[vc_row el_id="Whatwedo-video" css=".vc_custom_1622537712061{margin-top: -10% !important;background-color: #b7dab9 !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner el_id="desktop-slider"][vc_column_inner offset="vc_hidden-xs"]
Small Farm Internship Program
Our internship programme offers aspiring farmers on-farm education on organic farming practices and farm business management. Each year, KSFI enrolls eligible students in a 2-year programme, using both classroom and field training to prepare participants for launching and operating a regenerative organic vegetable and pasture raised livestock farm.[/vc_column_text][cws_sc_spacing height=”20″ responsive_es=”true” height_size_sm_desctop=”20″ height_tablet=”20″ height_mobile=”20″][vc_toggle title=”Regenerative agricultural practices” open=”true” custom_font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″]Students will be strongly grounded on promoting the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices—no-till, cover crops, agroforestry, polycultures, pasture raised livestock agriculture, composting, mulching and crop rotation—to increase soil organic matter.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Livestock Farming” custom_font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″]An important focus is to teach Eastern Cape’s beginning livestock farmers, holistic planned grazing as a regenerative farming tool. This technique is essential as it helps to build soil health, restores catchments, reduces overgrazing and topsoil erosion. Additionally it helps combat climate change and increases resiliency of our cattle, people and place.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”“Learning by doing” process” custom_font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″]The programmes is divided into six, 8-week modules on soil health and crop planning, business planning, marketing, organic production, pasture raised livestock. Field trips across the country allow the students to learn from best practise. All students are working on the farm for the duration of the incubation program allowing to apply lessons learned in real life. [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Providing essential tools” custom_font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″]Most of all, our educational programmes will equip young farmers with the tools, techniques, models, and mind-sets they need to explore the uncharted territory of profitable market gardening in South Africa.[/vc_toggle][cws_sc_spacing height=”170″ responsive_es=”true” height_size_sm_desctop=”40″ height_tablet=”40″ height_mobile=”40″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7450″ img_size=”full”][cws_sc_spacing height=”0″ responsive_es=”true” height_size_sm_desctop=”0″ height_tablet=”0″ height_mobile=”30″][cws_sc_spacing height=”170″ responsive_es=”true” height_size_sm_desctop=”40″ height_tablet=”40″ height_mobile=”40″][cws_sc_spacing height=”60″ responsive_es=”true” height_size_sm_desctop=”40″ height_tablet=”40″ height_mobile=”40″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” full_height=”yes” bg_cws_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cws_size=”cover” bg_image_position=”center_center” crop=”1″ crop_style=”style_3″ el_id=”block2″ css=”.vc_custom_1623582256564{margin-top: -3% !important;padding-bottom: -10% !important;background-color: #ecd62a !important;}”][vc_column][cws_sc_spacing height=”120px” responsive_es=”true” height_size_sm_desctop=”50″ height_tablet=”50″ height_mobile=”50″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7353″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1622890892491{border-radius: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][cws_sc_text title_alignment=”left” customize_colors=”” custom_styles=”.vc_custom_1727173865496{margin-top: -5% !important;}”]
Upon Completion students are invited to join our Aggregator Program which gives them an opportunity to sell their produce and food items via the various markets we operate .
Graduates will start farming on ¼ ha before they transition from KSFI to continue farming independently. Land and equipment will be offered at subsidized prices. Technical assistance from staff and partners, will be provided at no charge while in the incubator.
On a daily basis, KSFI’s experienced staff provides farmers guidance on production, management and compliance issues to help nascent farm enterprises establish themselves in a highly competitive environment.[/cws_sc_text][cws_sc_spacing height="10px"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" gap="30" parallax="content-moving" bg_cws_attachment="fixed" bg_cws_size="cover" bg_image_position="center_center" el_id="New section" css=".vc_custom_1622972441222{margin-top: -5% !important;background-image: url(https://www.ksfi.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ksfi-farmers-scaled.jpg?id=7092 !important;}"][vc_column css=".vc_custom_1621925784166{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}"][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="3/5" css=".vc_custom_1623582114327{margin-right: 5% !important;margin-left: 5% !important;padding-right: 15% !important;padding-left: 15% !important;background-color: #f27e00 !important;}"][vc_empty_space][cws_sc_text customize_colors="" title="Young Farmers Convening"]
At the end of every year KSFI will host the Young Farmers Convening to inspire and educate beginning farmers from across the country.
Our intention is to bring together young farmers, regenerative farming veterans, business and entrepreneurship leaders, chefs and food artisans, and their peers for a transformative experience.
[/cws_sc_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][cws_sc_button background_color="#662381" border_color="#662381" border_color_hover="#ffffff" title="SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT YFC EVENT HERE" url="#"][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="2/5"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" gap="30" parallax="content-moving" bg_cws_size="cover" bg_image_position="center_center" css=".vc_custom_1622890421778{background-color: #ededbb !important;}" el_id="events"][vc_column css=".vc_custom_1621925784166{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}"][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][cws_sc_banners offer_width="850px" text_pos="right" customize_size="1" title_size="26px" edit_colors="1" title_font_color="#00301b" text_font_color="#0a0a0a" bg_color="#b6ddb8" title="Events at the Farm" bg_img="7042" offer="Our demonstration farm is a place where we incubate, harvest and celebrate. We organize events where we open up to visitors from near and far to indulge in our fresh organic produce but also share in our learnings.
We offer tours of our gardens and tool shed; table-in-the-barn lunches; food preserving techniques and techniques worth preserving; and a working hub for the regional food economy. Our highlight community markets take place weekly and is a showcase for the best organic produce as well as other handcrafted specialties and goods from our neighbouring communities
Make sure to follow us on social media to receive updates on our latest events.
The YFC will be where best practice meets big ideas; and new talent meets innovative tools. It will serve as a space to debunk old myths and discover new legends, start conversations, stimulate debates, provoke arguments and create healthy tension."][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][cws_sc_social_icons values="%5B%7B%22icon%22%3A%22fab%20fa-facebook%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkidlinksworld.org%2F%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Facebook%22%2C%22new_tab%22%3A%221%22%7D%2C%7B%22icon%22%3A%22fab%20fa-twitter%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Twitter%22%2C%22new_tab%22%3A%221%22%7D%2C%7B%22icon%22%3A%22fab%20fa-instagram%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2F%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Instagram%22%2C%22new_tab%22%3A%221%22%7D%5D" icon_size="regular" icon_pos="center" icon_color="#ffffff" bg_hover_color="#ffffff" stroke_hover_color="#ffffff"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" gap="30" parallax="content-moving" bg_cws_size="cover" bg_image_position="center_center" css=".vc_custom_1622890440760{background-image: url(https://www.ksfi.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Veggie-Box-Photo-1-1.jpg?id=7348 !important;}" el_id="veggiebox"][vc_column css=".vc_custom_1621925784166{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}"][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][cws_sc_banners offer_width="850px" customize_size="1" title_size="26px" edit_colors="1" title_font_color="#000000" text_font_color="#0a0a0a" bg_color="#f27e00" title="Farm To Table Veggie Boxes" bg_img="7041" offer="If you have not yet signed up to receive a weekly veggie box of fresh harvested vegetables, herbs and free range eggs, it is time to invest in the health of your family. Each box contains 8 items from the list of seasonal produce. You are also welcome to create your own box containing 8 or more items from the list provided in our weekly emails or WhatsApp notification. You will be invoiced for each vegetable individually. To sign up for weekly notifications please contact us directly."][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" gap="30" parallax="content-moving" bg_cws_size="cover" bg_image_position="center_center" css=".vc_custom_1622890456804{background-color: #ededbb !important;}" el_id="how we give back"][vc_column css=".vc_custom_1621925784166{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}"][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][cws_sc_banners offer_width="850px" text_pos="right" customize_size="1" title_size="26px" edit_colors="1" title_font_color="#00301b" text_font_color="#0a0a0a" bg_color="#b6ddb8" title="How we give back" bg_img="7042" offer="We're committed to our community and provide ongoing support by donating some of our vegetable produce as well as seeds, seedlings and our own bio fertilizers. To help our community help themselves, we have installed school food gardens and work with schools to train students on basic farming principles. Additionally, we organize farm stays for urban students to learn about rural life and agriculture."][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]