A new Environmental Education Centre was launched last week at Delvera farm, at the foot of Klapmutskop. Representatives from the adjoining farms mingled amongst children from the farm school at Elsenburg who attended the launch. You could follow them by listening to the shrieks when they came up close and personal with some of the animals! The idea for a greater … [Read more...]
Is carbon neutral farming possible?
How on earth do you farm intensively without producing carbon dioxide? A colleague tells me about Backsberg's carbon neutrality (since 2006) and I hear something about it on the radio. A whole new concept for me. I'm making an appointment with Mr Michael Back. His first question to me: "How serious are you about organic farming?" It catches me off guard and I mumble … [Read more...]
Global worming against global warming?
A supermarket started an earthworm farm at their packing stores in Kraaifontein to dispose of their organic waste in a responsible way. The vermicast (also called worm castings, worm humus, worm manure or worm faeces) was used in their office gardens. But when they wanted to expand their buildings, something had to make way and the worms were chosen. They decided to stick to … [Read more...]
Back to basics with slow wines
What attracted me to Waterkloof wines, as a horse lover, was that they use horses in their vineyards. I reckoned it was to lower their carbon footprint, but Christiaan Loots, the farm manager, assured me that it was economically motivated. Waterkloof is situated just outside Somerset West on the old Sir Lowry’s Pass road, about halfway to the village. 32 of the 53 hectares … [Read more...]
