Natalie-Jane's story

Tell us a little about yourself!

I'm Natalie-Jane Van Dieman grew up between Walmer Estate, Manenberg and Mitchell's Plain, moving to Mitchell's Plain when I was about three years old. I also spent several years living in Wales and England, where I worked as an auxiliary nurse at Hillingdon Hospital, Garnant Nursing Home and in a children's home supporting boys with social and behavioural challenges.

I was raised in a strict Christian home. My father was an evangelistic pastor and my mother was a primary school teacher who dedicated more than forty years to serving children in Manenberg and Mitchell's Plain. Looking back, I realise my community work simply began by following my parents. I never knew it was called volunteering—I thought every family lived this way. Helping others was simply part of everyday life.

My love for growing food and medicine comes from my grandmothers, who always had something growing, whether it was to feed the family or to care for someone's health. Those early lessons planted a seed that has shaped my life.

Above all, I am Mom to an incredible neurodivergent young adult, my Lilybird. She is my greatest inspiration and my "why." Watching her develop her own confidence and passions has been one of my life's greatest joys. She loves nature, enjoys agro-processing the food and medicinal plants we grow, works alongside me with our bees, and has recently become fascinated by Bokashi composting. She is about to begin her first Bokashi system, and I love seeing her discover her own place within our growing journey.

Today I live in Mitchell's Plain, where I founded the Brother Nathan Foundation in 2024 in honour of my late father after he passed away. Through the foundation, I work to promote food security, regenerative agriculture, indigenous knowledge, beekeeping and circular economy solutions that empower communities to become more self-reliant.

How did you start doing what you are doing now?

After my father passed away, I wanted to honour his legacy by continuing to serve others. I started by teaching people how to grow vegetables in recycled ice cream tubs, proving that you don't need land or money to begin growing food.

I travelled to underserved communities, exchanging seeds, knowledge and practical skills while learning from others along the way. At the same time, I committed myself to continuous learning.

I received a scholarship to study for a Bachelor's Degree in Entrepreneurship through RLABS, funded by the Study Access Alliance (SAA), an initiative of the IU Group (International University in Germany).

In 2024, I joined OrtSA's AEDF Level 1 programme, where I learned digital skills such as Canva that helped me design my own flyers and marketing material. In 2025, I completed Level 2, where I learned how to structure a business plan and was selected as one of the Top 10 finalists. In 2026, I progressed into Level 3, where I am focusing on business compliance and building a sustainable social enterprise.

As my journey continued, I joined the Oribi AgriFoodLinks programme, which connected me with grassroots organisations, farmers and changemakers from across the Western Cape. The programme expanded my network and reminded me that although our communities face different challenges, many of our solutions are rooted in collaboration, sharing knowledge and strengthening local food systems.

I am also a proud partner of I Krown Me Social Projects, whose work focuses on heritage and the intergenerational healing of indigenous communities connected to the Ikhowese Witbooi Nama Clan in the Western Cape, Pella in the Northern Cape, and Gibeon in Namibia. Through this partnership, I have reconnected with my own ancestral heritage and the knowledge systems of the First Nations Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

This journey has transformed how I see growing. It is no longer just about producing food. It is about restoring identity, preserving indigenous knowledge, healing communities and passing that wisdom from one generation to the next. 

Another life-changing milestone came in 2025 when I became a certified UPG Biashara entrepreneur through United People Global (UPG). The programme introduced me to an incredible global family of changemakers—from Palestine to the Philippines—many working in communities affected by war, poverty and natural disasters. Their resilience inspired me deeply and helped me overcome my own grief, trauma and lack of confidence.

Through UPG, I successfully applied for the Diamonds Do Good Entrepreneurship Grant and was awarded USD 5,000. The funding allowed me to invest in equipment, tools, seeds, a Black Soldier Fly colony and further training to strengthen our community work.

Soon afterwards, BeeGoodAfrica, a WWF South Africa-supported programme, selected my application for beekeeping training under Dawn Noemdoe. Today I proudly call myself a BeekeepHER and, as far as I know, the only active beekeeper in Mitchell's Plain—a community of more than 500,000 residents.

As my own knowledge grew, so did the project. What started with teaching people to grow in ice cream tubs has grown into a thriving community garden with a shade-net greenhouse, JoJo water tank, borehole and irrigation system through Kingdom Redemption Ministries.

The children who first followed me into the garden have since formed their own environmental club called the Green Corner Crew. They are becoming our future farmers, beekeepers and environmental leaders. They teach visitors what they learn, help reduce waste through Black Soldier Fly composting, and proudly promote our campaign, "Bees Over Bulletz." Living in an area affected by gang violence, they encourage other young people to protect our indigenous bees instead of following gang culture.

Beyond the garden, I have also been privileged to serve on the interim steering committee that helped establish the formal Mitchell's Plain Agrihub, which officially launched this year. The Agrihub connects backyard growers, community gardens and small-scale farmers, creating opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate and access support through the South African Urban Food and Farming Trust (SAUFFT).

One lesson I have learned throughout this journey is that community transformation is never the work of one person. Peer support, mentorship and collaboration have been some of the greatest gifts along the way.

I would especially like to acknowledge my sister BeekeepHER, Faatin Bux, founder of Make Everything Beautiful. She has generously shared her knowledge, time and encouragement and has willingly supported me & my community in,workshops bee awareness events and bee rescues in Mitchell's Plain. Women's empowerment truly hits different. When women choose collaboration instead of competition, we create spaces where knowledge is shared freely, confidence grows and entire communities benefit.

For me, collaboration is just as important as cultivation. No single person or organisation can transform a community alone, but together we can grow something far greater than ourselves.

What are you most proud of in this process?

Without hesitation, I am most proud of the hope we have planted.

• Hope that sustainable living is possible.

• Hope that people can create dignity and opportunity with their own hands.

• Hope that where you live does not define who you become.

• Hope that young people can dream dreams that once seemed impossible.

Watching children become teachers themselves has been one of the greatest rewards of this journey. Seeing my own daughter find confidence in nature and watching the Green Corner Crew become ambassadors for environmental stewardship reminds me that we are not simply growing food—we are growing people.

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

The greatest advice came from my father.

He told me:

"Don't worry about needing money to achieve your dreams. Focus on the plan. Make sure it's logical, practical and solves a real problem. The resources will follow."

That advice continues to guide every project I undertake.

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

Just start.

It doesn't matter where you begin or what you have.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Try.

If you fail, pause, reflect, learn, accept feedback, adjust your plan and start again.

Never give up.

Every seed begins beneath the soil before anyone sees it growing. Remember your Network is your NetWorth. 

Where do you see growing going in South Africa?

I believe growing food should become part of everyday life in South Africa.

Food security cannot rest entirely on supermarkets or commercial agriculture. Every household, school, church and community has the potential to grow something, no matter how small the space.

I also believe South Africa has an incredible opportunity to reclaim and celebrate indigenous food and medicinal knowledge. For generations, our ancestors understood how to live in harmony with the land, using local plants to nourish both people and the environment. By combining that wisdom with modern innovation, entrepreneurship and community collaboration, we can create healthier communities, meaningful livelihoods and more resilient local food systems.

Growing food reconnects us with nature, improves our health, reduces waste, creates livelihoods and strengthens communities. It also reminds us that solutions often begin at grassroots level.

I see growing as mandatory for South Africa's future. Every seed planted is an investment in food security, environmental restoration, healthier communities and economic opportunity.

Finally, while this story is written in my name, it belongs to many people. I stand on the shoulders of my parents, grandparents, mentors, partners, volunteers, fellow growers, beekeepers and the children and families who continue to believe in this shared vision. Every seed we plant, every bee we protect and every life we touch is the result of people choosing collaboration over competition.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. My hope is that it reminds someone that you don't need perfect conditions to make a difference. Sometimes all it takes is one seed, one act of kindness and one person willing to believe that change can grow from the ground up.