Our Story
A Café with an Aardvark Attitude...
At Keystone Café, we believe that food is not just fuel for the body - it's a way to connect with the earth and the people who grow and prepare it. Our conscious-based eatery is dedicated to serving fresh, locally-sourced food that nourishes both body and soul. Our unique concept centers around education and communication, sharing the stories of the people who grow, raise, and make our food.
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By definition, a keystone is the central building block at the top of an arch; a source of support and stability, therefore it is the most important stone, and that's why this word is also used figuratively to mean "the one thing upon which everything else depends."
Similarly in nature, keystone species are those whose presence and role in an ecosystem is paramount and impacts all other organisms within the system. They have a lasting effect on the ecosystem, keeping it in balance, which makes their presence highly significant. Removal of these species decreases the biodiversity of the ecosystem.
We believe that agriculture, especially in Southern Africa, is a pivotal keystone for society and its food security for the future. “Most of the food you’ll find on your plate can be traced back to carefully cultivated plants. Even the meat you eat probably comes from the animals that feed the crops, pushing energy from the sun, up the food chain”. By paying attention to current environmental problems and encouraging all people to commit to regenerative agriculture, we can all assist in solving these global challenges.
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We invite you to join us in this journey of discovery and connection.
An Aardvark Attitude
An Aardvark Attitude requires paying attention to how you are impacting everything and everyone around you and working together to regenerate possibility!
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Nature always provides a way of reminding us to think and act in an integrative way. Being mindful of how you creatively construct your life to ensure the integration with the larger ecosystem, together with diverse thinking and teamwork your impact can be magnificent! By recognizing and being mindful of your thoughtfulness, kindness, and your own/others well-being, YOU become a keystone individual in your ecosystem.
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The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is the only species of its kind in the taxonomic order Tubulidentata. Aardvark are considered a keystone species, meaning, those whose presence and role in an ecosystem is paramount and impacts the survival and abundance of all other species. They have a lasting effect on the ecosystem, keeping it in balance, which makes their presence highly significant. Removal of these species decreases the diversity of the ecosystem.
Aardvarks are Africa’s ecosystem engineers, with abandoned aardvark burrows being an important refuge place, providing shelter and breeding sites for several species ranging from den sites for African Wild Dogs, to shelter for Hyena, Honey Badgers, Jackals, Mongoose, Scrub Hares, rodents and even some bird species.
The Aardvark regenerates possibility!
Owners
Shannon Tucker & Jackie Tucker
The Keystone Café is a conscious based eatery which not only delivers great service, but a unique concept around the education and communication of where the food on our plates comes from and the stories of the people who grow/raise and make the food.
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“Having an agricultural background and spending 16 years working in livestock production systems (dairy, poultry, swine, and beef), I have always dreamt of having a place where together with nutritious based food, we tell the stories about where that food comes from and what it means.” Jackie Tucker.
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The Keystone café concept was developed around creating awareness of our pivotal role in the ecosystems in which we exist and how we impact them. With the right mindset, education, and awareness, and by developing an “Aardvark Attitude” we can have such a beautiful impact on the sustainability of food production and assist in community development and welfare. The café will aim at promoting and highlighting local and national agri-business products and the wonderful agricultural practices we have in this area and country. Hosting events and highlighting products with storytelling is our aim and together with our gin and wine library this serves as a great educational platform. This space will also serve as an area to host private functions and double up as a business meeting space.
“Having been in the hospitality industry for over 10 years and specifically the wine industry, this space gives me the opportunity to share my love and passion for wine through dinners, wine courses and staff training.” Shannon Tucker.
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We believe that there is huge value in being customer conscious but at the same time knowing and understanding our impact in this world.
We love working with people and the education and communication of real food and its nutritional value for us as humans.