Chisomo Bean from Merrivale, KZN

Always work hard, never give up.

Hi! I'm Jo, writing from Heart & Soil homestead, a 1-acre homestead in the Far South of Cape Town, South Africa. Every week I share inspiration and education for your growing journey. Thanks so much for reading!

Welcome to Stories, where growers, homesteaders and small-scale farmers in South Africa share about their journeys. Today I'm sharing Chisomo Bean’s story. Chisomo and Deon run a permaculture farm in Merrivale, KZN, and save and sell heirloom seed. Their operation is incredible!

Always work hard, never give up.

Tell us a little about yourself!

My name is Chisomo Bean. I am originally from Malawi. l was born in small village in Mulanje district and also grew up in Malawi with my parents and brothers. This is where l learned everything about farming!

So many beautiful varieties of bean!

How did you start doing what you are doing now? 

Always believe in yourself, think carefully what you want in life, and you will achieve it.

Since 2014 we have been living in Merrivale, Howick, KZN with my husband Deon.

in 2014, l moved here with my husband Deon Bean, we started permaculture farming on a small scale. We started with a small garden, and now we are growing on about one hectare. We grow a wide variety of organic vegetables.

What are you most proud of in this process? 

What I am most proud of when I look back— I am very happy l didn't give up. Now we are eating our own organic vegetables. Most of the time we plant our own seeds that we save every year. It's incredibly rewarding to see it a success. So if you have dream go for it it’s never too late.

What is the most helpful piece of advice you received when you were just starting out? 

Always work hard, never give up!

What advice would you like to give to others who are younger/earlier on their journey? 

My advice first find a small space to start with. Don't wait for bigger land. By building great soil, even a small space will give you more production and healthy plants.

Where do you see growing going in South Africa? 

I am not sure, but l would like to see more small scale farmers.

Thank you so much to Chisomo for sharing your story. When I’m reading your story, I really feel the abundance created by your consistent work.

You can follow Chisomo and Deon via Chisomo Bean on FB and Heirloom bean on FB, and you can also buy seeds from Chisomo and Deon via their website.

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