Down2Earth Incubator
Who is D2E?
Down 2 Earth Living Soil is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable food production and climate justice. Our mission is to encourage, support, and educate individuals who aspire to grow food in ways that enhance both the environment and the communities they serve.
Down2Earth is the dynamic team behind the amazing IGADI APP, the founders and passionate content producers ensuring a quality e-learning experience.
Down2Earth was founded by Daliwonga Pantshwa and Tony Bensusan in Johannesburg as a non-profit that aims to teach sustainable gardening practices in ways that improve the livelihood of our communities.
Their prime working area is Victoria Yards where Tony is the head gardener. It is an inner city development where artists, artisans, and designers are able to show and sell their crafts and work surrounded by productive organic vegetable and herb gardens. They grow organic vegetables and herbs which are sold freshly picked at a reasonable price to the surrounding community.
DALI
an eco-socialist with a background in tech and design, he is passionate about indigenous food practices and agroecology as solutions for climate injustice.
TONY
Tony is a Master Gardener who carries decades of expert knowledge and experience in organic farming practices that he now shares through the Down2Earth Living Soil course and the daily gardening tips which are shared with Victoria Yards community.
By providing education, training, and access to resources, we enable individuals to engage in sustainable farming practices and develop entrepreneurial skills within the agricultural sector.
Our work aims to foster economic prosperity, improve food security, and promote social equity in South Africa. By integrating knowledge, green innovation, and community engagement, we believe we can make a significant impact on the water-food-energy nexus while addressing poverty eradication in South Africa
We specialize in the design and installation of food gardens for communities and companies. By implementing these gardens, we empower individuals to cultivate their own fresh and nutritious food, fostering self-sufficiency and reducing food insecurity.
COMMUNITY GARDENS
Down2Earth is an advocate for Community Gardens, for several reasons;
DOWN2EARTH PROJECTS
Design, installation and maintenance of living gardens
Tony was head gardening/farming consultant at Homestead Diamonds a mine situated in Welkom in the Free State Province As part of the Social Labour Plan (SLP). We were required to improve the quality of life of the workers on the mine as well as the surrounding community. We have created food gardens on the mine and are developing a model to set up small community home-based gardens. We also farmed chicken layers free-range and organically fed. The farm-to-table kitchen feeds the workers whilst we explored entrepreneurial opportunities.
The Johannesburg North Reformed Church and Andrew Murray Congregation which functions as a church without borders, who provide meals for the needy. We converted their lawns into a food garden with composting and rain water harvesting systems. We offered workshops for them to continue looking after the project themselves.
As consultants for Water for the Future we advise on species selection and planting to rehabilitate the banks to a more natural and productive state. We have also included local traditional healers to grow medicinal plants.
There hundreds of home gardeners we consult with on various landscaping services we offer, some big and some small, nonetheless we do all these jobs with the same passion and attention to detail.