🌱 A Special Day at the Malealea Teaching Farm 🌱

💧 The farm actively harvests storm water, transforming what could otherwise be a major threat through soil erosion into a valuable resource by slowing and capturing rainfall for ground-soaking irrigation. This is achieved through a network of contour swales that can capture 1000's of litres of water from each rainstorm, along with tonnes of topsoil from the fields above, allowing the water to infiltrate the soil and nourish the land.

In a time of increasing climate uncertainty, with the impacts of climate change, El Niño cycles and the threat of prolonged drought becoming ever more evident, these water-harvesting systems offer a practical and hopeful solution. By capturing and storing water in the soil when it rains, the farm is building resilience and helping to ensure that moisture remains in the land during dry periods, providing an important example of how communities can adapt to future drought conditions.

🌿 Regenerative and conservation farming practices demonstrated on the farm include:• The introduction of biochar and manure to restore depleted soils and improve soil health.
• Nitrogen-fixing cover crops, companion planting and heavy mulching to promote biodiversity and conserve moisture.
• Drip irrigation powered by a solar water pump, making efficient use of natural resources.
• Seedling propagation and the cultivation of aloe plants for use in the Eco Cook Bag project.
• The keeping of beehives, which support pollination, biodiversity and environmental education.

Together, these practices demonstrate how sustainable farming can regenerate the land, conserve water and create resilient food systems for future generations.

The farm is also a place of learning, welcoming local schools, farmers and government officials to see sustainable agriculture in action and to discover innovative ways of farming with nature rather than against it.

The farm has already received distinguished visitors. On 30 January 2026, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho visited the Teaching Farm, where he was warmly welcomed by the community and many local school children. Ken Dunn had the honour of showing His Majesty around the farm and sharing the vision of sustainable agriculture, community development and environmental stewardship that the project represents.

A heartfelt thank you to Ken Dunn for sharing his knowledge and for creating such an inspiring space for learning, conservation and community development.

Come and visit us – you are most welcome to experience this remarkable project and see how small actions today can help build a greener and more sustainable future.