Parys – It’s blooming in the tunnels

For the first time since the start of the Parys Flower Project in 2017, the project is flourishing.

Not only with the most amazing spectacle of 1,000 Ludwig roses flowering in abundance in the two tunnels in Allenby Street, but also with the smiles of the four bene- ficiaries of the project who have kept positive, despite challenges. Thanks to a financial boost by the Department of Agriculture, things are finally happening for Florence Malebo, John Letsobe, Thabo Modise and Neo Malebo, the beneficiaries of the project.

Storc CC, the contractor for the Department of Agriculture, has fixed the damage to the tunnels caused by heavy wind and rain earlier this year.

They started repairing the existing tunnels last week and will cover them with polypropylene by the end of the week. Before the end of December, another tunnel for veggies will be added to the project.

While the tunnels are being fixed, the beneficiaries are cleaning, cutting and pruning the roses.

A solar power water pump for the borehole with three water tanks will make sure that there will be enough water for all the tunnels at last. It all started when the beneficiaries applied for funding from the Department of Agriculture at the beginning of the year.

They wanted to help save the shaky rose project that was once the dream of the former Free State premier, Ace Magashule, after the success of the first Free State/Madeira Flower Festival in Parys. There was an endless list of needs to get the project blooming again – repairing the tunnels and borehole, irrigation, an extra tunnel for the veggies, PPE for the beneficiaries, compost and fertiliser. Most of all, they needed efficient training in managing and marketing the project.

Then lockdown and winter came with a devastating financial impact on the beneficiaries.

But in August, word came that the Department of Agriculture had granted R1,5 million to get the project up and running again. On 5 November, the funds were finally available and the beneficiaries had to find quotations to get the tunnels fixed. With the help of personnel from Hinterland, they were able to find contractors and compare prices.

With the available funds, they have to pay the contractors and get the project up and running. But for John, Neo, Florence and Thabo, there is no end to what they visualise for the project. It is an enormous boost to their morale.

Besides the long-awaited financial aid, the Parys Flower Project tells a story of compassion; of people reaching out, purely for the love of flowers and to make a difference in the lives of others. There are people who have invested their time, not only to guide but help in any way they could. People like Rykie Schaller taught the beneficiaries how to prune and fertilise from the start. Caring people like Jeane and Kieran Cameron drove past about a month ago and saw the terrible state the tunnels were in.

Their love for flowers made them stop and when they saw the roses and the potential it had, they immediately offered their help. Since then, the tunnels is a weekly stop for the mother and daughter to support, physically help and teach the beneficiaries how to care for the roses. They bring their gardener, knowledge and passion, week after week. When they are done working in the tunnels and inspiring those they leave behind, they take with them roses to sell, creating a market. And what a difference they make!

They have not been paid a single cent, nor taken one rose for free, but what these women have invested here just because they care, has achieved more than what a thousand words can express.

Anyone who wants to buy roses can visit the tunnels between 07:00 and 15:00 on weekdays.

Article by Liezl Scheepers and originally published in the Parys Gazette