With a deep love for the land and a strong belief in passing on knowledge, Petrus is the living example of what’s possible when emerging farmers are empowered with the right tools and support.
