Karl heard about me through the owners of Just Natural Farm, where he was involved in a project to set up a cob pizza oven. They told him about my vermicomposting and kombucha work, and he got in touch because he wanted to see it in person. He came to the garden, we took our time going through the composting and vermicomposting set-ups, and we sat with a kombucha while we spoke about soil, food, and some of his potential future projects.

One of the reasons I do these interviews is to understand how people in Mauritius think about farming. I want to hear, in plain terms, how they see the work, what their experiences have been, and what stands in the way of getting access to soil and doing the activity itself. Over time I am gathering perspectives from different walks of life, and I was keen to record a millennial’s view.

His turn toward agroecology took shape after two trips in 2016 and 2017. The first was to Canada, and the second took him through Kenya and Tanzania. From those journeys he drew two firm conclusions. Cities rely on food grown elsewhere, which ties production and transport to fossil fuels. Monoculture harms land, harms people, and weakens the relationship between the two. Since then he has treated learning as a patient practice, and he is clear that growing food with respect for ecosystems asks for changes in mindset and daily routine.

By profession Karl is a photographer and an artist. He uses images and words to draw attention to what matters to him, which is often the simple reality of materials, places, and the people who work with them. That same careful eye shows up when he talks about soil and about the craft of making useful things. I have seen some of his photographs at a medical practice in Forbach. While I was in the waiting room I noticed a black and white image of infrastructure, signed with his name.

Alongside his visual work he builds cob pizza ovens. He trained during a five-week workshop in the Azores with Tania de Froberville, and he has since built one at Just Natural and two at the Green Village near Le Morne. He enjoys the social and practical side of this work, and his favourite pizza from the oven is jambon de Parme with rocket, which says something about his taste for straightforward food done well.

Karl is also realistic about the path into farming. Starting a farm is capital heavy, margins are thin, and many attempts do not last. When a household has other sources of income or assets, a farming project can sometimes be sustained over a longer period, because short-term losses do not force an immediate stop. That does not make the work easy. It simply buys time to learn, adjust, and look for a model that fits. His advice is to keep your enthusiasm and keep your eyes open, to build skills first, and to start small at home so that the next step follows from what you have actually tried.

What follows is Karl in his own words. The aim is simple. To listen carefully to one person’s experience and to learn something useful about farming in Mauritius, about access to land, and about the practical work itself. You are welcome to share your input and experiences in the comments below.

Interview Questions for Karl Ahnee

I. Personal Journey and Connection to the Earth

1. Karl, could you share the story of how you first became interested in composting and soil ecology?

Karl: I discovered permaculture and agroecology around 2016 and 2017. After 2 very different trips, one in Canada and the other one that took me through Kenya and Tanzania.
I realised 2 things :

• “big cities” are dependent on a food production system located outside of these same cities, therefore heavily reliant on fossil fuels for food production and transportation.
  
• monoculture is a destructive force that modifies (for the worst) the lands, the people and the relationship between these 2.

What was your experience like volunteering at Just Natural Farm? What did you learn or observe during your time there?

Karl: respecting the ecosystems while growing food is certainly not an easy endeavour but it is possible. It requires sacrifices, a strategic approach and prior to all that it requires a mental and emotional shift. The actual system is as convenient as it is destructive. Stepping away from that system demands a real understanding of why things have to change.

2. Many people know you for your photography and artistic work. How do these creative practices complement your interest in agroecology and conservation?

Karl: Photography and art are vectors, they allow us to relay whatever we consider worth transmitting. This can be used to build consensus aka culture. Therefore it’s very natural that I use these skills to highlight what I consider valuable and important.

II. Youth, Access, and the Future of Farming in Mauritius

4. You are passionate about agriculture, but like many young Mauritians, you do not currently have access to land or startup funds. How do you manage this reality?

Karl: I focus on what I can do, the rest is irrelevant. It can be frustrating of course, but part of the solution is showing what’s being done. It is obviously frustrating, but seeing and talking about what’s being done, and what’s not working is also empowering.

5. What do you think are the main challenges that prevent young people from entering the farming sector in Mauritius?

Karl: 1st is the perception we all have about farming. We are so disconnected from our food. It’s hard for a young person to visualise themselves doing something they don’t really understand and see around them.

2nd is the cultural bias on money, success, and the fact that for at least 2-3 generations, escaping the “Farm life”, having a “real job” in an office, accessing all the social and economic status this brings was considered to be the thing to do.

It is still considered to be the thing to do, to survive and thrive.

6. If you could redesign the way young people access land and resources for farming, what would your ideal system look like?

Karl: Young people in Mauritius should get land through village co-ops or community land trusts. The government and local NGOs should offer small grants, low-interest loans, and shared farm equipment to young Mauritians. Training should focus on local agroecology, traditional farming, and sustainable building techniques adapted to the island. A simple online noticeboard system should help youth share tools, seeds, and tips. Legal advice for long-term leasing or fair land access should be easy to find. Eco-friendly projects that boost food security and respect Mauritian heritage must be supported and made desirable.

7. Are there any local initiatives or people you’ve encountered who are doing inspiring work in this direction?

Karl: I haven’t personally benefited from these but I know that the Académie Terres d’Agroécologie trains youth in agroecology every year and supports them to start eco-farming projects, with technical help and market access. The UNDP Small Grants Smart Agriculture project funds farmers’ transition to agroecology, focuses on youth, and introduces innovations like digital knowledge sharing. The Ferney Agri-Hub offers land and shared resources for agri-entrepreneurs and young farmers, together with sustainable farming training and business incubation. Youth-focused programs like the Agricultural Youth Clubs (AYCs) run by AREU provide training, seeds, and support for youth interested in farming. Projects like AgriSanté and NGO campaigns empower young Mauritians through hands-on agroecology and leadership activities.

III. Natural Building and Pizza Cob Ovens

8. You have built pizza cob ovens for others. How did you learn this skill, and what drew you to natural building?

Karl: 1 at Just Natural and 2 at the Green Village. In collaboration with Tania de Froberville. We learned building pizza cob ovens by working alongside experienced natural builders and experimenting through an intensive 5 weeks workshop, in the Azores. What drew me to natural building was the mix of creativity, ecology, and practicality.

9. Can you describe some of the projects you’ve completed so far? Any highlights or funny stories from those builds?

Karl: Using earth, sand, and straw to make something functional, beautiful, and sustainable feels like having a super power. Realising you can build something with a group of people, all from different walks of life, using natural resources, unlocks something in you. That being said it’s as hard as it is rewarding, a very good stress test and challenge for your soft skills.

10. What do you enjoy most about building with natural materials? How does it differ from your work in photography and digital art?

Karl: It feels like a superpower! Building something yourself, with the help of others is really empowering and fun… it is also physical. Photography has a physical side to it, which is also why I enjoy it but it’s also a lot of screen time… that’s less enjoyable to me.

11. Do you offer this service to others who want to build their own pizza cob ovens? How can they contact you?

Karl: open to discussion/consulting. Contact me by mail karl.ahnee@gmail.com or whatsapp +23057225164

IV. Art, Society, and the Human Experience

12. On your LinkedIn profile, you describe art as a “vector of change.” What does that mean to you in practice?

Karl: Being a catalyst. I rather use these words than “influencer”… which to me is a notion that’s worn out because it’s too connected to consumerism. Inspiring genuine positive change is more what I aspire to.

13. You are interested in a wide range of topics including sociology, psychology, biology, and astronomy. How do these interests influence your worldview and creative process?

Karl: I believe I’m interested in these subjects because of my worldview. Life is a finite thing to me, the world is a physical, material one. We can certainly use myths, poetry and fiction to tell beautiful, inspiring stories. But grasping the world and reality requires that we understand as much as we can. That we ask ourselves what are the most objective truths about human life?

14. What role do you think creative people can play in rethinking how society relates to nature and community?

Karl: creativity is essentially innovation. Except today innovation is almost only about technology, productivity and consumerism. So creativity might be a lens through which we tackle most of the 21st century issues. Because creativity can also be about a more social and organic form of innovation.

V. Reflections and Life Lessons

15. You once shared the idea that life is a very interesting trip. What are some of the most meaningful or challenging things you’ve learned along the way?

Karl: That’s a tough one, can I have another 20 years to think about it please ?

16. What would you like to say to other young Mauritians who feel stuck or unable to move forward in their dreams?

Karl: You are certainly stuck, for many reasons, otherwise you probably wouldn’t feel that way. My thing when I feel stuck is writing, ideally first thing in the morning. Asking myself questions about how I feel about certain things. Questioning my own beliefs and thoughts with an open mind. Sometimes, after a few sessions, patterns and eventually answers might emerge.

I also go for walks, and I talk to myself. I tell myself how I feel and what I think about certain things. Hearing myself talk about what bothers me or the reasons why I think I might be stuck can be strange at first even exhausting, but it definitely helps reevaluating my choices and eventually act accordingly.

17. Looking ahead, what ideas or dreams are currently growing inside you? What would you love to bring into the world next?

Karl: A digital media that explores the boundaries of art, culture, documentary and ecology.

Work With Karl: Art. Earth. Craftsmanship You Can Feel

Karl Ahnee is more than an artist or a thinker. He is a maker. Someone who works with his hands, his heart, and his full attention.

Whether you are looking to build a traditional cob oven, document your architectural or interior design projects, or need beautiful, thoughtful portraits for editorial, personal, or corporate use, Karl brings a unique blend of creativity, integrity, and grounded presence to every project he takes on.

His services include:

• Custom-built Pizza Cob Ovens
  Designed and constructed using natural building techniques. Perfect for eco-lodges, home gardens, food events, community farms, or anyone who wants to bring fire, flavor, and tradition into their space.
  
• Professional Photography
  With over a decade of experience, Karl offers services in architecture, interior photography, editorial shoots, corporate headshots, nature, and food photography.
  
• Creative Direction & Graphic Design
  For magazines, brochures, social media, and brand visuals. Karl understands how to balance aesthetic and message with purpose.
  
• Fine Art Prints and Original Artwork
  Available for private collectors, interior decorators, or public spaces looking for authentic and contemplative visual works.
  

By supporting Karl’s work, you are not just hiring a skilled artisan. You are engaging with a deeper vision of beauty, sustainability, and thoughtful collaboration.

To explore Karl’s portfolio or book a service, contact him directly through:

→ Facebook
→ Instagram
→ LinkedIn

Or send him a direct message to start a conversation.

Let’s build beautiful things together. Whether it’s through earth, image, or shared vision, Karl is ready to co-create.