Steph Lambert

Steph is a passionate community worker committed to bringing positive change to the lives of her students, peers, and the wider community through organic gardening, natural healing, and sustainable practices.


Steph and her husband run their own quarter acre market garden. They provide affordable organic fresh produce to informal traders in township areas and sharing their surplus with community soup kitchens. Their farming methods include permaculture, KNF, and Jadam, with a focus on using a no-waste approach and closed-loop systems.


Steph is also an active member of the managing committee at Unity Food Garden, a community allotment-based garden, where she also uses the garden for the programs she runs through her organization, Enviro Solutions Centre.

Current Projects

The Swellendam Food Security Initiative is spearheaded by Enviro Solutions Centre. This initiative uses ABCD as a tool for community development. This initiative aims to build a network of 300 home gardeners in Railton, Swellendam. Please have a look at our presentation for more information


Watch a preview of our network building progress

A 1300m2 garden where she and her husband grow organic, seasonal vegetables and herbs using permaculture and other sustainable farming practices. This market garden serves as a source of fresh and affordable produce for local soup kitchens, small businesses, and communities in need, while also providing a beautiful space for visitors to experience the joys of gardening.

Organic Food Gardens

Steph and her husband run an off-grid market and demonstration garden "Flow At The Well"'of 1300 m2, which supports small businesses, soup kitchens, and provides affordable, fresh organic produce to township areas. They use permaculture, KNF, and Jadam farming methods, as well as other sustainable practices a no-waste approach and closed-loop systems.


They save and swap seeds from their garden to support their current project The Swellendam Food Security Initiative, and using what they grow as a means to trade with others willing to do the same.

In addition, She believes that gardening should not only sustain human life but also contribute to the health and well-being of the ecosystem. By working in harmony with nature, she has created a thriving garden that is both productive and diverse. She also promotes a no-till approach and encourages the use of natural fertilizers to support soil health. Her commitment to sustainability extends beyond the garden and into the community, where she shares her knowledge and resources with others to inspire positive change.

Nature Immersion

Inspired by her time as a permaculture and resilience facilitator Steph has combined her knowledge of plant medicine and love of nature as a way to guide participants of the Nature immersion experience towards

a way of self-internal healing. Steph and her husband offer various Nature Immersion Experiences such as mushroom foraging, healing plant medicine ceremony, over night hiking.

Facilitation &

Program Development

As an environmental facilitator, Steph creates a supportive and engaging environment that encourages participants to connect with the natural world and embrace sustainable practices. Her interactive teaching style helps participants to understand complex environmental issues and inspires them to take action towards creating a better world.

Her experience of conceptualizing, developing, and implementing programs range in topics and age groups. One of her most recent achievements is the development of a schools program that teaches children (grade 3-6) about the environment and the natural world.

To create the program, Steph built relationships with teachers and worked closely with them to enhance the child's learning experience. She incorporated the CAP (Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement) curriculum into the program, ensuring that it aligned with the school's educational objectives.

The program used a full-body learning method, which proved highly effective in improving children's memory retention. The teachers were so impressed with the results that they began incorporating this learning method into all of their subjects

Steph's Program development methodology involves building strong relationships with stakeholders, including teachers, students, and community members. By taking the time to listen and understand their needs, she is able to develop programs that are engaging, relevant, and impactful. She believes that feedback is a critical component of program development and uses it to continuously improve and strengthen learning and community building.

Steph is committed to using evidence-based methodologies to develop programs that are effective and produce measurable results. She uses a variety of tools and techniques, including full-body learning methods, curriculum assessment policy statements, and other innovative approaches to create programs that are tailored to the needs of her audience.

During the latter of the COVID-19 pandemic during her time at SEED as the Programme coordinator, Steph continued to facilitate learning by teaching online using WhatsApp as a classroom space. This experience has allowed her to develop unique digital teaching techniques.

Steph's success was not just due to her ability to create innovative digital learning experiences, but also her communication with management. Together, they proactively generated solutions for the online learning space, including adjusting the delivery of content and providing constant feedback to students. As a result of their efforts, they were able to pilot a successful 3-week permaculture course entirely on WhatsApp and ran three times after that as an additional program offering.

Management

As part of her team management accomplishments Steph has mentored and trained junior facilitators in permaculture ,resilience and schools program helping them develop the skills and confidence to deliver content independently.

Her collaborative approach ensures that her team members feel valued and empowered, while also providing them with the opportunity to develop their skills and expertise. Steph delegates tasks effectively, provides regular feedback, and offers support and guidance as needed, ensuring that her team is able to perform at its best.

Steph's ability to coordinate and manage complex programs has been honed through her experience overseeing multiple projects and programs simultaneously. She ensures that each project is delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest possible standards.

Her experience working independently has also given her the ability to be highly self-sufficient, adaptable, and resourceful, which has proven invaluable in her management roles.

Affiliations

ESC is committed to empowering communities through a strengths-based approach, using the ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) framework to identify and build on existing community assets. This has allowed us to successfully implement sustainable solutions that are tailored to the unique needs and strengths of each community we work with.

The Off-Grid Way is a multi platform social media channel dedicated to the adventures and challenges of living off-grid. Steph & Mikal share their journey from city life to a sustainable and eco-friendly caravan home in Swellendam. They explore sustainable living, from gardening to community work, while enjoying the freedom and adventure of living in harmony with nature.

Steph has collaborated with Amava, an organization dedicated to helping people navigate life transitions and create meaningful connections. Together, they have implemented a U journey process that has helped individuals in their community develop their own personal and professional goals.

Through this partnership, Steph's organization, Enviro Solutions Centre, has also been able to provide additional support and resources to the community members they serve. The collaboration has also resulted in a deeper understanding and application of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) principles, which both organizations believe in and use as a framework for their community work.