Western Cape self catering guest farm in South Africa
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Energy efficiency:
All geysers (Water boilers) are lagged and fitted with electrical timers with in-built battery back-up systems.
Heating is with open fires and the wood comes from the clearing of non-indigenous invader tree species, which itself forms part of our land management policy. All lighting is energy efficient low wattage. There are plans to introduce solar water heaters for the main house and laundry.
Recycling:
Main waste is sorted for glass, paper, plastics and organic waste. All the cottages are supplied with three separate waste containers. All green waste is either used for feeding the chickens or goes towards making compost for the farm on the heap or through our worms.
Washing and cleaning materials are both bio-degradable and locally manufactured.
Water conservation:
All accommodation is supplied from rainwater harvesting that is carried out on the farm. Showers have been fitted with water efficient shower heads and guests as well as staff are encouraged to think about their water use.
Organic Fruit production:
At present 6 hectares of pasture land has been taken out of production while fertility and biodiversity is being restored with a sequence of green manure crops for the purpose of establishing organic fruit plantations in 2012. We will enter the process of becoming a certified organic farm.
Community
The farm has its own seasonal organic vegetable and herb garden, this helps prevent wastage of food and is convenient for guests. In season fresh eggs and beef are available as is honey from hives managed from the farm. Nearby shops between 2 and 4 Km from the farm stock a variety of local produce, including milk, beef, pork and vegetables from neighbouring farms. Every Saturday morning in Sedgefield is a farmer’s market where guests can purchase a wide variety of fresh local produce from the wider region.
We actively support both financially and with materials two local initiatives. One is a local neighbourhood watch scheme that has been initiated by community members from the nearby village. Second is a local sports club that encourages and trains young people in cycling and cricket. Local children who cannot afford bicycles or sporting equipment are given the opportunity to ‘get out’ and enjoy the countryside or to train with a team that now has its own cricket field and plays at least two competitive matches a week in the summer.
The farm is also the home of the Umthombo Trust, which it supports as part of its CSR programme. In the past it has helped a number of young people from Eastern Cape to discover their interests in life and through a number of programmes has helped build their self-confidence together with technical and business skills so enabling them to either start up their own small business or enter the formal labour market.More lately the farm and the Trust has helped sponsor the research and feasibility study for a rural agricultural management training centre in the Mara Region of Tanzania.
Presently the Umthombo Trust is starting up “after school activities” in the local village Rheenendal in cooperation with the school. Both the farm and the trust are also exploring new opportunities to help develop small-scale business opportunities for young people in the immediate vicinity, possibilities include the coppicing of black wattle to be used for the construction of garden furniture, hedging and ornaments and the local production of charcoal utilising non indigenous tree species.
We are also an active member of the local Fire protection Association.
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