Durban’s secret garden: You need to see it to believe it.

In the concrete jungle of the CBD just minutes away from the International Convention Centre (ICC) there is a secret garden that not many know about.

Towering at the top of the Priority Zone building, there is a beautiful garden with luscious landscapes where you would never think such a place could ever be.

It’s quite contradictory to have a fully functioning eco-environment that makes use of solar panel energy and harvested rain water to grow fresh produce and help feed the homeless, smack bang in the middle of Durban’s cement buildings of the city’s bustling streets.

After a mere 8 weeks and 360 bags of compost in 2011, the building’s dull rooftop transformed into a picturesque landscape consisting of a variety of flowers, herbs, veggies and eco-friendly features.

The aim of the garden is to provide a prototype for city farming, showing Durbanite’s that you don’t need a large farm to plant crops you just need the right tools to create an environment for growth.
Further to this, the rooftop garden initiative provides employment for those who look after the crops as well as donating the majority of the garden’s flourishing produce to local charities.

The rooftop garden’s eco-environment consists of:

• Solar panel energy: powering the building’s lights, geyser, computers and other electrical appliances
• Rain water harvest system: minimize tap water usage as well as to water the plants
• Worm farm: create organic compost for plants

If you work in the CBD, this garden is a nice get away space for your lunch break. With a relaxing sitting area situated in the middle of the garden and a large chess set between the greenery, you will get to hear the birds and the bees flying over the city’s CBD.

To experience Durban’s very own secret garden, head to the Priority Zone building at 77 Monty Naicker street (old Pine street)

For more information, visit the Priority Zone’s website.  Alternatively, contact the Priority Zone building on 031 368 2599 or email the help desk on vkhuzwayo@dsfm.co.za