A New Life for Lamu: Why This Kenyan Island Paradise Is Embracing Responsible Tourism | Vogue

"Built on part of a reclaimed dump site at the dune-hemmed back of Shela, this natural wellness center and regenerative farm—set up during the pandemic by Amha Selassie—shows how “there’s no such thing as waste.” After a thorough cleanup, part of the dump became a permaculture farm where, in the shade of ancient neem trees, more than 100 plant species grow into an edible jungle of bananas, moringa, eggplants, and passion fruit; saplings and seeds are shared with communities across the island, as he helps communities set up their own regenerative farms. Black soldier flies feed on kitchen scraps and grow into wriggling protein for the chickens that fertilize the soil, while lemongrass and Spanish lime seedlings sprout from cut-open jerrycans. He brought me here to show me that Lamu might look like a desert but can grow “magical gardens,” and that cleaning up is part of getting the magic back." - Chris Schalkx