Rooted in Wellness

Cultivating Connection at Reforest Fest

Reforest Fest 2025, which took place at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat in April, offered a rare opportunity for participants to come together to realign with the cycles of nature. This year, Wellness Warehouse once again played a central role in helping festival-goers rediscover balance, community, and conscious living through food, wellness practices, and meaningful connection.

Seasonal Wellness in Action

Nestled among the trees, the Wellness Warehouse Food Village at the festival became a vibrant hub of nourishment and intentional living. Featuring vendors like Love Kos Mos and Bliss Cafe, the space went beyond sustenance — it served as an invitation to eat with purpose. Every bite celebrated seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and ethical food practices, helping attendees tune into nature’s rhythms while uplifting small, sustainable businesses.

As Bliss Cafe owner Tamara Colicelli demonstrated through her collaboration with ButtaNutt, even small gestures — like offering free alternative milks — can spark big conversations around ethical sourcing and conscious consumerism. These food choices weren’t just about health; they were about empowerment, education, and ecological responsibility.

“It’s important to us to educate and support people in making conscious choices that extend into festivals and lived experiences,” says Olivia Badach, Head of Organisational Sustainability at Wellness Warehouse. “Our message is to look at the whole value chain — the journey of impact of a product, from cradle to grave.”

Wellness Beyond the Plate

At the Wellness Lounge, festival attendees explored holistic health practices grounded in integrative medicine, reconnecting to self and Earth through workshops and talks. Dr. Murray Rushmere, a Cape Town-based GP, emphasised how nature itself — from cold water therapy to forest bathing — is a powerful catalyst for restoring physical and mental well-being. As he described, the natural world “creates a space and container for people to reconnect with who they really are.”

This theme echoed through various experiences at the fest — from permaculture talks and forest walks to foraging workshops led by experts like Roushanna Grey of Veld and Sea. These hands-on encounters encouraged people to see the Earth not as a resource to extract from, but as a partner in co-creation and healing.

Conscious Consumerism, Joyfully Lived

Reforest Fest proves that sustainability doesn’t need to be solemn — it can be joyful, playful, and delicious. From plant-based chocolate and wine pairing sessions to eco-friendly Easter egg hunts, Wellness Warehouse created inclusive spaces where families could celebrate while honouring the Earth. These moments of mindful celebration reminded us that conscious nourishment can also be a source of connection and delight.

“Conscious choices that extend into our daily lives create positive impacts and balance environmental and social responsibility. That is empowerment to me,” shares Badach.

The ripple effects of these mindful decisions extend well beyond the festival grounds. By making local, ethical, and seasonal products more visible and accessible, Wellness Warehouse encourages consumers to take their values home with them — into their kitchens, communities, and conversations.

Growing Together

From collective tree planting and foraging to shared meals and shared values, Reforest Fest and Wellness Warehouse demonstrated that wellness is not a solitary journey. It’s something we cultivate together — in community, in relationship with the land, and in every small, conscious act.

As Love Kos Mos founder Mishkah Gool put it, “There’s unity that exists in community.”

And that’s what Reforest Fest — and Wellness Warehouse’s partnership with it — is all about: rooting into the Earth, rising into wholeness, and remembering that true well-being is always collective.

We can’t wait to connect again at next year’s event!

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“Wellness Warehouse strives to help you live life well but because we are retailers and not medical practitioners we cannot offer medical advice. Please always consult your medical practitioner before taking any supplements, complementary medicines or have any health concerns and ensure that you always read labels, warnings and directions carefully, prior to consumption.”