Our Story

About The Market Garden Initiative.

I started the Market Garden Initiative in 2020 with a simple but powerful mission: to help people in need grow their own food and create a sustainable income. Our focus is on providing families and emerging farmers with the skills, tools, and support they need to build thriving gardens and healthier lives.

The journey began in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, where we helped seven households establish gardens to feed their families. From that small beginning, we learned two important things: the hunger for opportunity is real, and with the right support, people can transform their lives through farming.

Like any pioneering project, we faced challenges. Some participants chose not to continue, and distribution of small quantities of produce proved difficult. But instead of seeing setbacks, we saw lessons. Those early experiences helped us refine our model into what it is today.

Now, we’ve established an internship farm in Pretoria where emerging farmers receive hands-on training in regenerative agriculture. Over six months, they gain access to land, mentorship, and the practical skills needed to run a successful small-scale farm. Once they complete their training, they are supported in launching their own micro-farms, creating jobs, income, and food security for themselves and their communities.

The Market Garden Initiative is more than a farm. It’s a movement to tackle unemployment, restore the land, and ensure that families across South Africa can access fresh, nutrient-dense food. One garden at a time, we are growing hope and cultivating opportunity.