I've met a few organic farmers before and always enjoy finding out the fascinating stories behind where my food comes from. But for the last eight weeks I've been mostly dependent on one particular farmer for my vegetable sustenance. That farmer is Erick Zenzele and this is the story of how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has made a difference to both of us.

The short version of the story is that I got to eat organic, fresh produce that was grown about 45 minutes drive from where I live, was good value for money and the supply chain was really short: farmer -> delivery man -> me. Good for freshness and a lower carbon footprint.

Erick benefitted by knowing that he has

The past few months have been radical…hence the tardiness of this blog. Life in community has reached new depths, depths that I could never have imagined possible.

Up until a month or two ago, I can honestly say I was living mostly through my intellect…my body acting out the ideals which were formed in my mind and in the minds and hearts of those within the community. Striving to live as truthfully as possible to these ideals, holding the vision firmly, wavering at times…Every step thus far has been carefully weighed & chosen. It is only within the past few months that alas! my heart has started leading the way, as the foundation has now been created for the embarking on the ever-unfolding journey of self-realisation.

The community itself has collectively reached a new level of ‘becoming real’ or becoming aware of the present moment. Talking circles have become so transparent that

South Africa is joining a worldwide German-led initiative to drink as many mugs of fair trade coffee as possible this Friday 25 September betw 10am and 11am.

The German event, entitled "Kaffee.Pause.Fair.”, coincides with the national "Coffee Day" of the German Association of Coffee and aims to "seize" the day for the Fair Trade movement. If you look at the number of events planned around Germany you will see that it is indeed being seized! The aim is for 100 000 cups of fair trade coffee to be drunk around the world in one hour.

Here in Cape Town local fair trade organisation, Fair Trade SA, is organising an event at Quensh organic eatery in Observatory for coffee aficionados and fair trade fans to gather, network, get more info on the fair trade movement, and of course drink coffee. They have around 30 people confirmed so far, and Quensh probably doesn't have space for many more, but you could always phone ahead to check or pop in anyway and enjoy your cuppa on the pavement. (from 10 to 11, Quensh Organic Deli, 42 Lower Main Road, Observatory - 021 447 0714)

African fair trade coffee is supplied by Bean There Fair Trade Coffee who have a roastery...

The first thing that grabs you about kwaLapa at the Montebello Design Centre in Newlands, is their catchy byline – telling the stories of food.

Its meaning is lost on me, until I begin scanning the shelves and stumble across some of the initial 'stories' about where the store sources its foods that the team behind the store have begun placing on the walls. Then I begin to understand that kwalapa isn't just a store. It's a community of people in the business of telling and selling the stories of food.

The organic wholefoods delicatessen and store has only recently opened its doors, but you can plainly see that it's a matter of time before word of mouth and the green grapevine has the place fairly buzzing for morning coffee and lunches, particularly since Organic Living in Plumstead closed its restaurant (it remains a popular health store up at Constantia Village) and the southern suburbs have been itching for a replacement...

For the time that we’ve been here as human beings, you would think that we should have learnt something from our collective history. But we still have wars, there is still poverty and greed, we’ve still damaged this planet and things like self-interest still dominate our lives. It almost seems like human civilization is still pretty uncivilized. But I think that all of this only goes to show how a simple act of kindness can take on gigantic proportions. While this all might sound wishy-washy to some of you, we now have a chance to actualize some of our ideas of goodwill through Do it Day this Friday the 18th of September.

Do it Day is a singular day that allows us, as South Africans the chance to join a collective effort to make a difference. All you have to do is volunteer yourself to a cause and simply donate your time, energy and skills. We all complain about the issues in this country like poverty and crime and (specifically readers of this blog) climate change and the lack of environmental consciousness. Well then, this is your chance. Join in.

A few days ago I returned to Khula Dhamma after a two month trip to Cape Town, during which I was at times ‘plugged into’ the grid of everyday life in the city environment.

On my return, I was picked up at the bus station by one of the residents who was on his way to drop off the community’s recycling. As the bakkie, filled to the brim & tied with ropes, was nearing I couldn’t help but smile to myself - never a dull moment on the farm!

That sight, which once would have caused my stomach to turn – coming from a place where tidiness and image were always overemphasized – has now become a scene that brings warm feelings of familiarity to my heart.

We arrived late afternoon when the usual busyness I knew has quieted down.

In March this year, South Africa opened its first Food Bank. And while the media of the country lauded, supported and praised this great cause they... no... wait, they didn't. I mean, did you know about this? Did you read it in the newspaper, watch it on TV? Was there dancing in the streets like when it was announced that we would host the World Cup?

Now tell me if this is fair...

Currently, we have enough food on this planet to feed every single human being. Why then isn't that so? Why is it harder for some to get their hands on a slice of bread whilst it simply falls out of the sky like manna for others?

We live in a world of pre-packaged, microwave heat-able, tasteless, soulless, pretty much inedible food.

And we like it like that because it is easy, it requires no effort on our part, and pretty much allows us to fit into a certain category, market, or demographic – and we don't have to think for ourselves. Since the flaws, in this current economic system have become apparent– with the crises and all, the question now is, are there any means by which the static manufacturer/retailer/consumer model can be broken?

And there is.

In Cape Town we've already supported the first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project, and this winter, Slow Food Cape Town, in conjunction with the Sustainability Institute, and farmers Eric Swarts and Erick Zenzele, will run the winter CSA bag project from 30th June through 18th August.

You haven’t met before?
No, seriously, you haven’t?

Well, then… meet the Cape Town Green Map.
What’s that? You have no idea what it is? Well then, it seems a proper introduction is in order. May I formally introduce to you Africa’s first, very exciting, helpful, online, interactive Green Map.

A map, I hear you say? Well, as with all maps, it does provide direction – but with a difference.

No other map has attempted to chart and detail the city of Cape Town from a green angle before. This particular one is unique in that way. The map can be used to make greener lifestyle choices, and help people to make more informed decisions on how to live sustainably. It is also different because it is on-going, evolving and is constantly being updated.

Join Estelle Willemse as she becomes a committed member of Khula Dhamma eco-village near East London, to live in an eco-friendly, sustainable way in harmony with nature. [for part 1] [part 2], [part 3], [part 4], [part 5] and [part 6]

It is Monday 27th April. I am back at Khula Dhamma, and a month has passed since my return from the Vision Quest...