Tambuzi Rose Farm Is So Much More Than Just a Business

In the mid-1990s, Tim and Maggie Hobbs – a young and dynamic couple with Kenyan roots, came across a beautiful, derelict farm on the foothills of Mount Kenya only miles from the Equator. The 64-hectare farm, originally producing dairy and beef, was up for sale and with its perfect conditions for growing roses, the Hobbs bought and developed it into what it is today. Tambuzi: a leading specialist supplier of traditional garden scented roses.

Growing Roses on the Foothills of Mount Kenya

Today, Tambuzi has 25 hectares of roses and summer flowers at its original Burguret site, and complimentary production of sustainable forestry, beekeeping, and livestock. Recently Tambuzi has expanded to two more farms in Timau to meet the demand for its high-quality flowers. Tambuzi is a company driven not just for profit but also with a goal of having beneficial social impact in all its activities. The strap line ‘stop and smell the roses’ sends a simple message – be always mindful of what you do and enjoy it. The company considers the welfare of its employees and the neighboring communities to be part of its strength. Tambuzi’s good practices ensure that we mitigate potential negative impacts on the environment. Like farms around the world, this is the place that Tim, Maggie, and their children call home, and, as such, is so much more than just a business.

Where Tambuzi is Located

The three Tambuzi farms are located 180km north of Nairobi, within Nyeri, Laikipia, and Meru Counties. The semi-arid region includes a 10,000km² wilderness haven, supporting large numbers of wildlife – many endangered. Where the southern boundary of Laikipia meets the western foothills of Mount Kenya, productive rain-fed farming areas support a high population of people. Tambuzi is the only large-scale flower farm in an area that is dominated by small-scale farms, each between two and six acres, mostly growing maize, intercropped with beans and potatoes. Tambuzi is located on the Equator at an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level. The area receives ten hours of sunshine a day and 800 mm of rainfall a year. These perfect growing conditions, combined with a committed and expert team, make Tambuzi accomplished leaders in the field of scented rose production in Kenya.

Committed to Improving Lives by Creating Jobs

With employment being one of Kenya’s largest opportunities to combat poverty, Tambuzi is committed to improving lives by creating jobs. We are passionate about the idea of ‘Trade not Aid’ for Africa. Where possible we employ rather than mechanize. Tambuzi is the largest employer within a 20-mile radius and employs over 300 people on a full-time basis, 80% of whom live close enough to walk to the farm. When recruiting, Tambuzi gives priority to members of the local community, especially those that are permanent residents of the area. On average, each employee has between six and ten dependents, so employment created by Tambuzi directly benefits over 3,000 people.

Shared Value

From the very start, Tambuzi has believed in Shared Value – we just didn’t know it was called that back in the day. For us, it means a philosophy that if the communities of those who work on the farm and those who live around the farm are stronger, then Tambuzi as a company will be stronger. If we build value, then the smart and sustainable thing to do is to share that value in any way that we can. So we look to create partnerships and networks everywhere that we operate, both internally and externally.

To read more about what Tambuzi does, visit their website.