Sisters of the Soil is part of the Community Farmer’s Radio Show on Bush Radio, South Africa’s oldest community radio station that Lucelle Campbell and Melissa Britz are part of the initial team of. Oppieyaart is a community garden project that cultivates a growing, teaching and learning space about soil, food and medicine. The Oppieyaart team consists predominantly of women from Elsies River in Cape Town, South Africa and was founded by Campbell and Britz. The interest of growing and planting lies in Elsies River as well as in other communities on the Cape Flats. Oppieyaart creates a safe space on the Cape Flats that should inspire people to learn and exchange about soil, food, health and community. The project wants to encourage a simple and interconnected way of life that includes neighbourhood, children and animals as equal environment. The continuing idea on supporting small community based businesses benefits local products or self-made markets. In cooperation with other organisations a space of co-learning is generated to exchange knowledge on planting own food, saving and trading seeds with other participants or produce own medicine. Therefor the community garden provides the neighbourhood with healing remedies or immune booster, herbal tea and holy smokes. The cultivated plants and herbs are mostly indigenous, for Oppieyaart wants to bring an awareness of sustainable living for sustainable communities.
