As many of you know, we’re facing a difficult challenge with our land from the City of Cape Town- the whole of the Lochiel Smallholdings, not just our property. Eugene and I have been working so hard from every possible angle. It has taken all of our focus. Now, in this final week before comments are due, we have to release it and trust fall into the arms of community.

Growing well feels like this as well. We set things up as best we can. We put in the work. We wind things up like clockwork, and we push hard on setting up the best possible systems. Some things go wrong, some things go well. And then, once we feel we’ve done enough, or even when we haven’t, it’s time to let go, and recognise our smallness.

Yet after a short while of letting go, the cycle of work begins again. In the moment of letting go, and watching nature, even for a few minutes, we begin to see where we can rebound and help or support the growing. Always from a somewhat fresh perspective, born of the letting go.

In some ways hard work can blind me, make me myopic to everything outside of my own herculean efforts. Letting go means I am no longer afraid of failure, I am accepting of it. Once I am accepting of it, once I see all the holes in the brussel sprouts and not try to fight, then suddenly there is room for curiosity and creativity.

If you’re growing and facing challenges, consider letting go for a day or two, and just watching.

Curiosity and creativity is where the magic happens.

Perhaps there is little curiosity in the types of agriculture that are formulaic and controlling, where capitalism dominates. Perhaps that is why it sometimes feels disconnected from nature.

When we are truly connected to our food, we become connected more closely to our bodies, to nature, to other people. It is here that we recognise that it was never about our effort.

It was always about connection.

A request for help: Comments to the City of Cape Town

Please can you write a comment on behalf of the Lochiel Smallholdings? If you would like to see what we’re facing, you can read the spatial plan (and the implementation plan, section 5) here.

Email to address comments to: [email protected]

Even a short comment would be very helpful. Examples of points to put in your own words would be:

• The purpose of a spatial plan is to balance various priorities in an area, yet this plan proposes rezoning a scarce rural neighbourhood, eliminating a hub of resilience that provides the entire valley, and Cape Town, with plants, skills, and education.

• A plan should never destroy productive agricultural land. How will the plan ensure the protection of agricultural activities in the Lochiel Smallholdings for future generations?

• We assert that this area is not underutilised. How was utilisation assessed? What evidence can be provided to show that the area is underutilised?

• Given that there is vacant land is available, what rationale can be given for implementation of a plan using productive land with residents, urban farms and businesses?

• The Lochiel Smallholdings serve the Masi and Ocean View communities through non-profits that can only function in the relative safety of being a distinct neighbourhood, with its own character and value, and with green space which is well-maintained because it is inhabited by families. How will this plan ensure that the LSH remain a distinct, multiracial community that serves the surrounding communities while maintaining its own integrity.

Please consider saying who you are and why this issue matters to you For example, I benefit directly from the existence of the smallholdings because ...

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