In a world where climate challenges and social inequality often go hand-in-hand, collaboration is the seed from which sustainable change grows. The Healing Africa Foundation (HAF) and Green Earth Concepts have come together to plant that seed – a partnership rooted in shared purpose, built on practical solutions and designed to grow hope, jobs and healthy food for communities across South Africa.
Two Paths, One Vision
For more than a decade, the Healing Africa Foundation has worked to restore dignity, empower people and create thriving communities. From enterprise development and education to sport and social justice, HAF’s programmes have one goal: to enable self-sustaining livelihoods that break cycles of poverty and dependence. Central to this vision is a belief that true development must be green, inclusive and by the community, for the community, with the community.
Green Earth Concepts team
Green Earth Concepts shares that conviction. Founded by environmental entrepreneurs Gina Shoemaker and Kerry Knowles, Green Earth Concepts has become one of South Africa’s leading voices in organic waste recycling and vermiculture (earthworm farming). Their work transforms agricultural and food waste into nutrient-rich vermicast and liquid “worm tea” – natural soil enhancers that replace chemical fertilisers, regenerate soil health and dramatically reduce methane emissions from landfill.
Gina Shoemaker is a seasoned environmental innovator with over 38 years of experience in agriculture and horticulture, holding multiple certifications in Lawn and Ornamental Landscaping, Organic Gardening and Food Security and an International Pesticide License. A proud Climate Reality Ambassador for former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Gina combines technical precision with a deep commitment to sustainability and education.
Originally from the United States, Gina relocated to South Africa in 2003, where she spearheaded the development of the Panorama Composting Plant – a groundbreaking facility that recycled over 10 000 tons of organic waste daily, setting new standards for large-scale aerobic composting. Since then, Gina has implemented numerous organic farming initiatives, managed award-winning commercial grounds maintenance contracts and established a thriving commercial worm-farm operation that produces organic fertiliser for waste generators of every size. Her work continues to exemplify innovation, leadership and environmental stewardship in action.
Kerry Knowles brings over 30 years of experience across the hotel, tourism, eventing, hospitality and public relations industries, where she has worked with leading blue-chip organisations on some of South Africa’s most high-profile national events and community programmes. Kerry’s impressive portfolio includes the Nelson Mandela Bridge Launch, Constitutional Court inauguration, Fashion District revitalisation, Unite for Nelson Mandela, Mercedes-Benz Dealer of the Year, Anglo American Presidential Land Handover, South Africa Scenarios 2030, the International Film and TV Dialogue, Global Citizen Festival and Route2Roots – Discovering Our Indigenous Roots and Township Tourism.
Throughout her career, Kerry has built deep relationships with communities and stakeholders, combining her eventing expertise with a passion for social impact, environmental awareness and technology-driven innovation. She believes that the most powerful form of empowerment lies in self-sufficiency – that “growing our own food is freedom,” a principle that underpins her dedication to sustainable community upliftment and eco-conscious development through Green Earth Concepts.
Their shared mission is simple yet transformative: to convert organic and agricultural waste into life-giving compost, train and mentor local eco-entrepreneurs and promote organic farming that nourishes both people and the planet. In doing so, Green Earth Concepts directly advances several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Climate Action (SDG 13).
Through their work, Gina and Kerry have proven that sustainability and opportunity can thrive side by side, helping farmers of all scales to “close the loop” – turning waste into worth and crops into catalysts for community growth and global change.
A Partnership with Purpose
The collaboration between HAF and Green Earth Concepts formalises what both organisations have long pursued individually: a cleaner environment, greater food security and a pathway to dignified work for South Africans from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Under this partnership, HAF and Green Earth Concepts will co-develop community food gardens organic composting sites and large-scale worm farms that recycle waste, generate income and build agricultural resilience. Together, they will:
- Promote and implement green initiatives across rural and urban communities.
- Provide accredited learnerships and skills training in food-garden management and worm-farm technology, compliant with SAQA/NQF standards.
- Create sustainable jobs and micro-enterprises through the distribution of small, medium and commercial-scale worm-farming systems.
- Encourage organic farming practices that improve soil fertility, reduce dependency on chemicals and enhance yields.
- Advance carbon-offset and emission-reduction projects through natural composting processes.
At least 75 percent of all beneficiaries in these initiatives will be drawn from previously disadvantaged communities, ensuring that the benefits of the green economy are inclusive and far-reaching.
How It Works
The process is as elegant as it is effective. Green Earth Concepts’ innovative “flow-through” worm-farm design uses red-wiggler earthworms to break down organic food waste from harvesting, packing and kitchen operations. The result is twofold:
- a nutrient-dense soil conditioner (vermicast) and
- a microbial-rich liquid fertiliser (worm tea).
Both outputs are used to nourish community food gardens, while any surplus can be sold commercially – generating funds that can be reinvested into training and expansion.
By using aerobic composting rather than allowing waste to decompose anaerobically in landfills, the system also prevents methane emissions, one of the most potent greenhouse gases driving global warming. In this way, each worm bin becomes a small but powerful tool for climate action.
At the Rethabiseng Food Garden Project near Bronkhorstspruit, this approach has already shown what’s possible: a 6-hectare organic farm with tunnels producing herbs and vegetables for local retailers – even exporting fennel to Germany – all fertilised by the waste from its own operations. That model is now available for replication through the HAF-Green Earth partnership.
Empowerment through Education
Green Earth Concepts class in session
Beyond compost and crops, the heart of this partnership beats in its commitment to education and empowerment. Each new project includes accredited training that equips participants with tangible, marketable skills – from organic crop production to worm-farm management and small-business operations.
Graduates emerge not only as farmers, but as eco-entrepreneurs capable of running their own sustainable ventures. With mentorship and seed capital support, these individuals can establish micro-farms, supply organic produce to local markets or manufacture compost for sale – circulating economic opportunity within their own communities.
For HAF, this approach complements its wider mission to build livelihoods that last. For Green Earth Concepts, it extends their legacy of teaching communities to “feed the soil that feeds us all.” Together, they are sowing the knowledge that will help South Africa’s youth thrive in the green economy.
Stewards of Sustainability
At its core, the partnership reflects a shared ethos: that environmental stewardship and social justice are inseparable. Every worm farm installed, every garden cultivated and every young farmer trained represents progress on multiple fronts – climate, employment and food security.
By diverting organic waste from landfills, the partnership contributes to carbon-reduction targets and helps cities and industries meet sustainability commitments. By regenerating soil health, it supports more resilient food systems. And by training and employing local people, it restores dignity and agency to communities that have long been excluded from opportunity.
Gina Shoemaker often reminds her trainees that every handful of soil teems with life – and that life, if nurtured, can heal both the planet and people. HAF’s mission echoes that belief: restoring dignity through opportunity.
Join the Movement – Invest in people, planet and prosperity.
This partnership is more than an agreement; it’s a call to action. Real change happens when purpose meets participation – and this is where you come in.
If you are a corporate, philanthropist or donor organisation seeking to make a tangible impact, the Healing Africa Foundation invites you to join forces by funding our projects or initiating your own under our project management and expertise.
Your support will:
- Create jobs and accredited training opportunities for youth and women;
- Advance sustainable farming and carbon-offset initiatives;
- Preserve our natural resources and mitigate climate change;
- Ensure access to safe, healthy and affordable food for all;
- Put your care and concern in action.
Together, we can build communities that feed themselves, protect their environment and stand as living proof that a greener Africa is not just possible – it’s already growing.
Contact the Healing Africa Foundation to learn how your contribution can help cultivate the kind of future we all want to share.
🌱 For partnership enquiries and donations:
🌐 the Healing Africa Foundation
📧 lisa@healingafricafoundation.org
📧 twaambo@healingafricafoundation.org
Resources:
https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/crops/field-crops/earthworms-boost-organic-exports/
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/meet-the-people-who-turn-trash-into-treasure-for-a-living/
https://youtu.be/G4V22_wCWRY?si=KqrR38C0jeeAhJdy
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gi0LpUq7MiY&feature=shared