Acknowledgements
This section of our website is dedicated to publishing articles/content of agricultural significance and we trust that our readers will indeed enjoy the benefit of the content.
ARTICLE No. 1
We wish to acknowledge the Writer of our first publication, following hereinafter, namely, Carol Posthumus, with courtesy of the S.A.I.I. (South African Irrigation Institute, Vol. 5, Issue 1, for the period October/November 2012. Hereinafter follows our very first article and it will feature for the entire month of January 2013 for your reading and reference!
"We thought of keeping this article available for the month of January 2013, but is was so well received with a great many responses from far and wide, even as far afield as Northern America! ...and as such we decided to keep it as the main article for as long as we receive responses from interested parties."
We wish to acknowledge the Writer of our first publication, following hereinafter, namely, Carol Posthumus, with courtesy of the S.A.I.I. (South African Irrigation Institute, Vol. 5, Issue 1, for the period October/November 2012. Hereinafter follows our very first article and it will feature for the entire month of January 2013 for your reading and reference!
"We thought of keeping this article available for the month of January 2013, but is was so well received with a great many responses from far and wide, even as far afield as Northern America! ...and as such we decided to keep it as the main article for as long as we receive responses from interested parties."
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This Is Our Tribute To ZZ2 Farming
The Management of QSG-Consult International selected this particular publication to be our first article in the range of articles on agriculture that will follow in the coming months - agricultural achievements of great significance and success ...... a tribute to our farmers who are not afraid to challenge the unknown.
Since the Management of ZZ2 Farming decided to 'tackle' the challenge of farming with nature, about 10-years ago, they have never looked back or regretted their decision. In actual fact, judging by the results, they have come on in leaps and bounds and today is enjoying the benefits of a healthy and highly productive farming operation. Reading through this short article it is quite clear that the management is well aware of the challenges they still would have to face going forward, but by their excitement and enthusiasm it is quite clear that they relish the challenge and is looking forward to accomplish even greater successes along the way. Looking in from the outside, we as fellow South Africans are very proud of their achievements with the "Natuurboerdery" concept, proud to know that they are very successful, and even more proud to know that they are paving the way for others to follow, not to mention the fact that the heirs to this operation will also enjoy the benefits of farming with a vision and a mission! |
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ZZ2's NATURE FARMING SUCCESS - ('NATUURBOERDERY')
'Natuurboerdery' is a unique ZZ2 developed sustainable farming methodology, infusing every aspect of the operation. "NATURE TEACHES US TO BE ADAPTABLE" Large-scale composting and compost tea producing centres - which significantly replenish and regenerate the soil - to activities such as the inclusion of green belts on field boundaries and the involvement of local communities in removing alien vegetation are all part of ZZ2 'Natuurboerdery'. Utilising fermented plant extracts is yet a further well-known aspect of 'Natuurboerdery'. The extracts from plants - such as Garlic and even Lantana Camara (a well-known invader plant) are fermented for use on the farm. The Lantana remedy is receiving a lot of attention from fellow farmers seeking it as a possible remedy for Nematodes. ZZ2 is truly dedicated and focused on 'Natuurboerdery' which results in a range of great benefits including: - Long term improvement and stabilisation of the soils' 'health' - Exceptional yield and high productivity - Excellent produce quality - Human health enhancement, i.e. i) Intrinsic value of the fruit ii) Residual management iii) Safe working environment for labourers - Cultural practices leading to ecological balance |
Not surprisingly, 'Natuurboerdery' has become of significant interest to academics (many local and international studies - the latter by Cornell University - have been conducted related to the concept and practices of 'Natuurboerdery'). Environmentally-conscious South Africans are also expressing interest in visiting 'Natuurboerdery' after the farming enterprise featured on the local TV Show "50-50". Renowned entomologist, Professor Eric Holm, is a board member of ZZ2 and dynamically defines the 'Natuurboerdery' way of farming thus: "In essence 'Natuurboerdery' works in conjunction with the forces and energies of Nature itself, thus is truly intelligent farming." Soils and Open Systems The group is inspired about enhancing the soil. Improving soil health, which was in a worrying state pre-'Natuurboerdery', was one of the catalysts for the 'Natuurboerdery' initiative. ZZ2 'Natuurboerdery' production manager and agronomist, Bertus Venter, sports "Gesonde Grond is in ons Bloed" (Healthy Soil is in our Blood) logo on his corporate jacket. A focus on soils health and produce health are two stated key priorities for ZZ2. S.A.I.I. magazine representative recently met with ZZ2's Professor Eric Holm, Bertus Venter, Clive Garrett and Stephanus Malherbe at their Mooketsi operation where the Group expanded on the ZZ2 'Natuurboerdery' concept. They reiterate that the transformation to 'Natuurboerdery' has resulted in a multitude of powerful benefits in sustainability - these include the economic, environmental and social areas of the farming operation. |
A B C D E F
(We apologise for the poor quality images but it was not possible to obtain the originals)
A - Bertus Venter, ZZ2 Production Manager and Agronomist
B - Compost Turner at work
C - Healthy compost - tomato waste is also recycled to add to the composting process
D - Composting in a "big way"
E - Making compost tea at ZZ2
F - New stay wires to be wound on to the tomato vine trellises every day
(We apologise for the poor quality images but it was not possible to obtain the originals)
A - Bertus Venter, ZZ2 Production Manager and Agronomist
B - Compost Turner at work
C - Healthy compost - tomato waste is also recycled to add to the composting process
D - Composting in a "big way"
E - Making compost tea at ZZ2
F - New stay wires to be wound on to the tomato vine trellises every day
INTENSIVE
Conventional farming is a style of production that came about during the industrial revolution. It is an unsustainable way of farming, wherein soils and a lot of other composites are eventually depleted. 'Natuurboerdery' is an open system that operates on demand, supply and balance. Like Nature it does not work from the "top down".
Notably, Prof. Holm reflects that 'Natuurboerdery' is not a simplistic approach and soils and plants are highly adaptive systems. Importantly, the term 'Natuurboerdery' (directly translated as Nature Farming) is not organic farming. The enterprise does utilise world class science and technology where necessary and it is farming on a large commercial scale. 'Natuurboerdery' does not sacrifice advances in technology and science, but rather incorporate technologies where apt. COMPOST TEA With the practises of 'Natuurboerdery' the group reduced its environmental impact. Says Holm: "Natuurboerdery is a system that works, and we have been rated as amongst the best in the world. We conform to international standards such as Global Gap." The team keeps a keen eye on monitoring factors such as earthworms in the soils and also have noted the return of populations of frogs, increasing numbers of bees and wildlife. "Nature is visibly functioning well and birds, bullfrogs and guinea fowl are back," says Venter. He confirms that vegetable farming is a wonderful enterprise, the pace and activity involved is terrific. Indeed, the ZZ2 teams are incredibly busy, they thrive on it and they love their business of farming under these conditions. SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION "The local communities are able to use the wood for firewood from the invasive vegetation eradication initiative. We try and involve our neighbouring communities wherever we can. For instance, the manure we source for our compost is derived from local villagers' cattle and is a sustainable enterprise in itself for our local community," says marketing manager Clive Garrett. Notably, Professor Holm says that while "nothing is ever perfect", with 'Natuurboerdery' they have enjoyed several wins all-round and that makes them very happy! 'Natuurboerdery' aims to improve their enterprise in the economic, environmental and social arenas - in other words, its sustainability in action. "It is not useful for a farming enterprise to be a winner in the economic and environmental arenas while being a loser in the social arena. We strive to make progress in all that we can." DRIP IRRIGATION ZZ2 'Natuurboerdery' strives to incorporate world class technologies such as IT and mechanical technologies on the farm, and as such ZZ2 has its own fully equipped onsite laboratory in Mooketsi, under management by Stephanus Malherbe. ZZ2 was one of the first producers to explore drip irrigation, and today all tomato are grown under drip irrigation on their farms. "Water is an important resource for us, and it can be the most limiting factor if it is not properly managed and care exercised, and we exercise the utmost care with our water resources. Of course, ZZ2's vital focus on the soils also assists in ensuring improved use of water, as healthy soil further enhances water retention," says Holm. SCHEDULING IS IMPORTANT Venter elaborates that they place much emphasis on scientific and state-of-the-art practises in irrigation. They put a lot of effort into weather and micro climate information analysis. The are a number of weather stations on their farms gathering climatic data. "We practise irrigation scheduling, and use scientific as well as practical methodologies to monitor the efficiencies and effectiveness of our irrigation practises. We manually do soil profiling in the fields once a week and we are fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge available to us in that we have decades of weather data and excellent climatic information at our fingertips." |
Composting And Compost Tea
ZZ2's compost operation is a major part of 'Natuurboerdery'. They are proud of their compost and compost tea producing centre for good reason. From the years of using compost, says Venter, they have built up substantial knowledge in the "art" and science of composting. They are proud of their knowledge concerning composting, which for them has become a passion which they have acquired on the basis of the best advice acquired from the USA and Israel. and then developed it further from there.
Their achievements were very clear when S.A.I.I. magazine visited their enormous composting area - it is indeed very impressive! Compost production for crop cultivation was initiated by 'Natuurboerdery' 7-years ago. During our visit we saw the massive compost-turning machine working away, ensuring the compost is well turned. A striking artwork of the massive compost turner implement, painted by Tommie Van Zyl's two daughters when they were little, is on display in the farm's management offices. Replenishing And Restoring Compost Venter elaborates further: "The compost, in essence, replenishes and improves the soil. It is a vital part of being good stewards of the soil on our farms. We have become rather skilled in our compost production process - we are proud that we are capable of enhancing and "built-in" qualities that are much needed for soil enhancement." Compost Tea saves on fertilisers and has many benefits for the crops and soil health. The compost is brewed into a liquid compost tea, which is then applied on the farm lands via the irrigation system. The making of compost tea has its own dedicated plant on each farm and there are 7-farms in total. There is also a brewery type plant for the fermentation of plant extracts (FPE's) on the farm, which is managed by Venter. The brewery was smelling and has an aroma of Garlic and Aromatic Herbs. A huge amount of Garlic is crushed here every day in an industrial sized crusher for the fermented plant extracts. Various herbs and plants are enthusiastically cultivated and explored for their use in 'Natuurboerdery'. We also visited a massive "herbs garden" where many different types of herbs are being cultivated for use in terms of the farming production concept, from Basil to Garlic and more. A fascinating project here at 'Natuurboerdery' relates the utilisation of fermented Lantana Camara plant extract to combat the root knot nematodes. The Lantana is a well-known invader species but is proving to be an effective panacea for getting rid of nematodes. Already several farmers purchase the fermented Lantana extracts from 'Natuurboerdery'. When visiting the tomato fields the 'Natuurboerdery' concept and philosophy were quite apparent. The first plant in every row of tomato vines is a Brinjal plant. Interestingly, the Brinjal - a species close to the tomato family - acts as an early indicator of diseases and pests that may affect the tomatoes. The Brinjal is susceptible to disease and pests at an early stage and as such providing early warning to the farmer who will then implement immediate preventative measures to protect the tomatoes. On a tour of the lush tomato fields, a demarcated smaller patch of land planted to tomatoes was pointed out as the "neutral zone" where tomatoes are left to grow completely naturally, and as such is closely monitored and observed for trends and development responses as the tomatoes develop to maturity within the patch. LOOKING AHEAD Overall it is a fascinating and heartening (particularly if one eats tomatoes every day like many of us do) to see ZZ2 in action. The sheer scale of the entire operation is huge and impressive - and ZZ2 say it is difficult to predict the next ten years, but they have developed several plans to phase in in order to enhance their entire operation. "What we know is, that from our first ten years of farming cooperatively and sustainably with Nature, is that we understand that we are also going to be continually adapting. We do not know, to the full extent that is, what will transpire from following the same operational concept and methodologies in working with Nature as we see it. After all, Nature teaches us to be adaptable whilst going about our business on a sustainable basis," says Holm with a smile. He said that ZZ2 is continually busy with researching further plant species for remedial purposes and is also expanding their focus in other areas which may enhance sustainability on our Planet and as such contribute to reducing the carbon footprint. |
A B C D E F
A - "Mega" sized Herb garden
B - Lantana fermented plant extract - effective against nematodes
C - The ZZ2 fermented plant extract centre resembling a brewery
D - Ripening tomatoes
E - Crushing Garlic for the fermented plant extracting process
F - Brinjal plants are companion plants for tomatoes
NOTE -
Should you have any queries and/or require more information about this article, please feel free to contact us by e-mail: ceo@quality-smart-group.com
This article will remain indefinitely since it was exceptionally well received by our readers! - we shall endeavour to keep agricultural articles/publications of note available for as long as possible to serve as items of reference.
A - "Mega" sized Herb garden
B - Lantana fermented plant extract - effective against nematodes
C - The ZZ2 fermented plant extract centre resembling a brewery
D - Ripening tomatoes
E - Crushing Garlic for the fermented plant extracting process
F - Brinjal plants are companion plants for tomatoes
NOTE -
Should you have any queries and/or require more information about this article, please feel free to contact us by e-mail: ceo@quality-smart-group.com
This article will remain indefinitely since it was exceptionally well received by our readers! - we shall endeavour to keep agricultural articles/publications of note available for as long as possible to serve as items of reference.