South Africa celebrates Arbor Week in the first week of September annually.
To mark Arbor Week 2024, Spier places community project Tree-preneurs in sharp “re-leaf”!
At first glance, it might seem like something out of a fantastical futuristic tale: Spekboom in wine cans, proteas in pants pmilk cartons.
- Yet these plants hold the key to empowering communities. As a Spier Growing For Good initiative, Tree-preneurs is a project that teaches members of impoverished communitiesockets, fynbos in within the Cape how to care for indigenous plants. Once the seedlings they’ve been given to nurture are big enough, they are exchanged for food vouchers, clothing, bicycles, educational support, and other essentials. The items exchanged unlock opportunities, provide support and spark inspiration.
Tree-preneurs is rooted in the ‘waste not, want not’ philosophy. As a rule, it doesn’t purchase anything — no water, no pots. Instead, it creatively reuses what’s already there. Water is collected when it rains, and seedlings are planted in used items like biodegradable coffee cups and other recycled containers. This commitment to upcycling and innovative creation is core to Tree-preneurs.
Lesley Joemat has been the dedicated Project Manager for Tree-preneurs since 2009, teaching individuals not just about caring for indigenous plants but also providing avenues for personal growth and community impact.
Joemat lives by her principles, using water-saving gadgets and recycling at home too.
