For Our 031 Area Code Readers:
While most gardeners are locked in a constant battle to pull out weeds, one rewilding activist is showing South Africans why we should be eating them instead.
Rewilding expert and author Nikki Brighton will be in Scottburgh on 8 and 9 May for a walk-and-talk fundraiser hosted by WildED Africa at the WildED Learning Hub, Crocworld Conservation Centre. The event is a rare opportunity for South Coast residents to explore how everyday weeds can become nutrient-rich, environmentally sustainable meals.
Holly Altenburger, Head of WildED Africa Education, says Nikki’s knowledge has reshaped how many think about local food:
“Her books have taught me that the weeds we usually despise are often edible, delicious, and packed with nutrients. This event is more than a talk — it’s a new way of seeing the world around us.”
Originally from Pietermaritzburg, Nikki’s journey began with vegetable gardens and indigenous planting. Today, she’s a champion of rewilding, a lifestyle that encourages people to live more closely with nature by foraging, reducing food miles, and supporting local ecosystems.
Her work gained momentum during lockdown, when her online posts about wild food sparked growing interest. Since then, Nikki has become a respected voice in the field, with appearances at the Karoo Food Festival and features in titles such as Grow to Eat, Getaway, The Gardener, Garden and Home, and Daily Maverick. She was also named in the Mail & Guardian’s 2021 Power of Women.
From her base in Howick, Nikki supports community-led food systems through the Mpophomeni Conservation Group, REKO farmers’ markets, barter markets, and the Midlands Slow Food Community.
She has published three books to help people reconnect with local, uncultivated food:
- Mnandi: A Taste of Mpophomeni – a vibrant collection of recipes from a KZN township, featuring wild greens and local stories.
- Wild About Weeds – an introduction to edible weeds found across South Africa.
- Edible Weeds – a compact field guide for foragers.
Event Details – WildED Walk-and-Talk Fundraiser
Rewild Your Life Talk
Date: Thursday, 8 May
Time: 5pm
Venue: WildED Learning Hub, Crocworld Conservation Centre, Scottburgh
Cost: R150 per person (includes snacks)
An engaging talk on how rewilding can restore ecosystems — and how weeds can be part of your dinner.
Foraging Walk
Date: Friday, 9 May
Time: 8:30am
Venue: WildED Learning Hub, Crocworld Conservation Centre
Cost: R300 per person
A hands-on walk exploring how to safely identify and harvest wild edible plants growing in everyday spaces.
There is free, nutrient-dense food growing all around us — in the cracks of pavements, on roadside verges, and in forgotten corners of our gardens. Nikki Brighton’s approach is helping people see the landscape through new eyes.
To book or learn more, contact info@wilded.co.za
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