In 2010 het Willem die eerste sitrus op sy plaas in Marble Hall, Limpopo, geplant. Hy wou toe al ‘n verskaffer van die Nadorcott-kultivar onder die handelsnaam ClemenGold word, maar die geslote produsent-getal was vol. In 2014 is hy tot die klein, geselekteerde groep produsent-verskaffers toegelaat.
Farming is generally associated with the outdoors, but a fledgling snail farm in an industrial area near Rooihuiskraal, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, provides a glimpse into the possible future of food production.
‘n Mikro-boerdery in ʼn area waar water skaars is, lewer skoon, vars blaarslaai op ʼn volhoubare manier, sonder ʼn swaar las op die omgewing.
Drie generasies Van Niekerks ontwikkel stelsels met hoë produksie om, ondanks onvoorspelbare uitkoms, opbrengs te verseker.
Rean de Waal is ‘n boer wat ‘n plan kan maak – en nie net met die vreemde, wonderlike en selfontwerpte implemente in sy skuur nie.
ʼn Boerdery op Vredendal se soeke na nuwe geleenthede en wye belangstellingsveld het gelei tot die begin van ‘n stokery wat met sonkrag bedryf word en die aanplanting van ‘n bamboesproefboord.
A couple that has innovated with a diversified farm and a visitor friendly approach makes waves in a fickle market.
We’re driving on the R360 outwards, north of Upington and there are no more powerlines; just a rule-straight line of tar and fences cutting through the stubble-veld around us. We spot our destination just beyond the first sign advertising the start of the Red Dune tourism-route. It’s the home of Paul and Riana Loots, owners of Farm Uitsig and the Kalahari Guesthouse and Farmstall.
A Vredendal farm’s broad interests and search for new opportunities led to the establishment of a distillery run on solar power and test site for bamboo.
“This Houthoop-business led me to change my entire perspective of our farm,” says Willem. “When I first arrived here, I farmed on my own. I spent a lot of time on the road ferrying the sheep between summer and winter pastures in the Boesmanland. With the success of Veronica’s meals, it all became too much. We worked late almost every night and Veronica had to do everything by herself. It was worth the effort, but I had to be here to help. I decided to sell the Boesmanland property to my brother; now we farm together.”
