Moegamat Jones, the founder of Jones Urban Farm, is a passionate advocate for practical solutions to the social challenges faced by youth in Claremont, west of Johannesburg. His approach centres on providing tangible alternatives to crime and substance abuse, emphasising the power of incentives and real opportunities to inspire positive change.

Frustrated by a municipal greenbelt that had become a dumping site and a haven for criminals, Jones began work to clean and rehabilitate the land, creating an urban farm and restoring biodiversity to a neglected piece of land. 

Jones believes that action is key to combating issues such as drugs and gangsterism. He stresses that simply talking about these problems without offering viable alternatives is ineffective. Instead, he encourages community members to take concrete steps, such as providing incentives, to engage young people and steer them away from negative influences.

One of the practical solutions Jones offers is employment on his urban farm. He highlights the value of honest work, suggesting that jobs like those available at his farm provide “clean money” and meaningful purpose. Jones encourages participants to view such work as a stepping stone and not something to be looked down upon.

Jones also seeks to educate youth about the value of resources that are often overlooked, such as green waste. He teaches ways to convert waste into profit, reduce city carbon emissions, and create new opportunities. By illustrating the difference between selling raw materials and adding value, he aims to empower participants to be more self-sufficient and innovative.

What was the problem?

A badly neglected veldt in Claremont, which runs behind a street of houses, had become a dumping site and a haven for drug users and criminals.  After a spate of burglaries and attacks, an elderly couple were burgled and attacked in their home.  This was the incident that spurred Jones’ determination to do something. 

For the first five years, Jones worked alone, organising the removal of years of waste from illegal dumping, planting most of the crops from cuttings. In addition to his work on the farm, Jones collaborated with local businesses and organizations to create employment opportunities for the community. He organized clean-up projects and other initiatives to keep the area vibrant and engaged. His efforts extended beyond the farm, as he sought to create a space that fostered community spirit, provided nutritious food, and offered a sense of purpose for those involved.

“They said, I'm nuts - everybody, my wife, the whole family. My wife asked me: ‘Are you mad? What's wrong with you? Everybody doubted me,” says Jones

What makes it work?

Jones also emphasized the importance of community support and collective action. He believed that meaningful change could only be sustained through the involvement and support of the entire community. This belief was evident in his various initiatives, including a rehabilitation program for individuals convicted of minor offenses. The program offered petty offenders an alternative to incarceration, allowing them to participate in community revitalization projects and receive compensation for their work.

"Don't just talk about drugs and gangsters. Come do something. If you are just talking and you don't have other options for them, I can tell you you're going to fail." 

He argues that confronting criminal elements without alternatives only perpetuates the cycle, as the youth are quickly drawn back into negative influences.

Jones also seeks to educate participants on the value of resources often overlooked, such as green waste: "Grass is money for me, if I look at it, because it's a by-product, you see, you make compost, you do different stuff with it." His aim is to teach ways to convert waste into profit, reduce city carbon emissions, and create new opportunities. He illustrates the difference between selling raw materials and adding value.

How did he do it?

Jones's journey to founding Jones Urban Farm was not without its challenges. He faced scepticism from his family and friends when he first decided to pursue farming. Despite the doubts, Jones formalized his efforts and transformed his small construction company into a vehicle for his agricultural vision. The land on which Jones Urban Farm is situated has a rich history and belongs to City Parks and Zoo. Jones delved deep into its past, uncovering its significance as a heritage site and recognizing its biodiversity.

What makes the initiative or project novel, innovative or unique?

Jones's initiative is unique in its holistic approach to addressing social challenges. By combining employment opportunities, education, and community involvement, he created a model that not only tackled the immediate issues of crime and substance abuse but also empowered individuals to take control of their futures. His emphasis on converting waste into profit and reducing carbon emissions added an innovative environmental dimension to his work.

The rehabilitation program for petty offenders was another novel aspect of Jones's initiative. By offering an alternative to incarceration, the program aimed to intervene before first-time offenders were exposed to the prison environment, which Jones believed could worsen their situation. 

Jones's dedication to creating meaningful alternatives for youth and his focus on practical solutions set his initiative apart. Through Jones Urban Farm, he demonstrated that with determination and a focus on tangible actions, it is possible to cultivate change and to make a difference.

Fixlocal Reporter

Pictures: Jones Farm