A choking blanket of smoke, thousands of dead fish and marine creatures washing up on the shores North of Durban—these are just some of the visible impacts after firefighters attempted to put out a blaze at agrochemical giant UPL. The facility was set alight on 12 July during civil unrest, and residents, wetlands, rivers and beaches have paid the price. …
Modern industrial agriculture heavily depletes soil nutrient resources, including potassium (K). This declining soil fertility is the main cause of year-to-year variability of harvested yields. If we are to farm sustainably and produce food for future generations, we need to improve potassium management and potassium availability in soil. So, how do you fix potassium deficiency in plants and soil? In …
When it comes to growing your winter garden in South Africa, TLC is key! For your organic garden to thrive, you need to support the health of the whole system with time, love, care and patience. Is anyone else starting to feel a little chill in the air? Autumn is officially here, winter is coming, and it’s time to make …
By this time, your organic home garden is well on its way to filling your fridge with nutritious, healthy produce. But, what about the other critters and creatures that also want in? In this article, we’ll focus on the best methods of organic pest control for South African gardens. If you missed the previous Parts, we suggest catching up now: …
You’ve chosen a spot, prepped your soil, and now it’s time for the exciting part – deciding what to plant! If you missed Part 1 and Part 2, we suggest reading them now before moving on to Part 3: Read Part 1: Choosing the right location Read Part 2: Prepping the soil With the chilly weather fully upon us, we’ll …
“When building soil you not only improve your plants’ health, but you can also improve your own.” Welcome to Part 2 of “The Ultimate Guide to Growing in your Garden”. In this article, we’ve moved onto the next step in creating your home garden – preparing the soil. Miss Part 1? Read it now. Why is soil prep so important? …
The healthiest food is food grown organically in your own garden. In South Africa (more so than in European nations, for example), many people have access to a garden. Yet, despite worldwide concerns over food safety and food security, not many people are growing their own food. If you are one of them, this blog series is for you! Why …
Around the world, conventional products and chemicals intended to guard crops against disease, weed pressure and pests are increasingly falling out of favour due to the negative impacts they have on the natural environment, and even human health. So, what’s the alternative? Along with a focus on soil health and regenerative farming tactics, manufacturers and research institutions are working on …
We are what we eat, but so is our planet! According to a study published in Nature Food, our food system accounts for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. But with every meal you eat, you have the opportunity to make a climate-friendly decision and reduce your carbon footprint. In this blog post, we highlight 6 simple ways that …
In this article: Why are bees under threat? Why should we care about bee populations? Reducing the risk to pollinators and South African honey What about ‘fake honey’ in South Africa? What is adulterated honey? What is irradiated honey? The trouble with honey testing The problem with honey adulteration How to spot fake honey How to avoid buying adulterated honey …