Did you know we are in Little Jerusalem? That is how Bartel du Toit, of La Plume Farm and Boutique Guest House, begins our conversation. “Yes,” comes the reply, “on account of the many Jewish people in the early ostrich feather trade.”
“Yes,” he says, “but also because, like Jerusalem, we are surrounded by four mountains: the Kammanassie, Outeniqua, Swartberg and Rooiberg.”
The original Du Toits were Huguenots who first came to Franschhoek, but four generations of Bartel’s family have lived and farmed in Oudtshoorn. “My father had 60ha wine grapes and produced 1 000t of grapes annually. Today, there are no vineyards left in this area. This is a direct result of climate change,” he says.
Bartel’s father was instrumental in the building of the Kammanassie Dam and pipeline to the Volmoed area. “Everything comes down to rain. Without water you can’t do anything. Rain is a blessing from heaven. Here, look at the gooseflesh on my arm,” he says. Indeed, as he meets with Farmer’s Weekly, it is raining. “In the past seven and a half years we recorded 26ml of rain. Yesterday we had 3ml,” he says, referring to the 88-months-long drought that ended in December 2022.
Karin du Toit, Bartel’s wife and business partner, hails from the nearby Spies family of Schoemanshoek.
“We started with two rooms in 1998,” she says, explaining that it was when times were tough and, with a young family, they looked at ways to increase their income. “We built most of it ourselves, and for the first 12 years I cooked and Bartel braaied every night for guests,” she recalls.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 15 September 2023 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 15 September 2023 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Review: the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 DC 4×4 GR-Sport III
The third iteration of the Hilux GR-Sport has finally achieved a sense of presence and style befitting its raceinspired branding. But is this the ultimate modern Hilux? Car Magazine takes a closer look.
Why maize prices soar in Kenya and Malawi but not Tanzania
Namhla Landani, an economist at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, and Arthur Khomotso Mahuma, economist and researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, analyse the issue.
Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming
Wet carcass syndrome continues to take a huge financial toll on South African sheep farmers. Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to two experts about the ongoing genetic research aimed at addressing this issue.
Pollination innovation
Bee-Tech Group is transforming South African agriculture with pollination technologies that boost crop yields and enhance sustainability. Founder Michiel Bruggeman spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel.
The valuable addition that makes this farm tick
Owning the value chain provides farmers with far more control over their produce. However, it requires a fine balance between production and ensuring there is a strong and steady market. Lindi Botha visited Rosemary Hill to find out how this essential oil producer leverages hospitality to make the farm viable.
The benefits of recirculating aquaculture systems
A powerful set of attributes has established recirculating aquaculture systems as a cornerstone of global temperate fish farming, writes Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions.
Minister has big plans for emerging and commercial farmers
DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his priorities for his department over the next five years, including an increased focus on biosecurity.
New study aims to make wheat more disease resistant
A recent international study explains how bread wheat has helped to transform the ancient world on its path to becoming the iconic crop that today helps sustain a global population of eight billion.
Conservation farming and biodiversity boost soil health and sustainability
A recent academic event focused on research into the links between soil biodiversity, soil health and sustainable agriculture
What has led to the unparalleled rice shortage in Japan?
Japan is facing a rice shortage amid concerns about a potential 'megaquake', several typhoons and an annual week-long holiday, which has led to an increase in panic buying.