As we approach the end of this year, we find ourselves looking back at all the ways we’ve been growing—together, with the earth, and within ourselves. It’s been a year of learning, creating, and transforming, and we couldn’t have done it without you. So we thought why not launch our new blog by wandering through some of happenings at the Living Food Campus.
Imagine walking through the vibrant Tigoni tea fields on a sunny day, the earth soft beneath your feet, seeds sprouting in small cracks where you least expect them. This year has felt like that—a discovery of life in places we hadn’t thought to look.
This year, we gathered around tables and the shamba, hands dusted with flour or soil. But these gatherings weren’t just about learning skills; they were about reconnecting—with food, with the earth, and with each other. In our ancient grain workshop, we rediscovered the wisdom of forgotten grains that have sustained communities for centuries—how they rise, how they root us. In sourdough classes, we got curious about microbes—those tiny, invisible architects of flavour and texture. One participant marveled, “I never thought I’d be excited about bacteria!” How often do we pause to honour the unseen forces that sustain us?
At our vibrant Food Beyond the Plate event, we explored how every bite we take ripples outward: into ecosystems, economies, and emotions. We started with the obvious—taste. But quickly, the conversation grew. What happens before food lands on our plates? What unseen hands and ecosystems make it possible? And what happens after we’ve eaten—how do the scraps and stories continue their journey? We hope that our guests left thinking differently about your their meal; eager to join the movement as our offerings grow.
This year, we also stepped into the delicious unknown with new products. Have you tried our fruit and nut crackers? They’re the perfect balance of earthy and sweet, born from months of experimentation in our tiny test kitchen. Gluten free and with a Biodiversity Index Score of 9, helping you to bring more food variety into your everyday to support your overall wellbeing.
We also launched our 'snack without compromise' snack bar range into Chandarana stores—a small step that feels like planting a seed in fertile ground. They are soon to take root in other stores across Kenya along with our colourful, delicious granolas!
One of the most exciting chapters this year has been the transformation of our shamba. We’ve been reimagining it as a place of education and reflection, widening pathways to invite wandering feet, crafting signs to guide curious minds, and even creating a soil laboratory to deepen our understanding of the ground beneath us.
Have you ever stopped to wonder about soil—not just as dirt but as a vibrant, living ecosystem? Gregory Bateson said, “The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think.” Our shamba transformation is an invitation to think more like nature—interconnected, curious, and adaptable.
When was the last time you let yourself get lost in a meadow or a grove? Maybe it’s time.
As the calendar year ends, there is still much activity and imagination at play. With the sun shining so radiantly we are full of energy, reflecting upon our recent workshops and planning for the new year! Whether you join us in kneading dough, tasting ancient grains, or learning the art of compost, we promise it’ll be a sensory adventure. And the Food Beyond the Plate movement is just beginning. We'd love to know how you think we can we deepen our relationship with food and the world around us?
Let’s keep planting seeds together—of knowledge, of flavour, of connection. What will you grow next year? Sign up for an upcoming workshop, let us know what you'd like to hear about in our new newsletter, or visit the Living Food Campus and see its transformation for yourself!
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