Discover Africa's First Experiential Living Food Campus
We believe food spaces should do more than sell products, they should shift culture. That’s why we treat the Living Food Campus as both a place of working food production and a creative learning environment. A place where good food is made carefully and where that care is visible.
Walk into a world where you can observe and question artisanal food processing in action - enhancing nutrition and celebrating local food culture - meander through a abundant regenerative shamba and sense into the interconnectivity of all life.
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You'll slow down, be inspired, engage your senses, learn about circularity and rediscover a different way of relating to the world around you.
“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.”― Robin Wall Kimmerer
01
artisinal food crafting
How often does a food producer have an open-door policy and the opportunity to ask questions!?
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It is important for us to share our craftmanship with the public so that people can better understand what good food looks and feels like. Our products are crafted with intentionality and care; learning from the wisdom of the past to develop food that's better for you and better for the planet too.
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Our campus is a place where you can learn about and see in action fermentation, artisinal cheese making, small-batch ice cream, sourdough baking, stone-milling and much more.
"everything in nature
is connected" ~ Darwin
02
Polyculture, Biodynamic Farming
Our farm is wild and diverse! Different varieties of crops are intermixed and trees grow tall throughout which is quite different from the monocultures that are often found across the globe. At the Campus we have much more complexity and plant knowledge. With this, there is much greater resilience and life.
Our shamba is over 30 years old which means decades of rich organic matter - including cow dung, leaves and by-products from the factory - is feeding the soil and supporting the plant abundance. The soil is so healthy that we don't need to use any chemicals and when there is a 'problem' we treat the root not the symptom. This is one of the foundational principles of biodynamic farming.
We understand that health of the shamba is directly correlated to our own human health.
03
soil laboratory
After you've peered under a microscope, you'll never look at soil the same way again!
Soil is essential to life on earth, without it life could not be sustained. But sadly, much of the world’s agricultural soils have become inert and lifeless from the consistent application of chemicals. It is in healthy soils that crops can grow to their full nutritional potential, passing that same potential on as they are eaten.
That is why built our lab so that we could educate people about the connection between soil health and human health. And, know ourselves just how nutritious our crops are!
04
seed bank
So much depends on seeds. They are the soul's biodiversity, beyond just food. Seeds are a reminder that we need to go into the darkness to expand again; the endless circle of life. If seeds aren't cared for then we risk losing important genetic diversity that supports life on this planet.
Open access to seeds is also important in supporting smallholders to adapt to changing market demands and the changing climate - it increases resilience, one seed at a time.
This is why we're been carefully collecting ancient seeds from across the country. It is our small quest in helping to preserve the diversity and abundance that exists and making seeds more available for you to take home to plant and share more widely.
05
classroom
Our stunning wooden classroom invites you to explore nourishment and food culture through interactive cooking classes, fermentation sessions, food demonstrations, foraging, and more.
Our workshops are crafted to spark creativity, empowering you to make regenerative and nourishing choices while reconnecting you to the deeper significance of your food. Our dynamic curriculum is inspired by ancient wisdom from Kenya and around the world, thoughtfully adapted for today’s context!
06
plant wisdom
What does a plant's shape tell you about its value? Quite a lot it turns out! Our ancestors did not have the same access to written information to guide them on which plants to pick to cure dis-eases of the body. Instead they used a plant's visual appearance to determine what its healing properties are.
This is known as the 'Doctrine of Signatures' and is still used by many herbalists today. For example, Maidenhair Fern looks like flowing hair and has been used to treat hair problems. Yarrow looks like a serrated knife and is used to heal open wounds.
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what we say about weeds
We believe weeds are just plants in the 'wrong place'. Have you noticed that many of the plants that look like weeds are in fact food or medicinal herbs? Have you ever considered that all plants are helping to bring light into their roots and with this building up the soil itself?
We've got lots throughout our shamba and they provide great soil cover too! Our favourites are Amaranth, Blackjack, Dandelion, Devil's Horsewhip, Dockleaf, Yarrow and Quickweed.
08
nursery
Plants will multiply naturally, but to optimise growth and development we've created a nursery. Here we take cuttings, transplant and grow seedlings. It is beautiful to watch plants evolve and then when they are mature enough, decide where in the shamba to plant them.
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It feels important that indigenous medicinal herbs and vegetables are readily available; and we hope that our nursery means that our growing community can also enjoy their wisdom!
You’ll find a range of plants for sale when you come visit.