From the beginning

Stories Untold I was there from the beginning… Gremah Khwela (born in 1946) Themba Mzobe heads up the Emseni has a memorandum of started to work at nursery at Emseni which is understanding with the KwaSizabanty Mission in the registered at the Department of Maphumulo Tropical early days, and she still works at Agriculture. He has a BA in Cooperation to provide training the Mission. Over the years the Psychology but has chosen to and mentorship programmes to vegetables gardens which were work at Emseni as it gives him upcoming farmers. The started to feed churchgoers much joy. Themba enjoys membership of the Cooperation developed into Emseni passing on his knowledge and is growing annually. Farming, today an inspiring and experiences to the community sustainable farm that benefits through the training and Themba says, “Emseni regularly both owners and community mentorship programmes that expands its enterprises and members. they have implemented to look after its members. I follow teach community members Reverend Stegen’s advice … Gremah has many stories to tell how to farm sustainably. People must be self-sufficient. I about how the founder helped help people to grow avocados. I her community by preaching started liaising with the local the gospel while showing them chiefs so they can inform the how to farm. She says, “I was community how to grow and there from the beginning. I felt, experiment with avocados. In and I saw the love he (the my information sessions with founder) has for my people. The groups, I also focus on other lesson that I learned from him tropical fruits such as litchis is that you pray for what you and macadamia nuts.” need. Here (at Emseni), God works with blessings, and not In line with its sustainability everybody will be happy with objective, Emseni Farming has the work. Despite that, God’s diversified over years and work is growing at Emseni...” agriculture activities now include avocado and various Emseni boasts 170 hectares of fruit cultivation, a dairy, making avocadoes under trees, with 51 compost and hydroponically 000 trees. A total of 2 100 tons grown lettuces and sweet avocadoes is produced peppers. The farmers use annually, and 60 – 70% of peaceful and environmentally produce are exported. friendly methods into the farming activities.