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Cover of Market Gardening in South Africa: Growing and Selling Vegetables from a Small Plot

Market Gardening in South Africa: Growing and Selling Vegetables from a Small Plot

Hybrid Learning Solutions · e-book

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About this book

A practical, South African guide to growing vegetables on a small plot, from a few beds to about a hectare, and selling them at a profit, for anyone with access to a family plot, communal land or a church, school or community garden, young people in co-operatives and youth projects, pensioners growing for extra income, and agricultural and agri-business students. Twelve chapters follow a grower on a family plot near Thohoyandou, a youth co-operative on a church plot in Ekurhuleni, and a retired teacher near Mthatha selling her surplus to a school and a spaza, with advice from a retired agricultural extension officer: what market gardening really earns and costs; land agreements, water and the law, and planning the plot; soil, compost, manure safely and crop rotation; a market survey and choosing crops that sell; seedlings, planting and spacing; water, drip irrigation, load-shedding and mulch; pests, diseases and weeds, with registered pesticides used exactly as the label says and the withholding period respected; harvesting, washing and keeping produce fresh; finding buyers, schools, fresh produce markets and getting paid; costing a crop, setting prices and keeping a cash book; working as a co-operative, getting support and avoiding funding scams; and working safely and planning the next season. Every calculation is worked, from water per bed to the gross margin of a bed of spinach and what a box of tomatoes leaves after market commission. Land, water, permits and funding are taught in general terms, dated, so you always check with the department or municipality. 28 diagrams and photographs, worked examples, practice exercises with answers, and a farm file: a plot sketch and soil record, a water plan, a compost plan, a crop and market survey, a planting calendar, an irrigation schedule, a pest diary and spray record, a harvest checklist, a buyers list, a crop budget, a cash book, a season plan, a glossary, where to get help, and 144 Exam prep questions. A Skills Series title. No seed, fertiliser, pesticide or equipment brands are named or recommended. Lecturers: a free Facilitator Guide (session plans built around a farm file, practical work on a plot, no pesticide mixing in class, teaching notes and every answer) is available to colleges registered with HybridE. To register your college, contact Thandeka on 073 431 6763.

What is inside

  1. Chapter 1: What Market Gardening Is
  2. Chapter 2: Land, Water and a Plan
  3. Chapter 3: Soil, Compost and Fertility
  4. Chapter 4: Choosing Crops That Sell
  5. Chapter 5: Seedlings, Planting and Spacing
  6. Chapter 6: Water and Irrigation
  7. Chapter 7: Pests, Diseases and Weeds, Safely
  8. Chapter 8: Harvest, Handling and Keeping Produce Fresh
  9. Chapter 9: Selling: Finding Buyers
  10. Chapter 10: Pricing, Costing and Records
  11. Chapter 11: Working Together and Getting Support
  12. Chapter 12: Working Safely and Planning the Next Season
  13. Appendix

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