- Christian Rhode, 82, transformed a former dumping site into a lush garden with nearly 1 000 succulents.
- The garden now thrives thanks to Rhode’s dedication and the support of the community, including waste pickers who once used the space.
- Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate praised Rhode’s efforts, highlighting how the garden turned the area into a community asset.
At 82, Retreat resident Christian Rhode turned what once was a dumping site into a garden with close to 1 000 succulents and water-wise plants over a two-and-a-half-year period.
Walking slowly and steadily with the assistance of a walking stick, Rhode showed People’s Post various plants thriving in his care along Geneva Road.
“I planted mostly succulents and plants that can withstand the weather and grow in normal sand,” he shared. “With the recent water restrictions, we learnt to save water, so I use grey water for the plants.”
Originally from Tulbagh, the grandfather moved in with his daughter and her family five years ago.
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Asked whether he always had “green fingers” Rhode insisted there was no such thing.
“If you know how to plant then any person would be able to do this.”
His passion for gardening was passed down from his grandfather and father when he was a child.
He explained: “My grandfather was a ‘jack of all trades, but master of none’ as the saying goes. He taught me, from an early age, how to take care of plants.”
Former dumping ground
Every morning before sunrise and before sunset Rhode makes his way to the garden to water and check on its progress.
“The community used to dump their rubbish here, so I just decided we could make a difference and started gardening in this space. Die plante het ek self gekweek.”
Remarkably, waste pickers who used to dump rubbish in the space are now bringing along plants for Rhode to add to his garden.
“The same people who used to dump rubbish in this space are now also bringing plants to me. I have the support of the community; if they see me busy planting one neighbour would provide a pipe and water while another would bring seedlings or plants to add to the garden.”
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Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate, who noted the efforts of this plucky grandfather, thanked him for his work in the community.
“As Mr Rhode indicated this was a terrible dumping site. Everyone who passed through here with their trolleys saw this as a place where they could sort their stuff and then leave the rubbish behind. We had to get the City in here, at least twice a week, to come and clean up, and this has been going on for several years because the litter pickers have been here for a while.”
It was during his weekly ward inspections that Southgate noted the transformation taking place. “It sort of piqued my interest and then I met Mr Rhode. He gets up early in the morning to do the toiling, and a lot of the plants we see here today he provided, this venerable senior member of the community.
“I think it is a wonderful example of how a community, once it starts standing together, can transform open spaces.”
