22/08/2025
As Part of Our Women's Month Celebrations, Meet Rachel Radebe: A Right Inspiration.
Rachel Radebe, an older woman who created a beautiful garden in Orange Farm.
Her vegetables grow tall, her hands stay busy, and her story is as rich as the soil she plants in. But behind every spinach leaf and potato patch lies a journey of hard work, determination, and purpose. A journey that started when she crossed paths with the Outreach Foundation.
Rachel grew up in an underprivileged family. “We didn’t have much,” she says, “but my grandmother taught me to use what we had.” In 1991, after she got married, she moved to Orange Farm, a township in Johannesburg, South Africa: a place that became her home and the start of her gardening journey.
At first, she was planting her vegetables with no tools, little knowledge, and only one goal, which was to feed her grandchild, whom she was staying with at her marital home.
“Life was tough,” she recalls. “But one of my neighbours told me to plant something small, just to help put food on the table.”
She started with potatoes, and to her surprise, they flourished. “They grew like magic!” she laughs. “That’s when I realised the power of soil and sunlight. My grandson and I started eating fried chips, and sometimes we would cook the potatoes and eat them with pap”. She remembers that from that day on, they never went hungry like they used to before.
Still, she didn’t know much about how to garden properly. That changed when Outreach Foundation’s Urban farming programme arrived in her community.
“I joined because I wanted to grow better food, but I didn’t expect to learn as much as I did,” she says.
Through the Urban farming programme, Rachel learnt how to prepare soil, make compost, plant according to seasons, and save water.
“Before, I was just guessing. But Outreach Foundation gave me their urban farming skills,” she explains. “Now I use proper methods, and I see the difference every day.”
Thanks to the training, her garden is now bigger, healthier, and more productive. “I don’t have to rely on store-bought vegetables anymore. What I grow is fresh, organic, and saves me money.” She adds with a smile, “I eat better because of what I’ve learnt. I am also selling some of the vegetables I plant to make extra cash.”
At her age, Rachel values her health and believes that most of it comes from what she eats. “I’m a pensioner now, but I still feel strong. Planting vegetables keeps my body active, and eating organic, healthy food gives me energy.” For her, gardening is both a way to stay healthy and a form of daily exercise.
But Rachel’s impact doesn’t stop in her yard. She now shares her knowledge with her neighbours and joins other Outreach Foundation gardening programmes that are offered in her area. “I love passing on what I know,” she says. “Helping others reminds me that I have something to give.”
She takes pride in showing others how to plant their first seeds, improve their gardens, and understand the value of growing their food. Looking out at her green space, Rachel feels proud. “I never imagined this life,” she says. “But with the knowledge I now have, I’ve built something beautiful, and it’s still growing.”
Let's celebrate her success and the impact she's making in her community!
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