The Punda Maria staff village is flourishing with fresh produce, thanks to the dedication of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, whose thriving gardens are nurturing both community and sustainability.

South Africa (03 November 2025) – The vegetable gardens nestled in the staff village at Punda Maria are a true testament to what happens when teamwork comes together. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Letaba Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, these once modest plots have blossomed into thriving, baboon-proof gardens that are making a real difference in the lives of those who live and work in the area.

Originally established by the East Rand Region, the gardens were designed with one goal in mind: creating a sustainable, self-sufficient source of fresh produce for the staff at the camp. Members of the Letaba Region have proudly taken over the care and maintenance of these green spaces, ensuring that they remain well-stocked with vibrant seedlings and healthy crops throughout the year.

Every harvest tells a story of generosity. The fresh vegetables gathered from the gardens are shared among the staff, helping to provide nutritious meals and easing the need for long, costly trips into town for groceries. This powerful initiative not only supports a healthier lifestyle but also strengthens the spirit of community at Punda Maria, where teamwork truly feeds everyone.

Beyond the greenery, the project beautifully embodies the vision and mission of the SANParks Honorary Rangers. As a world-class volunteer organisation, the Honorary Rangers continue to play an integral role in supporting South African National Parks in their broader goal of conservation, sustainability, and community empowerment.

Through innovation and best practice, their work ensures that our biodiversity is preserved and celebrated for the benefit of today’s generation and many generations to come.

Sources: SANParks Honorary 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Thriving Gardens Bring Growth to Punda Maria appeared first on Good Things Guy.

In 2017, Johan Scott turned a petty theft into something powerful. A single stolen vegetable led to a garden that would feed a community… and now, in 2025, his story is making waves once more.

Heidelberg, South Africa (21 June 2025) – Sometimes, the internet gives an old story new life. That’s exactly what’s happening right now.

A 2017 story about Johan Scott, a retired policeman from Heidelberg, South Africa, is suddenly going viral again. It’s doing the rounds on Facebook, being shared by pages and people who may not know the full background… but it’s hitting home regardless.

And it’s no surprise why.

It all started with a single stolen cauliflower.

Most people would’ve been annoyed. Maybe even angry. But Johan saw it differently. The missing vegetable made him pause. It made him realise that someone nearby must have been hungry… hungry enough to help themselves.

So instead of putting up a fence or a camera, Johan planted more.

More vegetables. More hope. More kindness.

“It makes my heart happy when I see people eating my vegetables,” he told us in 2017. “That is why I planted this… because the people are hungry, they need this.”

Johan turned the pavement outside his home into a thriving little garden filled with beans, tomatoes, eggplants and beetroot. And told his community they were welcome to help themselves. No charge. No catch. Just food and dignity, freely given.

It was one of the very first stories we shared about growing food for the community… and it’s stuck with us (and South Africa) ever since. Unfortunately, we don’t have a new update on Johan or how his garden is doing in 2025. But what we can tell you is this: his story planted something far bigger than he may have imagined.

Since that viral moment in 2017, we’ve written dozens of stories about ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things… all by planting vegetables on pavements, in parks, outside schools, or even in wheelbarrows. We’ve seen community champions grow free food gardens in townships, business owners create veggie stands for anyone in need and kids start planting for their neighbours. And in every single one of those stories, the idea is the same: people are hungry… and we can help.

There’s something deeply powerful about these simple gestures, and it’s not because they solve hunger overnight but because they remind us that compassion doesn’t need permission. You don’t need a big budget or a fancy plan. Sometimes all it takes is some seeds, a bit of soil and the will to share.

Desmond Tutu said it best, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

So if you’re seeing Johan’s story again and wondering if kindness still exists, yes, it does. It’s growing all around us. One veggie patch at a time.

PS… this story may be the seed you needed to start your own “good things garden”!

Sources: Good Things Guy 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post South Africa’s Favourite Pavement Garden is Back in the Spotlight appeared first on Good Things Guy.