Portland pensioner Denise Hendricks, 71 teacher has turned her love for gardening into a microgreens business.
She unearthed her entrepreneurial drive last year when she joined the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative South Africa's women's livelihood program. Qualifying participants had to submit a business plan and present a 90-second pitch to be considered for seed funding for their businesses.
Ms Hendricks was 70 at the time and the oldest among 751 graduates and 42 business pitch winners. "I never imagined that I would be named one of the winners. I was so surprised when they announced my name. It was unbelievable."
Ms Hendricks registered her business, Maxi Microgreens, earlier this year and has started planting broccoli, radish, coriander and sunflower seeds. "I decided on microgreens because they need less attention and don't take up so much space. To work in a traditional garden is strenuous, especially as you're getting older.
"I became despondent because of the inclement weather that dries the soil, the wind blows your vegetables southward, westward, northward, and you use a lot of water. We cannot afford, as pensioners, to have a high water bill. Vegetables have also become so expensive to buy."
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