The month of August has been a wonderful time for the Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home and we are so excited for what’s to come!
On the 16th of August 2016, The Ackerman Foundation blessed HibHome with a unique food security project that is aimed at adding a nutritionist element to the home’s programmes.
This phenomenal programme, worth R196 000 includes a hydroponic vegetable tunnel, fruit orchard, chicken coop, piggery and a water-conserving irrigation system, how incredible?
The home’s board chairman Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya described this investment in the lives of children as invaluable.
“The happiness It brings Is immeasurable. The children will be happy and grow up wanting to be happier because of such an investment.”
This magnificent programme is going to be incorporated into the other existing ones present at HibHome, focusing holistically on underprivileged children’s team building during the home’s structured holiday camps with the aim of teaching the children about nutrition and allowing them to impart this on their everyday lives at their homes.
Dairy Fresh Home Products chief executive John Sandison advises that the vegetable tunnel has been built with a unique system made up of four components. “The tunnel has 60% shade cloth allowing it to have cool natural weather, it has no soil except for inert sand in which plants will receive water-soluble nutrient and it uses a third of water compared to agriculture.” What’s more, the tunnel can product up to 3000 plants including tomatoes, onions, cabbages, spinach and beetroot!! Fantastic isn’t it?
The remainder of the project is made up of a furit orchard, a chicken coop, a piggery and an irrigation system that boast the following:
The fruit orchard that forms part of the project contains bananas, litchies, mangoes, avocados and figs
The chicken coop has chickens and produces a harvest of 25 to 30 eggs daily!
The piggery is home to two adult pigs and their piglets
The irrigation system also has Jojo tanks to store water
Ackerman Pick n’ Pay Foundation head, Leonara Sauls, said she was impressed and hoped that the relationship between the foundation and the Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home would grow and deepen.
“The best thing the country can do to make a difference is to invest in the children.” – Lenora Sauls
We couldn’t agree more! If you would like to get involved and donate to our cause, visit our website today to find out more!