Soil For Life Boomklas

Soil for Life was founded in 2002 by Pat Featherstone with a mission to help people grow nutritious food using sustainable, low-cost methods. The organisation focuses on supporting individuals and communities in under-resourced areas, particularly informal settlements around Cape Town, by teaching regenerative gardening practices that improve food security and promote wellness.

The training covers everything from composting and soil health to water conservation and seasonal planting. But the impact goes far beyond the garden. By equipping people with these practical skills, Soil for Life helps build confidence, improve mental and physical health, and foster community resilience.

Neal Sachs currently serves as Chairperson of the Board.
“My involvement with Soil for Life began when I was approached to design their ‘boomklas’, a multi-functional space used for lectures, functions and other gatherings, located at SFL’s headquarters in Constantia. Through this project, I became familiar with the work which SFL does, and gradually my involvement grew to the point where I was invited to join the board of directors, eventually being appointed as chairman.”

The Boomklas, made possible through donor-supported materials, became a symbolic and physical hub for knowledge-sharing and community engagement. Through Neal’s ongoing involvement, he’s helped steer the organisation’s mission forward.
“The organisation engages with many highly relevant and pressing issues which affect the underprivileged communities in the peri-urban areas… including food security, wellness, education and self-empowerment.”

The structure of Soil for Life is designed to be self-sustaining. Home gardeners who begin the programme can go on to become trainers and local leaders, spreading knowledge and uplifting others within their communities.
“People who join the program… can become trainers and community leaders who help to spread the knowledge and ethos of Soil for Life, and are involved in the development of skills and enhancement of self-worth which is often so lacking in these communities.”

Through hands-on training, shared wisdom, and community-led transformation, Soil for Life continues to grow more than just gardens — it’s growing a movement rooted in dignity, sustainability, and hope.

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