An abundant “farmers’ market”
Within six years of starting a new garden based on permaculture principles on a farm in the Free State, Dorothée Dehon has created a bountiful source of fresh organic vegetables and fruit. She tells Maja Palm how this came about.
She was a city person through and through, Dorothée says. “I grew up in Brussels, Belgium, and my husband, Damien, and I were living in a small town near the city. We were feeling more and more uncomfortable because we knew nothing about the food we were buying: Where did it come from? How was it produced?”
They started a small vegetable garden in their back yard – humble beginnings that would eventually lead to something much bigger in a country far from Belgium.
“My brother-in-law, Xavier Huyberechts, has lived in South Africa since 1996. In 2013, he told us he’d bought a farm near Parys in the Free State. A year later, Damien and I and our newborn daughter joined him on Witklipfontein, his game and guest farm. We were ready to start building our dream of a natural, healthy lifestyle.”
The soil, the weather, the insects – everything about the Free State was completely different from what they had been used to. Fortunately, Dorothée says, the local farming community was very helpful and happily shared their knowledge of the grassland, shrubs, trees and wildlife, and how to tend livestock.
“Xavier selected the location for our permaculture vegetable garden: near an existing shed, more or less on level ground, and featuring a large sweet thorn tree [Vachellia karroo, formerly Acacia karroo]. It was fallow land, like the rest of the farm. All we had to do was remove katbos [wild asparagus], an invasive species.”
Dorothée planned the circular layout of the garden with the tree in the centre, and used a length of twine to measure out the concentric beds. When it rains in the Free State with its dry winters, she says, you sometimes get a cloudburst that leads to heavy run-off. Which is why they used logs to raise the beds slightly. In a downpour, the circular design slows down the flow of water, giving the logs and beds a chance to absorb as much as possible of the water.
“The 900 m2 garden is now six years old. On average, we harvest 100 varieties of vegetables here – in spring, summer, autumn and winter – as well as edible flowers, herbs and medicinal plants. I really plant just about every kind of vegetable I can find.
“The vegetable garden is surrounded by a mixed orchard – there are peaches, pomegranates, apples, plums and apricots, as well as berry bushes such as raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries and goji berries. At the moment we are busy establishing an orchard and food forest of a further 900 m2.
“It took four years for the garden to find its rhythm, its balance. The first year was exceptionally easy because we did not have many pests or diseases. But as the vegetable garden grew, good bugs and pests settled in and started to multiply at an unnatural rate. By using the right companion plants and providing enough food and safe shelter for natural predators, we slowly but surely restored the balance. I have learnt that a certain number of pests are necessary, as long as you are able to manage them. After all, you cannot expect to lure ladybirds to your garden if you have eradicated all the aphids.” >
Spring in the garden
In early spring, Dorothée cuts back all the winter crops that no longer produce. This way the roots stay behind to feed all the life forms in the soil. She leaves the greenery that has been cut off on top of the soil and covers it with a think layer of mulch.
“I do as little as possible but as much as is necessary. Because the soil is now rich and soft, I can sow a lot of seeds directly in the ground. I allow plants which prefer specific temperatures, like aubergine, chillies, sweet peppers, pumpkin and large tomatoes, to germinate in a tunnel to protect them against late frost.
“Because my vegetable garden is fenced in, I let our chickens roam freely. They control locusts and other flying insects. Once I’ve cut back the winter crops, I open the garden gate and let the chickens in to scratch and mix up the beds, and to eat any remaining vegetables as well as cutworms and other critters. Chicken manure is a great source of nitrogen.”
Simple pleasures
Aside from the healthy food they harvest, the abundance and variety of life in her garden gladdens her heart, Dorothée says. And all of this is thanks to permaculture principles.
“You know you are doing something right when your garden starts to sound and look like a busy farmers’ market. And I really enjoy the fact that my children eagerly point out to guests which insects are good workers, and which plants attract them.”
Her biggest frustration, Dorothée says, is probably the weather. “There is nothing worse than a mid-summer hailstorm, which destroys an entire harvest just when the garden has reached its production peak. By then it is usually too late to replant tomatoes, aubergines and peppers.”
The fresh produce is shared with the farmworkers, visitors and local township residents. Dorothée also shares her knowledge about permaculture with friends, family, neighbours and guests, and with gardening and permaculture groups on Facebook.
Another joy is the green surprises she finds.“I leave some plants in the ground so they can sow their own seed. To then discover carrots, lettuce and tomatoes shooting up here and there is always a pleasant surprise.”