Shovelling bird-poop fertiliser and quitting a corporate career to do it takes a certain kind of person - someone like Mapaseka Dlamini. Dlamini is a new breed of entrepreneur- farmer who's transforming Johannesburg's dead building spaces into commercial hydroponic farms. Until five years ago her workplace was a swish office and she was on a trajectory to qualify as a chartered accountant. She was never really happy, though. Dlamini quit her job to live out her passion: farming on peri-urban plots. "It wasn't easy; I lost my bakkie, my savings and investments trying to get established on a plot outside Cullinan. My family also didn't understand why I was giving up a full-time salary," says Dlamini. Growing food in the sky She failed, but last year she gave it another shot by joining a business incubator and swapping out a soil-rooted dream for one of growing food in the sky. Now she's about to launch Green Sky Rooftop Farm on the top of Stannop House in Doornfontein. Chatting under ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.