Matshwane is an NGO in Botswana that runs a Permaculture Farm near the village of Medie, Kweneng District
Empowering Medie’s community with hands-on permaculture training to restore 22 hectares of land.
As a non profit, we value sustainable and holistic approaches to agriculture. By utilising permaculture principles and empowering local communities, we are able to not only improve food and water security but also improve the overall health of the land.
In Botswana’s Kalahari region, where traditional farming methods often struggle due to harsh desert conditions, permaculture offers a solution. By employing regenerative agricultural practices, we are able to actively regenerate soil and promote biodiversity. This not only benefits our immediate surroundings but also helps combat climate change on a larger scale.
We are working to create resilience in both our ecosystems and local communities. By teaching permaculture techniques and empowering individuals to take control of their lands.
Why Permaculture
The principles of permaculture aim to create sustainable and self-sufficient systems, not just in agriculture but in people too.
The concept of permaculture was first developed in the 1970s by Australian researchers Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Permaculture comes from two words “permanance” and “agriculture.”
The principles of permaculture aim to create sustainable and self-sufficient systems, not just in agriculture but in people too.
There are three ethics of permaculture:
- Earth care
- People care
- Fair share / Future care
These ethics emphasize the need to consider the consequences of our actions on all aspects of the environment and on future generations.
Meet The Team
Chris is a possibilitarian and micropreneur. He spent 12 years in London’s photographic and film industry, working alongside reportage photographers and journalists covering stories across Africa, including Uganda, Mali, and Burkina Faso, and gaining experience with international NGOs.
In 2013, as he transitioned into Fintech, Chris began contributing to open-source projects and has since collaborated on many initiatives while helping thousands of people learn and adopt IT and cryptographic tools.
Today, he brings these diverse skills together in his work on permaculture, exploring how technology and ecosystem restoration can build resilience in communities.
Chris is a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Matlhogonolo Bitstang or Bitta to his friends is a proud Motswana with more than 20 years experience in Village and Urban Development in Botswana. Nobody knows the sandy soils of Southern Africa like Bitta. He joined the organisation after our members looked on as he built the swales on Matshwane farm, grading nearly 4 kilometers in under one day! He has a passion for rural development in Botswana and is always on duty for our organisation and our country.
Mr Bitsang is a citizen of the Republic of Botswana.
Ontiretse has been working with Matshwane Farm since 2024. With a background in horticulture and over a decade of experience as a garden supervisor, he brings both practical skill and a passion for teaching.
At Matshwane he serves as a Permaculture Trainer and Site Coordinator, leading the implementation of permaculture features and guiding training sessions for community members and staff. Ontiretse continues to dedicate his time and knowledge to building a resilient and productive farm at Mokgalwane Lands.
Ontiretse is a citizen of the Republic of Botswana.
Crystal was born in Kampala, Uganda in 1995. At the young age of thirteen, she began volunteering with various social aid organisations in East Africa. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for helping others and realised her calling in life was to work in the charity sector.
Since then, Crystal has gained extensive experience working with NGOs that support children living with HIV/AIDS. She is currently a senior advisor for a leading international charity and is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.
Crystal is a citizen of Uganda.
Find Us
Matshwane’s permaculture farm is located in the heart of the Kalahari Desert, in the village of Medie. One of Botswana’s growing rural communities.
