Evergrow is a seedling supply company situated in the heart of Soweto.
Jason and I spent one morning in the vibrant neighborhood of Tladi, Soweto. We met and chatted with Phetole Raseropo, one of the founders of Evergrow Soweto.
Simply put, Evergrow grows and supplies seedlings of all kinds to anyone–from home gardeners to large scale farmers.
This is the basic description of the business, and I could end this post there and tell you to contact them if you need any seedlings.
BUT that is not the whole story. Not even close!
Phetole Raseropo has a BSc in Botany, and all the skills necessary to grow seeds. But Evergrow is more than just a supply company. The man we met in Soweto has more than just a degree. Phetole has a massive heart for his community and the network of farmers that he is building.
First, let’s talk about Soweto
Soweto is a township that lies just Southwest of Johannesburg. In fact its name is derived from the location: SOuth WEstern TOwnships.
The township was created in the 1930’s by the white government in order to separate black South Africans from whites. Soweto grew out of shantytowns and slums, as rural South Africans moved closer to the city in order to find work. Even at it’s beginnings, Soweto is a city birthed in turmoil, a city made up of people fighting for a better life.
And, as far as I can tell, that much has stayed the same.
In 1976, Soweto was the site of the Soweto Uprising. The Uprising began as a fight against Afrikaans becoming the language of instruction in schools. However, it led to years of fighting against oppression and for a better future.
Phetole was brought up in the Tladi neighborhood of Soweto, and while he is too young to have been part of the Uprising, he is surround by people who fought to make a difference and believed that change could one day come.
And while a change of government did come to the country in 1994, Phetole still sees the need to fight for change even 30 years later in 2024. However, he fights for food security and access.
Phetole saw that farmers in and around Johannesburg had to travel very far to purchase seedlings, and also lacked the training to successfully grow those seedlings. This was a need he could fulfill.
And so, Evergrow was born, right there in the heart of Soweto.
An abandoned school turned into a seedling supply company
Tau Pedi Higher Primary School was closed in 2004. It sat empty for 14 years, and like many of the abandoned schools in Soweto, it became an eyesore and a potential haven for crime.
But that all changed in 2018, when Phetole discovered the school and made a plan to turn it into the site of their seedling supply company.
With space to work, and grounds to grow, they found a home for their business.
The logistics
As a business, Evergrow produces approximately one million seedlings per cycle. They willingly supply anyone who needs quality seedlings, from large scale farmers to small sustenance growers. But more than just supplying seedlings, Phetole builds a relationship with every individual that he sells to. He gives advice on what cultivars to grow and guidance on how to grow them successfully.
With the goal of helping people grow food for themselves, their families, their communities, and even for the country, Phetole has a large task at hand. The biggest challenge is helping his customers find a market to sell in.
And therein lies the mammoth challenge of the small scale farming. Where is the market? (I will write more about this challenge in a separate post, as I think it deserves some real focus and discussion.)
Phetole attempts to answer this question by starting a local weekend market in Soweto, where growers can come together and attract buyers for their produce.
The next market is on June 22nd. It promises to be a fun day out filled with 100% locally grown, sustainable produce.
So head over on the day, and check out the neighborhood and the amazing produce being grown.
Contacts
So whether you are a farmer looking for seedlings, or a consumer looking for fresh produce, Phetole and Evergrow Soweto have you covered.
Follow Phetole and Evergrow on Instagram to find out when and where the next market is going to be taking place.
Or contact them for some seedlings of your own at 0789679898.
