Sustainability in Action: A Training Day at MORE Field Guide College

There’s something magical about transforming an empty space into a thriving garden. So, the students’ sustainable training day at the MORE Field Guide College began with creating a self-sustaining vegetable garden. This served a dual purpose in both reducing the carbon footprint and teaching practical skills to our guides in training. Every seed planted represented a commitment to reducing food miles and unnecessary packaging waste.

They also planted a Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) section. Spekboom is a remarkable plant champion of sustainability native to South Africa. It requires minimal water while also being one of the most effective plants for absorbing carbon dioxide, sequestering between four to 10 tons of carbon per hectare annually. By planting Spekboom, we are actively reducing our carbon footprint and furthering our commitment to water conservation.

After the morning’s gardening, the students had a workshop that revealed the fascinating world of waste transformation. During the workshop, our students discovered several brilliant ways to close the loop.

The first of which was sprout cultivation. Growing sprouts is a remarkably efficient way to produce fresh, nutrient-dense food. They require minimal space to grow and are ready to harvest in just three to seven days, making them one of the fastest-growing food sources.

Next was bokashi composting. The system uses a layered mix of a special bokashi bran (containing effective microorganisms) and food scraps in a sealed container. After about two weeks the process produces both a nutrient-rich pre-compost material and a liquid fertiliser tea that can be diluted and used to feed plants.

Vermicomposting on the other hand uses worms to convert organic waste into materials that contain higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium than regular compost. The system also generates "worm tea," a liquid fertiliser full of beneficial microbes.

Finally, the students learned about kombucha crafting to create drinks that are rich in beneficial compounds including organic acids, enzymes, and probiotics. Being able to make their own delicious, nutritious drinks helps to reduce single-use packaging.

After gaining all this information, the students were split into three teams and partook in a fun buzzer quiz to test everyone’s knowledge.

The afternoon saw the students channelling their creativity into building habitats for biodiversity and upcycling waste items. Some groups crafted solitary bee hotels while others transformed waste materials into functional and artistic pieces. These projects demonstrated how small actions, like repurposing waste, can have a lasting environmental impact.

The day’s highlight was having the teams bring their learning to life through creative presentation skits. The “Climate is Changing” group captured hearts with their thoughtful portrayal of sustainable choices, while another team’s environmental rap brought fresh energy to important messages.

Why this was more than just a training day

Our core values – noticing MORE, improving MORE, giving MORE, and respecting MORE – aren’t just words on a wall. They come to life every day through actions big and small, showing that true environmental stewardship stems from combining practical skills with genuine commitment. We believe in doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

Since 2014, we’ve been following in the footsteps of Nick John More (1967–2013), whose passion for conservation continues to inspire everything we do. His vision of nurturing future wilderness leaders lives on in every sprout we grow and every bee hotel we build.

Whether our students are pursuing a career in field guiding or seeking enriching experiences during their gap year, our sustainability training equips them with invaluable insights that extend far beyond conservation. For those joining our lodges, this foundation helps them understand the thoughtful consideration behind every guest touchpoint – from locally sourced amenities to our partnerships with community enterprises. For others, these principles of mindful resource management and community engagement will serve them well in whatever career path they choose.

Join Our Journey

We hope you will continue to follow us on our sustainability journey. We are always learning and growing and we hope our story of improvement can inspire your own sustainability journey! Whether you’re composting, growing your own food, or finding creative ways to reduce waste. Every action has an impact and every story inspires.