South Africa
PATIA has supported the work of Robert Mazibuko who founded the Africa Tree Centre and spent most of his life growing tree seedlings. He has been responsible for the planting of at least 35,000 in the previously embattled district of Plessislaer and its surrounding valleys. During South Africa's 'apartheid' years he also supplied vegetables from his organic garden to families whose children were imprisoned. His own son was killed in communal violence and he helped support his daughter-in-law and grand daughter who was blinded by a bullet.

The 'Tree Man of Plessislaer' created an 'African Eden' in a squalid and polluted backyard of Pietermaritzburg. People from all over the world came to see his deep trench methods of growing vegetables using compost as a fertiliser.
Mr Mazibuko advocated that it was important to inculcate the love of soil in young people. He taught the natural approach to farming that did not involve the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. "Blessed is the nation that respects its soil for it shall never starve. One day the gold, silver and diamonds will be finished but we shall always have the soil. Our country has some of the best soils in the world and we have to use it properly".
Unless young people are educated in a practical positive way we are going to destroy ourselves by being too greedy and ignorant of nature and the need to obey Natural Laws".
His aim was to supply vegetables and fruit trees to help destitute families, those suffering from TB, poor people, orphans and old people.