As the year draws to a close, we would just like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible and eventful past year. 2017 has been completely remarkable for the Reel Gardening team. All that we have accomplished in the past year wouldn’t have been possible without the overwhelming support of our partners and you! Read on to join us on a voyage of recalling some of the highpoints from this past year:
Agripreneur of the year 2017: March 2017
In the beginning of the year our founder Claire Reid was recognised as the Global Agripreneur of the Year. This award at the Future Agro Challenge Global Championships 2017 saw 50 innovators from 5 continents striving for the designation. Getting recognition for our innovation and being put in the same league as other great innovators on the African continent set the elevated tone for the rest of the year for Reel Gardening.
BOGO-Our Buy One Give One Model: April 2017
We are very pleased to have adopted our BOGO (Buy One, Give One) business model; which means that to us, selling also involves giving and a clear impact on food security. This is all part of our commitment to making a greater social impact and getting the next generation growing.
Partnering with the Pick n Pay Foundation and HDI Youth Marketeers: April 2017
This astounding partnership helped us to get the Reel Gardening Grow Pod into 2315 schools around South Africa. It furthermore created the opportunity for us to be able to equip learners and teachers with the knowledge of being able to use a vegetable garden as a teaching and learning tool, that can be included into the South African primary schools CAPS curriculum. Reel Outdoor Classrooms
Introducing gardening to the youth helps us change the perception that vegetable gardening is for the elderly or people in rural areas. We want people, especially young people, to learn more about the process of nurturing a garden and growing their own food at home. Our aim is to create awareness of the importance of nutrition and make gardening a popular activity for everyone.
Partnerships outside of South Africa: May 2017
Reel Gardening partnered with the Girl Scouts of America, making them our first stockist of the Reel Gardening product in the United States. We are hoping that this will be one of many fruitful partnerships outside of South Africa, going forward.
Finalist of the Fairlady Woman of the Future 2017: August 2017
Once more, our inspiring founder Claire Reid was recognized as a finalist of this prestigious award alongside other great South African female entrepreneurs. This was a great opportunity for us to not only teach people more about Reel Gardening, but for people to learn more about social entrepreneurship in South Africa.
Representing Reel Gardening at the Grand Challenges Meeting 2017 in Washington and the Girl Scouts G.I.R.L Convention: October 2017
Our founder was a Spotlight Speaker at the Grand Challenges Meeting 2017. Watch Speech
She enlightened the audience about; the Reel Gardening journey as a South African social enterprise and spreading The Planting Revolution. This spotlight talk was given alongside inspirational and awe worthy leaders such as Microsoft Founder Bill Gates and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Reel Gardening also won the People’s Choice Award for our Poster made for the meeting by the Kocojelly Team.
Claire also spoke at the G.I.R.L Convention hosted by the Girls Scouts of America. This annual event attracts young girls from all over the US and inspires them to be active, create and innovate.
The launch and roll-out of Groweez in partnership with Knorr and Pick ‘n Pay: November 2017
After more than a year of planning, designing, fine-tuning and research, we are overjoyed that Groweez has launched. A fun and unique growing solution that gets everyone excited; young, old, green fingers or not. In a small box you’ll have the convenience of everything that you need to grow and take care of a vegetable or herb character. Just add lots of sunshine and water! Groweez are currently available at selected Pick n Pays countrywide.
Top 5 Finalist of the Hang Man SA show
Hangman SA is a proudly South African production that gives South African innovators the opportunity to win a R1 million to back their innovation. Even though our founder did not win, she made it to the top 5 being praised the whole way. It was an amazing opportunity and platform for her to spread the word about Reel Gardening and meet other great South African innovators. Claire believes that she gained some invaluable lessons that will benefit Reel Gardening as a whole.
Builders Warehouse
We have had an over whelming reaction to the news that we are coming to builders. We have continuously been asked when we will be stocking our products at Builders and we delighted to inform everyone that it is now in progress. Ending off this year on a high note we are very happy to announce that we will be available in selected Builders around South Africa!
South Africa
USA