Page 16 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 2 2025

IN THE GARDEN

FROM SOIL TO THE STARS

HOW ONE DAINFERN RESIDENT IS CHANGING THE GAME

2019 2024

If you live on Dainfern Golf Es- That realisation led him down a very different CONNECTING THE NEXT
tate, chances are you’ve already road—one that eventually became Compost GENERATION WITH BUSINESS
come across one of Himkaar's Kitchen. LEADERS
Cventures—maybe you’ve heard But composting isn’t his only focus. While
about Compost Kitchen, attended a BUILDING A GREENER FUTURE—ONE growing his business, he saw something
Dainfern Business Club talk, or even HOUSEHOLD AT A TIME missing in the community—a way for young
looked through one of his telescopes at Compost Kitchen started in 2019 as a people to connect with experienced business
a Telescope Night event. But what drives door-to-door food waste collection service leaders.
someone to juggle so many passions, and in Dainfern. Himkaar cycled from house to
how did it all start? house, collecting kitchen scraps and turning ENTER THE DAINFERN BUSINESS
them into nutrient-rich compost. It was a CLUB
An Engineer Who Found His Own Blueprint simple idea with a massive impact. What started as a small initiative has now
Himkaar’s story starts in civil engineering, hosted CEOs of Vodacom, Discovery Health,
a field that seemed like a natural fit—until it “The goal was never just about composting,” and Nedbank, among others. The idea is
wasn’t. He always had a passion for water he explains. “It was about restoring soil simple: bring industry leaders and young
management, but working on infrastructure health, reducing waste, and helping people professionals together for meaningful
projects made him realise that South Africa’s be part of the solution.” conversations.
real water crisis wasn’t about pipes and
reservoirs. Today, Compost Kitchen has grown beyond “We live in a world where networking is
Elephants in Pilansberg Dainfern, serving restaurants, offices, everything, but young people don’t always
IT WAS ABOUT SOIL and soon—farms. The next big step? A have access to the right people. This was a
National Park
“The first thing a raindrop touches is the vermicomposting farm, where earthworms way to bridge that gap.”
ground. If the soil is unhealthy, the water runs will break down organic waste into some of
straight off, leading to flooding, erosion, and the most powerful, natural fertiliser available. It’s not a structured mentorship programme—
drought. If the soil is rich in organic matter, it just powerful, one-off events where young
absorbs water, replenishes groundwater, and For Himkaar, it’s about scaling up sustainably. entrepreneurs can hear directly from some
supports healthy plant life. Fix the soil, and “You can’t start big. You have to prove it works of South Africa’s most successful business
you fix the water problem.” on a small scale, then grow step by step.” minds.
14 DPL issue 2 2025