Your Revive Knysna mail is here! 💌

- Tweet0
- 0
- Pin It 0
- 0
- Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe

Subject: Your Revive Knysna mail is here! 💌

The eco-friendly disposal of waste food is a huge challenge in every community.

But for one Knysna couple it has opened up an exciting ‘green’ business opportunity. Young entrepreneurs Maya Zaken & Jason Fine set up a Black Soldier Fly farm around 18 months ago that offers a perfect ecological solution to organic waste.

In the past year alone, their Philafeed company has collected 17,000 tonnes from several local restaurants & turned it into nutrient-rich insect protein & fertilizer.

The flies feed on the waste products & produce larvae that’s rich in protein & essential nutrients offering an environmentally-friendly, high quality alternative to traditional protein food sources for livestock, poultry & fish farmers.

The couple are currently based at the Valley Organics pasture-raised poultry farm in Kraaibosch & provide a twice-weekly food waste collection service for More @ The Gallery, Ile de Pain, The Nest, Bow Wow, The Node & Knysna Gin Bar.

Maya is an economics graduate from Joburg & Jason a former IT professional from Cape Town. Their shared interest in sustainability led to research into the Black Soldier Fly during lockdown.

Unlike house flies, they are not a nuisance to us humans as they do not have mouth parts & do not eat or bite. Their sole mission as flies to lay around 600-800 eggs at a time which can grow into high-protein, nutrient-rich larvae.

Although the Philafeed operation in Knysna has been a great success, access to food waste is limited - likewise opportunities for expansion. So the couple has made the difficult decision to join forces with an experienced black soldier fly partner & move to Cape Town by the end of March. However, they’re quick to point out that they’ll offer existing customers with alternative waste removal options. The sheer size of the Mother City with its thousands of food outlets means that the business will have a better chance of reaching its full potential.

It’s a great loss to our community but maybe there are other individuals or organisations out there who could start a similar operation & follow the excellent eco-example that Maya & Jason have set. We wish them every success.

A simple solution to E-waste

Wondering how to dispose of your electrical or battery-operated appliances responsibly? Then the Rotary Club of Knysna has the perfect solution. They hold quarterly E-waste recycling mornings in the parking lot at Loerie Park in George Rex Drive where you can drop off your unwanted items. These include everything from computer equipment & cellphones to fridges & tumble dryers.

There is no charge for this service, but the Rotary Club would welcome donations that will go directly to Pledge Nature Reserve.

The next recycling day is Saturday 2nd March from 8.30am-12.00. If you can’t make that one, there will be others on 1st June, 7th September & 7th December.

Want to know more? Then please contact Margi McAlpine on 082 563 7422 or email: margi@angelconnection.co.za

On the road to repair

A joint venture between Revive Knysna & the civil rights organisation Afriforum is resulting in a major overhaul of the railings & surrounding areas alongside the N2.

Afriforum has funded the refurbishment & replacement of the rails themselves while the Revive Knysna team has been busy removing the unsightly chain-link fencing below the rails & clearing the huge amounts of overgrown vegetation that obscured the rails & encroached onto the pavement areas.

Phase 1 of the project, from Waterfront Drive to Sun Valley Drive, is now complete & phase 2 (from Sun Valley Drive to Kwikspar) is now underway.

Phase 3 will tackle the area between the top of George Rex & the Caltex garage & phase 4 will extend along the N2 from the police dog unit at the top of Waterfront to the Atlantic Oil petrol station.

As the pictures show, this major project is making a huge difference to the visual appeal of the N2 for all those driving or walking into town.

This Month's LOCAL HERO is:

Tide Street Surgery.

You may have noticed all the activity along Waterfront Drive by the Revive Knysna team. This group of passionate and determined volunteers have taken it upon themselves to make Knysna beautiful by uplifting the Knysna CBD one Community Project at a time.

Leading by example The TIDE STREET SURGERY are on board with our #pavementproud movement and look at how they have applied this principal to their OWN verge thus beautifying what they present to the public.

These small transformations will make Knysna appealing to Tourists, Visitors and Investors. Confidence in Knysna should boost everyone's business and create employment.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

We'd love to discuss this with you. Some businesses verges just need weeding, trimming and a spot of colour - others need a lot more. Our resources are limited but our advice is FREE.

Whether it be advice on what to paint the exterior of your building, should you need to paint or simple garden advice - we'd love to help.

If you'd like to join us in restoring Knysna to her former beauty and ultimately instilling pride in our special town - call us or email us on the details below:

Contact: reviveknysna@icloud.com | Gail: 0824593411 | Paula: 0736694888

If you'd prefer to show your support financially, please click here to Donate to Revive Knysna .

Do you know of a LOCAL HERO who is assisting to Beautify Knysna One Project at a Time? Tell us about them by clicking the NOMINATE button below.

Nominate a LOCAL HERO here

Thank you for joining our community of empowered, inspired & informed citizens.

Whether you donate to our cause, read our informative newsletter or support us on social media. Every action helps us push the wheel forward. 💚_

Click here to donate to Revive Knysna

Subscribe

Subject: Your Revive Knysna mail is here! 💌