Back to Basics Organics

Back to Basics Organics is a progressive, community-minded regenerative farming initiative and organic product retailer based in Lusaka. It stands out as an educational pioneer for urban self-sufficiency, showcasing how small city plots can be transformed into highly productive, circular ecosystems.

The enterprise is deeply rooted in eco-friendly living and features a mix of urban farming demonstrations, retail, and larger rural outreach projects. They host school visits, urban farm tours and Airbnb urban farm stays.

The initiative was founded by Bujianna Banda, a passionate sustainable living advocate who relocated back to Zambia after working in the finance sector in New York. At the heart of the organization’s educational mission is its urban homestead, known as "Villa De Buji". Spanning a modest 2,000-square-meter plot (roughly half an acre) right in urban Lusaka, this space serves demonstration on the possibilities of sustainable living in urban areas.

It showcases:
Soil Regeneration: Rebuilding heavily damaged urban ground completely from scratch through intensive organic composting, avoiding synthetic inputs, and utilizing dense layer mulching.

Closed-Loop Utility Systems: The site demonstrates self-sufficiency by harvesting rainwater to feed the local water table and utilizing a home biodigester (biogas system) fueled by organic waste to generate clean gas for everyday cooking.

Year-Round Production:
A vibrant vegetable garden that produces chemical-free heirloom food throughout every season, proving that families can achieve high levels of food security on standard suburban plots.

Scaling Up: Broader Projects & Retail
While the urban hub is built for training and inspiration, the Back to Basics footprint extends across a few distinct partner sites to scale up organic food production and rural community development:

-Kumwena Farm: Focused on broader sustainable agriculture and community upliftment.
-Kasisi Farm Collaboration: Tapping into larger-scale organic cultivation methodologies and advocating for the commercial potential of climate-adapted indigenous crops and forest products.
-Kafue Camp Site: A riverfront development being conceptualized into an eco-friendly nature retreat.

Reach out to Bujianna on +260 979489509 to find out more: