All things Mother Nature, meet Kwendalo’s Gift
The first thing I noticed as I walked into the Kwendalo Wellness Farm, is the beauty of the establishment. It really speaks to being “one with nature” and the calmness of the environment.
I sat down with Gift Lwazi who is the farm manager. Gift is Malawian born and moved to South Africa at a young age – purely out of love and passion for farming. He grew up farming with his father who had a piece of land in Malawi, but when his father passed away, he was then forced to make a decision to move to South Africa in 2010. Once again, farming was Gift’s way of making a living, making ends meet.
“In 2010, I joined the wine industry and worked in that industry for 12 years,” explains Gift. He then moved from the wine industry to Kwendalo in September 2022. “I really want to give a big thanks to Dr. John Cavill for giving me an opportunity to work here at Kwendalo because that is one of the things I have always looked forward to. Being in the wine industry was not fully what I wanted because we used more chemicals, whereas when I started farming as a youngster, I was taught to let nature take its course and that is why I have fallen in love with Kwendalo.”
Gift’s demure aura makes it easy to fully connect and communicate with him, and to appreciate the passion he has for farming. His enthusiasm shows through his knowledge about plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs and livestock. It is how, on a Garden Tour, he takes you through on how each plant is grown and the importance and interconnectedness of each one.
Kwendalo is nature-orientated, – the word itself means “nature” – when you step inside the gates you can feel the beauty of Mother nature. There’s something about nature that calms you and instantly connects you with nature. “When I joined Kwendalo, I felt more comfortable and a sense of relief. To be honest, I am the happiest person now. Kwendalo changed a lot of things in my life. Working in a natural space has shaped me as a person,” Gift says.
Gift goes on to explain that Kwendalo is currently looking to go through the biodynamic registration process and to be established as an organic brand. Their gardens are designed by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner, Paul Martin – whom Gift draws inspiration from. Paul is someone who havs great experience in farming and gardening.
When you visit Kwendalo, you can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or a smoothie at their Green Café, on Wednesdays they sell fresh products such as vegetables and herbs at the Old Nick Market, and on sight at Kwendalo there is a farm shop where you can get all fresh products. It is a privilege to explore the farm and its facilities.
The public can come in for a Guided Garden Tour at Kwendalo in groups or join a group to enjoy the informative and immersive garden walk for only R100 per person. I personally encourage people to visit Kwendalo: the place is not only beautiful, but it really has a way to connect you with nature. As young people, we need to reconnect with nature and experience how food was grown naturally back in the old days, that is why people lived longer in those years. If you want to fully experience Kwendalo and get your hands into the soil, you can become a volunteer. Let us be one with nature!
For more information, visit www.kwendalo.com.
