Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545759
K enneth didn't grow up on a farm. His family was more into buildings than fields; his dad worked in property development, his brother is an architect, and Kenneth himself studied commerce and law. Farming wasn't part of the plan at all. But life has a funny way of circling back to land. The place that became Ċiromblu Indigenous Bio Farm started off as a messy, half-forgotten coastal plot in Delimara. It was split between owners, hard to manage, and left sitting for years. Before Kenneth got involved, it wasn't really "farmed" at all, just used informally by hunters and truck drivers passing through. When he first really looked at it, it didn't feel like a farm. It felt wild, exposed, salty, a bit rough around the edges, but also strangely alive. Some plants were still managing to grow no matter what. That's where everything started. Instead of trying to "fix" the land, Kenneth did something simpler: he watched it first. What actually grows here without help? What survives salt, wind, and neglect? That became the whole idea of the farm, don't fight the land, work with it. So he focused on plants that already know the surroundings well. Old wheat varieties, hardy grains, vegetables that can handle salty air. Even onions became a clue, if they can still grow after sea spray, that's a good sign you're on the right track. For Kenneth, "organic" isn't just about not using chemicals. It's more like using common sense with nature. For example, instead of throwing things away, they reuse them. Cheese whey (the liquid left over from making cheese) can help stop fungus on plants. Simple plant mixes like onion or basil sprays can help keep pests away. Nothing fancy, just using what's already there. Water was a big turning point. Heavy rain was washing soil and debris straight into the sea. So they changed the whole system. Instead of letting water run off the land, they started collecting it through channels and storing it in a big reservoir. They even restored an old windmill, over 100 years old, to pump water up so irrigation could work using gravity instead of electricity. Slowly, the farm started to feel like a full system instead of separate pieces. They also brought in local Maltese animals, goats, chickens, and later sheep, breeds that are used to this climate. Chickens help naturally reduce pests. The animals also eat leftovers from crops like barley stalks, so very little goes to waste. Everything starts connecting. Barley and wheat aren't just crops, they feed animals, help make organic beer with a local brewery, and later may become flour. One thing supports another. After a few years of work, the farm became officially organic. But for Kenneth, that wasn't the "finish line." It was just proof they were on the right path. What really matters is how people experience it. That's where the farm shop comes in: Tulliera Farm Shop. It's a small space on the farm where they sell what they actually produce; cheeses, kefir, jams, chutneys, feggs, resh vegetables. Nothing processed, nothing distant. Just straight from the farm to people. From there, things expanded. They started building experiences around the farm too; staying on-site, learning how things grow, even wellness activities like yoga and meditation nearby. The idea is simple: people don't just buy food, they understand where it comes from. At the heart of it all, Kenneth's approach is pretty simple. Organic farming isn't just "no chemicals." It's more like building relationships inside the farm. Chickens help control bugs. Whey helps plants fight disease. Crops feed animals. Animals feed the soil. Everything supports something else. And there's also a bigger message running underneath it: small farms struggle if they only sell raw produce. So they need multiple ways to stay alive; food, education, tourism, experiences, all working together. Visitors don't just walk through and leave. They see the land, meet the animals, and then taste what it all turns into. It's very direct: soil to plate, with no mystery in between. In the end, Ċiromblu Indigenous Bio Farm is really just about one idea: Don't force the land to change first, understand it, and build around what's already working. Kenneth Abela Ċiromblu Indigenous Bio Farm 21