Straw bale planting is an option for those with limited space, difficult ground or bad backs. Straw is the dry plant material or stalk left […]
Category: LATEST POSTS
Marking or Branding Livestock: The Ins and Outs
Marking or branding livestock is a legal requirement, even for smallholders. First, you must register your identification number. Click here to read how to do […]
Choose Your Chicken: Bantams
Anyone who has kept bantam chickens will tell you that they are the most delightful, colourful and captivating characters. A bantam is a small variety […]
It’s the Winter Solstice!
Today is the Winter Solstice in the southern hemisphere. Can you remember your Gr 4/Std 2 geography class when you learnt about solstices? You were […]
How to Make Lemon Jelly
Lemon jelly/jam: A good way to use up your lemon harvest this winter. Chop up 12 lemons and take out the pips. (These can be […]
Combating Desertification: A Smallholder’s Responsibility
Combating desertification is important for smallholders, who are often guilty of poor veld and soil management. Desertification is a process by which fertile land in a […]
Transporting Sheep and Goats
Anyone selling or buying livestock needs to give some thought to transporting sheep and goats. Sheep should be handled gently and firmly. Never pull small […]
Choose Your Chicken: Boschveld
The Boschveld Chicken was developed by Mike Bosch by crossing three indigenous southern African chicken breeds. Because of this they are able to handle anything […]
Clear the Verges to Prevent Fire
Some summer rainfall provinces had good rains this year, which has led to higher-than-usual grass growing on road verges and in fields, particularly if local […]
Establishing a Grazing Agreement
Some smallholders are fortunate enough to have more land than they need for their own uses. So they might consider leasing out some of their […]