We need better knowing, not more knowledge The modern focus on scientific and intellectual farming approaches has significantly advanced food production. Innovations such as fertilisers and machinery have enabled food production to keep pace with a booming population, and advancements in the preservation of food results in access to a greater variety of food all over the world. However, in …
Hendrik Odendaal, a commercial farmer in Standerton, Mpumalanga, is on the road to more regenerative farming methods. His main crops are maize and soybeans. We recently got the chance to chat with Hendrik about his regenerative farming journey. Hendrik started farming in 2005 using conventional agricultural practices. Without even knowing it was a regenerative practice at the time, he started …
These three awe-inspiring soil health documentaries on Netflix showcase the current state of our planet, but also provide us with the simple solutions we need to change our future. 1. Kiss the Ground Produced in 2020, this full-length documentary speaks about the healing power of soil. It argues that the soil’s capacity to sequester carbon could be the key to …
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup®. This product enjoys widespread usage on core food crops. Genetically engineered corn, soy, canola, cotton, alfalfa and other crops are “Roundup®-Ready”, which means that they aren’t killed by the herbicide. It doesn’t, however, mean that they are completely safe, nor completely healthy. Let’s first talk about the effect of glyphosate on plants. Experiments …
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? …