  |
|
 |
Organic farming, according to Annemarie and Sholto Kroon, is a natural extension of holistic management.
With its balanced approach that takes every side of farming into account, Klipdrift’s operation extended naturally to lavender-growing.
"With agriculture in the doldrums, we were forced to look at our options," recalls Sholto. "Annemarie needed her own business and we realised it was important to have her enterprise here on the farm. Research showed us that lavender thrives in this place.
"Slotting in perfectly with the farm’s principles of holistic management, the new lavender business became "another leg of the financial pot".
"It is not difficult for us to farm organic lavender," say the farmers, "it is our mission to find alternative routes.
"Farming lavender organically means that no chemicals – nor inorganic products of any sort – are used. Organic chicken litter is applied as fertiliser and all naturally-occurring plants are left between the rows of planted lavender. "When we prepare to plant, we rip just the row we need," Sholto explains. "Between the rows,
all existing plant material remains and we use Karoo Bush (Pentzia incana) as mulch.
"Practices like this help the continual battle against bare soil by binding it, and preventing evaporation of precious water.
To fix nitrogen in the soil, Annemarie plants legumes between the lavender bushes. And she hopes for electric storms so that lightning can do the same thing.
Also visible between the Kroon’s rows of lavender are the white stones of natural lime deposits. This mineral, which occurs in the Karoo naturally and abundantly, provides lavender with the alkaline soil it needs to truly flourish. "A well-known lavender farmer from the KwaZulu-Natal midlands came to see our operation," recalls Annemarie. "He was aghast at the quantity of limestone in our soil – and we don’t have to pay for any of it!"
|
|
|
