Midlands farmers pioneer an organic trail
The KZN Midlands is a fertile region well suited to pioneering organic farming.
Paul Duncan and his wife, Shereen, started their permaculture farm called Dovehouse Organics in Howick in 2001.
“More people are demanding environmentally conscious and ethically produced food,” says Duncan. “It is a growing market, with a lot of new suppliers in the area and increasing interest from consumers.”
Duncan sells from his farm shop and at farmers’ markets. He also sells to retailers such as Earthmother Organic in Durban.
His supplies are supplemented by local smallholdings such as Buckan in Thornville and Owl’s Rest near Howick.
Menzi Mkhize has been farming his 6 hectares on Buckan for four years.
“Organic is way better than using fertilisers and pesticides,” he says. “We have no pests and our plants never get eaten by insects, because the soil is so good.
“My family eat the vegetables, eggs and chickens I farm and my butternut, potatoes, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage are sold to both Dovehouse and Earthmother.
“The only problem is that we need a bigger market so that we can expand,” says Mkhize.
These farmers plan to establish a participatory guarantee system (PGS) that will enable them to work together better, support each other and expand their customer base through organic certification.
A PGS relies on transparency, trust, peer review and knowledge sharing. It supports and enhances the practices of organic agriculture. It provides an affordable alternative to expensive third party certification as a selection of people from a community go out to inspect farms. An inspection team can include a local farmer, a retailer and a consumer. The system gives farming communities better access to markets that are not dominated by big business.
Guy Tarboten has farmed organically for four years at Owl’s Rest. “The Midlands is the best place in the country for start-up organics due to its inherent fertility,” he says. “We have incredible soil here.”
For organic farmers, soil fertility is a key ingredient to growing nutritious food. They don’t use chemicals that degrade soil, instead working with nature to build and maintain soil health.
Owl’s Rest is a mixed use farm where avocados, citrus and asparagus are among fruit and vegetables cultivated.
About 2ha are under cut flower production and the chickens and cattle are part of the work force.
“Our chickens mine the soil for the first two years, before we plant, and our cattle are compost-making machines,” says Tarboten.
“Organic farming gets better and easier every year, whereas conventional farming stays static. We have fewer diseases and use less water as the soil improves. Organic farming is really about farming the soil – a form of conservation.
“We are creating a food bank for future generations. Organic farming is incredibly productive with high yields and adds value to your land.”