The Table View Ratepayers Association (TVRA) has put in an application for the land between Diep River and the bus terminal at the upper end of Blouberg Road – to be used for an extensive community project.

This will include an organic farming initiative, educational facilities, a recreational area for the comunity and an animal sanctuary run by the Blouberg Animal Trust.

TygerBurger recently reported on the Blouberg Animal Trust (BAT) and their search for suitable land. BAT had raised the money needed for the sanctuary they intended to build, but were struggling to find land suitable for its purpose. The land that BAT had been offered was too far away from the community.

The land, Farm 235, that has been applied for, is conveniently close for residents from both the established Table View area and the neighbouring Dunoon informal settlement.

However, it is far enough away from residential areas not to cause noise pollution coming from the proposed animal sanctuary.

The sanctuary will work together with the SPCA to provide safety and care for animals and to educate the community on how to care for their animals.

The TVRA’s plan for an organic farm is intended to create employment and to teach the community how to sustain themselves.

The organic farm will be the answer to many problems that residents in both the Table View area and informal settlements face.

The project hopes to provide workshops and demonstrations, teaching the community how to develop and build their own organic gardens.

These gardens will produce more affordable and healthier food.

There is a plan for a market on the property, allowing people from the community to sell their produce. This will provide additional income and eventually lead to some drop in crime.

TVRA chairperson Genni Easton says it is often the people who are desperate that resort to crime. “There is already a commercial market for the produce, as local supermarkets have expressed their interest in the fresh organic produce.”

The organics project will also see organic waste being recycled locally instead of being transported to one of the City’s already full dump sites.

It is also hoped that a crèche will be built on the land to cater for children from the nearby informal settlements. Here they will be able to learn in a natural environment to have respect for animals and nature.

Another aspect of the project is to open up part of the area to the community as a picnic area for families.

The land itself used to be the old Potsdam Outspan and all parties involved hope that this will once again become an area for community bonding.

The TVRA and BAT intend to create a harmonious village on the farm, complete with market and main street.

They have also resolved to not cut down a single tree on the land, this being one of the very few natural green lungs remaining in the northern area of the city.

The area marked out for this project suits its needs and there is no other project of this kind on the West Coast.