Growing curiosity, one farm tour at a time

Aug 14, 2025

A big goal at Gobelo has always been to learn and then share what we learn with communities. We believe in restoring skills that have been lost over time. Skills like how to grow our own food, how to care for the land and how to live in harmony with the plants and animals around us. Another goal close to our hearts is inspiring children to see themselves as custodians of the environment. We truly believe that when young people understand conservation and food production, they will know how to make decisions for themselves, their families and the places they live.

Recently, several schools visited Gobelo for a Farm Tour, which turned our orchards, animal pens and garden beds into open-air classrooms. Students from Nechilibi, Dampa, Nembila and Songwa Secondary Schools spent the day exploring the farm, asking questions, feeding and petting the animals, and absorbing ideas and practical skills they could take home to their communities.

Students also spent time with the ducks, watching them paddling in their pond, learning how these birds are used in recipes at our Gobelo Restaurants at Gwango. They also studied agave plants, discovering their connection to beverage-making (we are also excited to try making tequila ourselves someday). There were many moments of mesmerisation, like when they learned that a male peacock is the most striking of the pair, or that catfish in our pond feed on algae to help keep the water clean.

They met our sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens and learned how each plays a role in the farm’s ecosystem. From the manure that enriches our sandy Kalahari soil to the vegetables and herbs like mint, oregano, rosemary and chaya that flavour our meals - the students saw how plants, animals and people are all connected…and they had MANY questions. Seeing young people curious, engaged and asking questions is what makes our hard work worth it. It’s on days like this, that we can’t help but feel hopeful about what they will carry forward.

For some, the tour planted seeds of possibility. One group left with plans to start their own school projects to raise funds. Others shared how the trip gave them ideas for their academic work and inspired them to dream bigger about what they could create back home.

For us at Gobelo, that’s the heart of it! These visits allow us to show people, especially young people, what is possible. Our hope is that maybe seeing what we are able to grow, or raise, or make in this environment and with this non-fertile, sandy soil, will prove that with the right approach and commitment, they can do it too. It gives us an opportunity to say - look, it can be done and here’s how. When children leave here with dusty shoes, bright eyes and new ideas, we know those seeds are already sprouting. 

 Until next time,
the Gobelo Team