In 2019 Phetole and his friend from university, Andile Gcaza, started Evergrow. Initially, it was intended to be a company that manufactured hydroponic farming equipment, but it soon developed into a successful business selling seedlings to farmers.

Whilst getting the business going, Phetole worked in the Department of Agriculture consulting with farmers about their crop choices, advising them on how and when to get the best yields. This helped him understand which crops were the most marketable and the level of food insecurity in South Africa.

In the Soweto suburb of Tladi, there are a number of derelict school buildings which have been taken over by subsistence farmers to grow vegetables.

Half of the land occupied by Evergrow is dedicated to their seedling operation. But the rest is used for their outreach projects.

Giving back to the community is important to Phetole, he grew up in the area and he knows the struggles that many people have to put healthy food on the table.

“When I think that food actually comes easy on my table…why can’t I make it simple, and also efficient? Access to food is a human right.”

As part of their activism, Evergrow invites people from the local community to farm small plots of land around their seedling operation. They give them seedlings to get them started and advise on how and when to plant.

They are clear that once the farmers start to sell their produce, they must pay for the next batch of seedlings. They don’t do this to generate more business, the amount of profit from this would be minuscule, but because they want to encourage people to not rely on handouts.

Between the plots and the commercial operation, they have developed a community garden as both an educational space and a cost-effective vegetable market. They want to clearly demonstrate that a sustainable, small garden is achievable in Soweto and what better way to do so than by doing it themselves?

As we have seen time and time again, Actionism doesn’t have to be completely altruistic. It can be a small, generous gesture that exists alongside your successful business.