The Soil Remembers Her Hands
The soil remembers her hands is a podcast celebrating South African women who are transforming agriculture and the wine industry from the ground up. Produced by the Graça Machel Trust, the podcast demonstrates how through their hands, we see dignity, employment, and generational change take root—reminding us that when women lead, communities flourish. We are a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance systemic change so that African women and girls thrive.
The Soil Remembers Her Hands
6. Tandiswa Hopa – Sowing seeds of change
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“Every seed I plant is a protest. A protest against hunger, against inequality, against a system that forgot its people.”
Tandiswa Hopa, affectionately known as Tandi, is an organic farmer, community activist, and founder of Green Riverbend Programs, based in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. With 17 years of experience as a community development specialist, Tandi transitioned into full-time farming in 2016, driven by her passion for food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. Starting with no formal funding but strong family support, she and her husband purchased 44-hectares of virgin land along a riverbend, where she established a thriving vegetable, poultry, and agro-processing enterprise.
Tandi mentors women and youth, training them in organic farming techniques and market access strategies while leading a food hub that enables farmers to set fair prices. She is also a passionate advocate for just food systems, climate adaptation, and women’s leadership in agriculture.
Website: https://www.riverbendvk.co.za/