Life Is Sacred

An extensive alien clear-out campaign was started several years ago and the battle continues unabated. At times up to forty people are employed to clear the area along the stream that runs through the farm. At the same time we developed a strategy for the planting of 27 kinds of indigenous trees, mostly types that grew here before, as well as a few other interesting South African species.
 
We have found that these water-wise trees, which flower at varying times, each attracts another species of bird and that bird- and wildlife has increased. Today our thriving ecosystem has lots of buck, wild cats, rabbits, hawks, owls and eagles. We have even gone to the extent of planting tall poles in the vineyards and orchards for the predator birds, so that they can control the mice and rat populations. One of our wines, The Owl House Cabernet Sauvignon, is named for this practice.

In areas where the flora has been allowed to reestablish itself, the natural healing process can be observed in the way pioneer plants are making their appearance to prepare the veld for established species, like proteas.

We are using six indigenous species as cover crops in our vineyards. They are the grey-leaved, aromatic kooigoed (Helichrysum sp.); a pioneer species with grey-green leaves called kouterbos (Athanasia trifurcate); the  aromatic-leaved wild sage (Salvia chamleagna); a wild, aromatic rosemary called kapokbos (Eriocephalus africanus) and three nitrogen-fixing varieties, namely Lotonis /Lessertia sp., with yellow pea flowers and grey leaves, Sutherlandia frutescence and Orholobium decumbems.   
 
These plants were encouraged to multiply and establish themselves. We collect seed from the surrounding area and reseed areas with species selected for their hardiness, ability to grow in very rocky soils, scent and flowers to attract natural predators, low water needs, ability to survive mowing and ability to enrich the soil with nitrogen.