
A true community learning farm
As we stepped into our fifth year of the project this March, there is a lot of reflection and gratitude that we sit...

Applications are open for the 2023 Biodiversity Partners Program
Applications open today for the exciting Southern Africa Biodiversity Partners Program (BiPP), which is delivered by...

On becoming warriors for the human spirit
This year we hosted a training course led by Margaret (Meg) Wheatley, called Warriors for the Human Spirit. The...
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Lynedoch Valley Collaborative feeds 400 families weekly
In partnership with Spier, the Sustainability Institute has been supporting over 400 families in the Lynedoch and...
Celebrating soil, soul and society
This year, we also re-launched our Soil, Soul and Society series as a collaboration between Lynedoch, the...
Summer harvest at the Living Soils Community Learning Farm
Within eight months of starting with the project, the first harvest of vegetables from the Living Soils Community...
Growing organic knowledge and networks in Southern Africa
Leading global and regional experts in South Africa, Zambia and Namibia will develop a Southern African Knowledge...
Take a bow, Dame Teresa Graham!
Early in December 2006, Teresa Graham and Sally Wilton arrived at the Sustainability Institute, did a whirlwind tour...
Celebrating 20 Years!
On Friday 1 November we celebrated our 20th anniversary! What started as an idea to provide a space where people could...
Team Mahali: Rethinking the housing of Africa
THE ESSENCE of this story is about imagination, inspiration and co-creation. Eighteen months ago, Team Mahali embarked...
Growing a new story about food
There is a need for a new story in South Africa around how we grow, distribute and consume food. About a quarter of...
Taking a closer look at a sustainable food basket
The Sustainability Institute was invited to exhibit at the 2019 WWF Living Planet Conference. This annual conference...
First planting at the Living Soils Community Learning Farm
The Living Soils Community Learning Farm, an initiative between partners Woolworths, Spier and the Sustainability...
Knowledge garden inspires outdoor learning
The Knowledge garden, funded by the Ackerman Pick n Pay foundation, was established within the precinct of the SPARK...
The Wisdom of the Wild
In late April a group of six Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) students and myself embarked on a five day immersive learning...
Food For Us: Developing a mobile phone application to reduce food losses and waste
The Sustainability Institute (SI) contributed specialist food systems research expertise to a consortium of...
Pictures worth a thousand words
The Lynedoch Children’s House situated at the Sustainability Institute in the Stellenbosch winelands, has partnered...
Living Soils Community Learning Farm launched!
This week we celebrated the launch of the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, an initiative in partnership...
Reflections during the research process – music and sustainability
This blog post covers Siraj Jardine's thoughts and reflections while exploring the connections between music and...
What to do about palm oil – many sides to a slippery coin
What do we do about palm oil? Boycott the products, look for ‘sustainable’ labels, challenge manufacturers, or wait...
Traditional medicine for today: why we should pay attention
Traditional medicine and herbal remedies have been part of cultures around the world for Millenia. The first written...
Nutrition in the townships
Our failing food system Our current food system is riddled with polarities. According to the World Health...
From cotton to khadi
Being immersed in Wardha, India for two weeks is an unforgettable experience Before setting off for India, I did not...
A system built by people
This past winter two engineering students, Shalli Mbwette and John Twesige, chose to spend their required...
The cost of remedying environmental degradation: The Proposed Domestic Carbon Tax
There has been a lot of talk about the proposed domestic carbon tax and it has been a long process. This process...
Alumna explores the linkages between feminism and climate change
Neoka Naidoo is a PGD alumna and is currently completing her MPhil in Sustainable Development. Neoka has recently...
Experiencing sustainability in a Post-Apartheid South Africa: my time at the Institute
We recently said farewell to Caroline Florence, who interned with us for eight weeks. She is currently halfway through...