Welcome. We are a tree hugging, home schooling, family of five, trying to make the best use of our small farm on the
outskirts of East London, South Africa. Some elements of our homestead include:
ABOUT US
We have an awesome, off-grid
guest house, which sleeps 2 upstairs on the mezzanine and another downstairs on the sleeper couch.
Great views, a full kitchen, braai area and a rocking compost toilet. More...
We run a Homesteading Intern and discipleship programme.
Two participants, 9 months, tons of learning, hard work, good food and fun. More...
Accommodation
Internship
What keeps us out of mischief?
We are able to assist in designing holistic, integrated, off-grid systems to make your homestead or community centre etc. a functional and productive environment. Incorporating permaculture, regenerative agriculture, experience and a bunch of common sense.
Compost toilet specialists.
Off-grid consulting
Homesteading Courses
We run 1 day, small farm, self-sufficiency courses every 3 or 4 months.
R750pp (lunch incl)
Drop us a mail to find out more.
- 100% off-grid, no municipal services
- PV Solar system & Solar geysers
- Rain water harvesting
- Compost toilets
- Regenerative agriculture
- High density, strip grazing, mobile camp method
- Cows, sheep, chickens, meat rabbits & pigs
- Livestock guardian dog
- Worm farm and composts
- Bee hives
- Recycling
- Food forest
- Market garden
- Raised bed kitchen garden
- Indigenous forest
- Apex grassland
- Seedling & indigenous tree nursery
- Antique wood fired & solar ovens
Check out our short video on Youtube.
Subscribe for new content that is in the pipeline...
Heartwood Homestead,
sustainable living in South Africa.
See link
This beautiful timber-frame home was completed in 2019 and was based on the "tiny house" principal of less is more. With attention to detail and creative expression, this comfortable space is completely off-grid, as is the rest of the property.
The guest house boasts our awesome dry compost toilet system, solar electricity and rain water. Much of the furnishings utilised reclaimed timber, the yellow wood and Oregon close to 100 years old.
Nestled on the edge of the forest, it overlooks the Gonubie River Valley.
Being surrounded by nature, you can expect to see numerous birds, animals and insects.
It can sleep 3 people, with a double bed on the mezzanine and a single sleeper couch in the living room. It also has a fully equipped kitchen (sans an oven) and a braai area.
You can harvest your own fresh veg, planted around the cottage or help out with the animals. Join Karen as she hand- milks our small herd or give Tess a hand feeding the rabbits.
A short but steep trail cut through the indigenous forest leads you to the river, where there are several large pools to take a dip.
R690 per night for the whole unit. Check availability and book through; Airbnb, Lekkerslaap, Travelground or Ecobnb.
ACCOMMODATION
INTERNSHIP
In March 2021 we embarked on an exciting new pilot programme.
A 9 month long Holistic Homesteading Intern and discipleship training programme.
Two participants from surrounding villages were accommodated on the farm for the duration of the course.
The program is broken up into three parts;
The first 3 months will be filled with intense practical hands-on and theoretical learning and the next 3 are embedding that knowledge. The last 3 month are occupied with sharing what they have learned with others. The interns run workshops at local high schools in the area. This expands the influence of the program and benefits many more people than just the two interns.
Topics covered in the programme will include
- Large livestock management
Cows, sheep, pigs
- Small livestock management
Chickens and rabbits
- Bee keeping
- Fruit and veg production
- Processing produce
Canning jams and preserves, cheese, yogurt, etc
- Administration, budgeting and basic accounting
- Environmental aspects
Solar, rain water harvesting, grey water use, composting, etc
- Character development
Alpha course, morality and ethics, worldview studies
The internship is being run in partnership with Sihamba Sonke, an NGO based in Zithulele Village in the former Transkei, with very similar goals and principals.
The programme costs a packet to run, so if you would like to assist financially, we will happily relieve you of your hard earned cash.
We are able to offer tax certificates from both SA and the US.
