Branding Session | Organic Market Garden | Sedgefield

This group session was a little different from my normal family/group photo shoots because instead of frolicking in a field of wild flowers or running wild and free on the beach, this group (Juan, Katja, Waldo, Tilani & Simon the dog) wanted to be photographed harvesting their full moon crop of fresh leafy greens from their Sedgefield market garden, shortly after sunrise. I had the pleasure of sampling some of the harvested greens and I can tell you, hand on my heart, they are wonderfully fresh and delicious!

The market garden is located on a plot of land in the coastal town Sedgefield and the people behind the project are Juan and Katja (couple on the right), who found the suburban farm space along their daily dog (Simon) walking route, and Waldo and Tilani, who are seriously passionate about growing organic food.

“The endeavor emerged because we believe it possible to grow healthy, chemical-free food while having a positive affect on the environment. With Sedgefield located in the fertile and abundant Garden Route we have wonderful conditions to grow and supply locally and move away from transporting food from distant locations. Our aim is to grow small scale with high production using Market Gardening techniques. This allows us to step away from using chemical sprays or fertilizers and instead focus on creating healthy soil and a balanced system.”

A few months after preparing the soil and planting seeds they are now selling weekly to their local customers, informing them about harvest days and availability via a Whatsapp group.

“We’ve been preparing the garden and putting systems in place for 4 months and are now ready to supply our community with fresh leafy greens which are harvested on the day of sale. We are working on offering more variety soon.“

As part of their zero waste policy the group are asking their customers to bring their own packaging, i.e. tupperware or reusable bags.

“Growing food in a sustainable and earth friendly way, giving back more than what we take out and eliminating plastic packaging in the process is what we consider success. The garden is only 5 minutes walking distance from our house, which is where we sell from locally and that’s really part of the magic suburban farming has to offer. We believe that moving away from big scale farming and towards small scale productions done by more growers in the area can offer the local customers access to a variety and abundant supply of local seasonal fruit and vegetables, and thus be a way towards a healthier future for all of us.“

“If you wish to make anything grow, you must understand it, and understand it in a very real sense. ‘Green fingers’ are a fact, and a mystery only to the unpracticed. But green fingers are the extensions of a verdant heart.”

― Russell Page, The Education of a Gardener

“Your top priority needs to be—first and foremost—eating fresh, chemical-free produce and keeping your busy family healthy.”

― Amy Stross, The Suburban Micro-Farm: Modern Solutions for Busy People

“But always, to her, red and green cabbages were to be jade and burgundy, chrysoprase and prophyry. Life has no weapons against a woman like that.”

― Edna Ferber

“May the seeds of love not only grow in your heart, but also within your garden.”

― Anthony T. Hincks

“A garden is made of hope.”

― W.S. Merwin, What Is a Garden?

“There’s something satisfying about getting your hands in the soil.”

― E.A. Bucchianeri, Vocation of a Gadfly

“Faeries are known to be tenders of plants and energizing inhabitants of gardens. They are more elusive than Angels and often have lively, mercurial temperaments. They are active in preserving what little wilderness remains on the Earth.”

― Elizabeth Eiler, Swift and Brave: Sacred Souls of Animals

“The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard.”

― Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World

“Gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh, how beautiful!’ and sitting in the shade.”

― Rudyard Kipling, Complete Verse

If you’d love to use your beautiful garden as a venue for your next photoshoot send me an e-mail or fill in the contact form above and we’ll plan something glorious together!

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