Marie April is without a doubt one of the most successful small farmers in the Central Karoo. She has already won 3 prizes for her vegetable garden – most recently winning “Top small garden in the Central Karoo”. Even winners sometimes have doubts and Marie April explains, “ek het begin met groente plant, vir omtrent so twee jaar, toe dink ek ai maar ek vorder dan nie, ek bly dan net waar ek is”. Hope howevernwas restored in Marie after she crossed paths with PACT who helped her expand her product range from just growing vegetables to a variety of products in the last year including a new lay hen division.
In 2021 Marie focused on expanding her product range and market. She sells eggs, flowers, vegetables and dried fruit to locals in Prince Albert. Marie also provides temporary employment to local gardners as she believes in giving back to the community. She hopes to plough back all her knowledge into the community by teaching children how to grow vegetables and how to care for animals.
When you ask Marie who is the person who most inspires her, she answers clearly – John, who is an associate of PACT. JOhn has a strong agri-cultural and business background and supports and advises Marie pro bono helping to expand her micro enterprise branded, “April Se Tuin”. Marie’s ability to learn, absorb and apply the information shared with her is what makes her business sustainable.
She expresses her gratitude towards PACT beautifully when she says “2019 het ek gesê– as
hierdie jaar nou uitgaan, en ek sien nie waarvoor ek so hard werk nie gaan ek maar opgee, en
as die Here nie vir my ‘n uitkoms stuur nie…, en skielik in Junie 2020, toe daag PACT op en sê dat hulle iemand sal bring om my te help, en van daardie dag af beleef ek net voorspoed, ek is ewig dankbaar dat die Here PACT op my pad gestuur het”.
Marie went from “ai maar ek vorder dan nie, ek bly dan net waar ek is” to: “Ek sien daar is ‘n uitkoms vir my, en dit laat vir my lekker voel as ek sien my boerdery gaan vorentoe, jaar op jaar!”
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