The Seedling Kitchen
Where plants become meals worth remembering — and the skills to make them at home.
The Seedling Kitchen is the heart of Old Joe's Kaia in the Schoemanskloof Valley, Mpumalanga. Led by Marian Cottle, it's where plant-based cooking stops being a compromise and starts being the point. Since pivoting to fully plant-based in 2017, Marian has been proving — one meal, one workshop, one sceptic at a time — that food can taste as good as vegan feels.
This isn't about restriction. It's about discovery — finding out what lentils, spices, fermentation, and a bit of imagination can do when you stop treating plants as a side dish.
Cooking Workshops
Kitchen Resets
Starting from scratch — or starting over. A hands-on workshop for anyone curious about plant-based cooking but unsure where to begin. You'll leave with techniques, confidence, and a full belly.
Umami Workshops
The secret to plant-based food that satisfies is umami — the savoury depth that makes you forget the meat was ever there. This workshop dives into fermentation, mushrooms, miso, and the alchemy of building flavour without shortcuts.
Meal Planning
The weeknight problem, solved. Learn how to plan, prep, and batch-cook plant-based meals that actually fit into a real life — not the Instagram version. Practical, honest, and designed for people who are busy.
Customised Workshops
Got a group with a specific interest? Marian designs workshops around your needs — whether that's gluten-free baking, South African heritage dishes reimagined, or a team-building cook-off.
Catering
The Seedling Kitchen caters for events on the property and beyond. Whether it's a retreat lunch for twelve, a wedding feast for eighteen, or a pop-up supper somewhere else entirely, Marian brings the same care and creativity to every plate.
On-site catering
Full meal service for retreats, workshops, weddings, and events hosted at Old Joe's Kaia. From breakfast through to supper, every meal is plant-based, seasonal, and made from scratch.
Pop-up catering
Marian takes The Seedling Kitchen on the road — pop-up dinners, market stalls, and off-site event catering. Get in touch with your idea and we'll make it happen.
Take it home
Not ready to leave the flavours behind? Our dehydrated meals, preserves, and pantry staples are available to order. Just add water to a Chickpea Breyani or Mung Bean Risotto and you've got a plant-based meal that tastes like it came from the Kaia kitchen — because it did.
Browse the shopBook a workshop
Workshops run throughout the year for groups of 6–18 people. Get in touch to arrange a date.
Check Availability & BookOr call us at 083 229 3751