Jarryd-Michael from KZN

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi, I’m Jarryd-Michael, born and raised in Park Rynie, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal. I attended the University of Cape Town from 2016 to 2019, where I earned a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, majoring in Environmental & Geographic Sciences and Social Anthropology.

I am the founder of Esizayo Organics, an organisation focused on sustainable agriculture, aquaponics, and permaculture, with a strong emphasis on fruit tree propagation and skills training.

My work is deeply rooted in my passion for food security, organic growing, and self-sufficiency. I run a specialized fruit tree nursery and maintain a home garden with over 70 different species of fruiting trees, which serves as a living seed bank for collecting seeds, cuttings, and air layers to propagate rare and exotic varieties.

How did you start doing what you are doing now? 

In November 2019, after finishing university, I returned home for what I thought would be a short stay before moving abroad for job opportunities. During this time, I completed a 20-day water fast and transitioned to a raw vegan diet, which ignited my passion for growing my own food.

I started planting fruit trees and vegetables in my backyard and became fascinated by the process. I spent hours researching food forests, organic farming, and permaculture while experimenting with different growing methods.

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, I decided to stay in South Africa and turn my passion into a business. My family and I invested in a hydroponic greenhouse tunnel, growing cherry tomatoes, mini peppers, and cucumbers. While the crops were successful, the tunnel was too small to sustain a full-time business.

That’s when I decided to combine modern farming techniques with education, integrating the business with my family's training college. We installed an aquaponics system and secured funding from CHIETA to train 15 unemployed youth in sustainable agriculture. The program was a success, and we later became accredited with AgriSETA for Plant Production Levels 1 and 2.

Since then, Esizayo Organics has trained over 200 students and expanded into various aspects of sustainable food production, training, and fruit tree propagation.

Alongside my training programs, I run a specialised fruit tree nursery, where I sell a wide variety of fruit trees, from common favourites to rare and exotic species.

What are you most proud of in this process? 

I am most proud of how Esizayo Organics has grown into both an educational center and a thriving fruit tree nursery.

🌍 Training over 200 students and giving them practical skills in sustainable farming

🌱 Developing my home garden into a seed bank with over 70 different fruiting species

🌴 Expanding my nursery to provide high-quality fruit trees, from grafted varieties to rare and exotic species

🚀 Empowering people to grow their own food, whether through training or providing them with the trees they need to start

Watching students, farmers, and home gardeners apply what they’ve learned and transform their own growing spaces is the most fulfilling part of this journey.

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

The best advice I received was:

"Start small, but start now."

Too many people delay their goals, waiting for the “perfect conditions.” The reality is that you learn by doing. I started in a small backyard garden, growing a few fruit trees, and gradually expanded into a full-scale nursery and training program.

The key is to take action with what you have and build from there.

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

Experiment and learn from nature. The best way to gain experience is to start growing something and observe how it responds.

Think long-term. Trees take years to mature, but once established, they provide food for a lifetime.

Focus on self-sufficiency. Growing your own food—whether it’s vegetables, herbs, or fruit trees—is one of the most valuable skills to develop.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Mistakes are part of the learning process. Every failed plant teaches you something new.

Where do you see growing going in South Africa? 

I believe that sustainable and regenerative agriculture will play a massive role in South Africa’s future. As food security becomes a bigger issue, more people will shift towards self-sufficiency, urban farming, and water-efficient growing methods like aquaponics and hydroponics.

There’s also a rising demand for exotic and rare fruit trees, as more people look to grow their own unique, nutrient-dense foods. This is why my nursery focuses on providing a diverse selection of fruit trees, from grafted avocados to dragonfruit, figs, canistel, and more.

With the right education and access to plants, I believe South Africa can transform its food-growing culture and become more resilient and self-sufficient.