Our Mission
At Imbewu Yoshintso, our mission is to offer young students in Africa, permaculture and regenerative agriculture internships and mentorship; to promote and develop perennial agricultural systems, such as food forests, to restore degraded ecosystems through better land stewardship in the communities we work in. Our goal is to provide a rewarding and professional experience for our funders and donors, who partner with us.
Current Projects
The Mandlakazi Food Sovereignty and Ecological Restoration Project
The food gardens project started in partnership with African Conservation Trust, Zululand Conservation Trust and Manyoni Game Reserve, utilizing the generous financial aid and support of international donor, Olivier van Walsem, from Stichting Roots Up Foundation. Since inception in 2019, the project has achieved several significant milestones. Food gardens, rainwater tanks, permaculture training, material and mentorship support, monitoring and consistent maintenance provided by Imbewu Yoshintso, have resulted in a flourishing food security and education hub, around which the community revolves.
Not only do the food gardens provide food for the early learning centres and the clinics located on their premises, but the surplus produce is sold to the community, with proceeds going back into the facility. Community members work in the gardens on a voluntary basis, gaining experience and education around sustainable farming and permaculture, in this repository of best practices. The gardens continue to be well-kept demonstration sites, which provide food for the creches, income from surplus sales and an opportunity for community education in successful farming practices.
The Imbewu Yoshintso Indigenous Tree and Plant Nursery
The nursery is the „ecological restoration nursery‟ which supplies plant material to the main project
(used in the development of food gardens in homesteads, small scale farms, community gardens and public centres, such as creches and clinics) and assists with ecological restoration of the broader landscape. Located on Manyoni Private Game Reserve, northern KwaZulu-Natal, and in operation since mid-2021, the nursery focusses mainly on propagating indigenous trees, shrubs, ground covers, herbs, medicinal plants, shade trees, exotic (non-invasive) fruit and nut trees, which supply Imbewu‟s many food gardens and future restoration projects.
The nursery also supplies plants and seedlings to the private game lodges located within the Manyoni Reserve, and other customers, some as far afield as eThekwini.
The Manyoni Market Garden
The market garden, currently in the final stages of construction, will shortly supply produce to staff and the lodges based in the Manyoni Game Reserve, with the remaining fruit and vegetables being delivered to local retail shops in the Mkuze area. A portion of all sales is returned to the Manyoni Private Game Reserve, demonstrating the circular nature of all components of the project. This demonstrates Imbewu Yoshintso‟s commitment to finding sustainable solutions for the conservation sector, with the ultimate goal of becoming as independent as possible from ongoing funding requirements
