Resources for Regenerative Agriculture in South Africa
Farming that requires deep knowledge of the soil and surrounding ecosystem.
Today is a guest post from Kelly of Mountainfolk farm. I’m so grateful for the detailed information shared here, and hope it serves as a resource for the changing landscape of farming in South Africa.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative Agriculture is a way of farming and growing food that is based on a set of principles - the specific actions that these principles dictate can be adjusted to suit the climate and context of the individual and their land.
It is a way of farming that requires deep knowledge of the soil and surrounding ecosystem, as well as stringent observation.
The Principles of Regenerative Ag:
Pay attention to context
Minimise Soil Disturbance
Enhance Crop Diversity
Keep Soil Covered
Maintain Living Roots
Integrate Animals/Livestock
The first principle is sometimes not used - but I think it is the most important one. It is imperative to look at the land, weather patterns, soil, your needs and wants and the needs of your community before deciding on which farm operations to choose and how to go about regenerating your land and farm.
Regenerative Agriculture is different from Commercial Agriculture in so many ways, but the most glaring ones being that commercial ag forces the environment to comply with the farmer (often using chemical and extermination techniques) while regen ag suits the farming choices to the environment, Commercial Ag depletes the soil, the ecosystem AND THE FARMER while Regen ag aims to build up all of those.
Regenerative Agriculture can fit under the term ‘Agroecology’ and vice versa. Regen is not always organic - but it should be. Regenerative Agriculture is sometimes linked with Conservation Agriculture - which is okay, except that Conservation Agriculture has become a wishy-washy term.
In order for the term Regenerative to not become diluted - we must all educate ourselves on what it really means, which questions to ask and what to look for. This is especially important for consumers.
It takes immense courage for farmers to change their practices with peer, financial and market pressure - so the brave Regenerative farmers deserve our financial support 100 times over! One of the most important things we can do in our daily lives is to direct our money towards local Regenerative, Organic and Agroecological farms.
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Convert The Dirt - great compost as well as fantastic MacNut, Sugarcane and Coffee farming projects:
Where we buy organic inputs to ensure adequate minerals: Talborne, Regenz
A few South African Regenerative Farmers to check out
Lowerland Farm, Prieska - wheat and flour, beef, pork, chicken eggs, corn and mielie meal, pecan nuts, pumpkins, wine
Favour Farm, Groot Brak - various vegetables, eggs, chicken, beef
Reyneke, WC - Wine
Boschendal, WC - Wine, meats, bread, deli items
Heart & Soil, Cape Town - community regeneration, courses, veg, breads, eggs
Dalewood Fromage, Klapmuts - cheese
Farmer Angus at Spier Wine Farm, WC - beef and beef products, eggs, pork, wine
Hartenberg Wine Estate, WC - wine
Boschrivier Farm, Plett - Not sure if they sell any products
Bramleigh Farm, KZN - chicken, eggs, pork, beef
Vanderfax Farm, WC - flowers
Mountain Folk Farm, KZN - flowers, sheep dairy, eggs
As conscious consumers, growers and farmers in South Africa - we must be aware that companies like Bayer seek to take over the term ‘Regenerative’ for their own use. I, and most other Regenerative farmers, believe that pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilisers produced by companies like Bayer and Monsanto are inherently not regenerative as they degrade soil and ecosystems.
Public awareness about what Regenerative Agriculture really means is imperative if we are going to hold on to this term and keep it meaningful!
It is important that we educate ourselves and others, and that we know our farmers and ask the big questions when buying food.
Questions like:
Is this organic?
Are you certified (third party or PGS)?
What makes your farm regenerative?
How do you manage pests and diseases?
Do you allow farm visits?
If a farmer or retailer does not want to answer questions - that is a big red flag!
Let’s regenerate our hope for the future together!
Regenerative Agriculture Movies and videos
For a wonderful movie-series with equal parts science and humanity: I HIGHLY recommend hiring Roots So Deep. It is affordable and really worth it. Read more and rent it here: https://rootssodeep.org/
Three popular and good cinematic movies: Kiss The Ground on Netflix, Common Ground and Groundswell on Amazon Prime
TED Talk by our own local Prof. James Blignaut
Here’s a video featuring well-known Regenerative Farmer Will Harris, who tells the story of his transition from Commercial beef farmer to Regenerative - includes land and community regeneration:
Jonathan Lundgren of Ecdysis Foundation speaks about the widely accepted Regen Ag principles in this video.
TED Talk by well-known Gabe Brown
TED Talk by Dr. Allen Williams (UnderstandingAg) on Soil
This YouTube channel, created by the same people that made Roots So Deep, features lots of shorter videos with various regen stories
YouTube channel of Richard Perkins: Permaculture and Regen Market Gardener with cattle, sheep, turkeys, chickens
Another YouTube Channel - Sequatchie Cove Farm is a diverse, regenerative farm. You’ll see they’ve created their own set of Regenerative Principles.
Regenerative Flower Farming - Blossom and Branch Farm
Regenerative Agriculture Podcasts
My favourite podcast is called Regenerative Agriculture Podcast by John Kempf - lots of deep dives with amazingly knowledgeable people - find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
The Peter Byck Show (the maker of Roots So Deep) - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube
Regenerative Agriculture Articles
A system to define and validate regen farming by Jonathan Lundgren of Ecdysis
Article and Video on the Plant Health Pyramid - SUPER IMPORTANT to move away from the “spray this for that pest/disease” mindset:
Regenerative Rangeland Management Improves Honey Bee Health and Productivity - Jonathan Lundgren
Regenerative Management Increases the Efficacy of Dung Arthropod Communities - Jonathan Lundgren
AMP Pasture Management Increases Arthropod Community Guild Diversity Without Increasing Pests - Ryan Schmid
Regenerative Almond Production Systems Improve Soil Health, Biodiversity, Profit - Jonathan Lundgren
Finck Foundation 3000HA Living Regen Lab Website with lots of articles
Free Downloadable Guides and Resources
Courses
Paid Regenerative Farming Courses:
https://kisstheground.mykajabi.com/ (various scholarships available)
https://regenerativeagricultureonlinecourse.com/ (annual scholarship and part scholarships available)
https://blossomandbranchfarm.teachable.com/l/products?sortKey=name&sortDirection=asc&page=1
Regenerative Agriculture Books
Will Harris - A Bold Return to Giving A Damn
Gabe Brown - Dirt to Soil
Alan Savory - Holistic Management
Richard Perkins - Regenerative Agriculture: A Practical Whole Systems Guide to Making Small Farms Work
David R Montgomery - Growing a Revolution
Vandana Shiva - Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture
Briana Bosch - The Regenerative Gardener’s Handbook
PA Yeomans - Water for Every Farm
Thank you so much to Kelly for this resource! We dream with you of financially sustainable, beautiful farms dotted across South Africa, and far beyond.
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