Wild Olive Guest Farm

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Wild Olive Guest Farm near Stilbaai

Posted to: Reviews and Visitors' Perspectives, The Garden Route

Wild Olive Farm

We're no strangers to Wild Olive Guest Farm. We're one of many who return to this peaceful refuge where a couple of chalets and a cottage lie on the banks of the Goukou River estuary and a wild organic vegetable garden, set in amidst a series of olive groves, is the mainstay of a bustling breakfast and lunch time venue that attracts a constant stream of visitors from Stilbaai …

The main reason people head out here, other than the food, which alone is reason to visit, is Hazel. Hazel is a personality of note. She beams, bustles and constantly expounds about her passion for permaculture. It's rather like being on the set of a Jamie Oliver shoot I would imagine. Like most women, Hazel manages to do two things at once – cooking up a storm whilst holding court. Her voice booms from her rustic, farm-style, organic kitchen as she entertains her guests to the latest in her numerous ventures that include writing a book whilst visibly preparing food just behind the counter.

The light-headedness you'll experience after a couple of sips of home-made ginger beer is not due so much to an 'awakening' – although after chatting to Hazel you will definitely come alive to the benefits of attending one of her permaculture/organic vegetable growing courses – so much as the effects of the mildly fermented drink that has more than a respectable kick to it.

http://blog.sa-venues.com/provinces/garden-route/wild-olive-guest-farm-near-stilbaai/

baysider.com

http://www.baysider.com/businesses/1/sports-leisure/666/western-cape/5302/stilbaai/477/windsurfing

Wild Olive Guest Farm

Wild Olive Guest Farm located 11 kms from the village of Stilbaai offers self catering chalets, one Apple Tree Cottage and the Wild Olive Cottages, sleeping between 4 - 8 guests. It is perfect for the kids with plenty of farm animals to play with and activities to enjoy while staying on the farm including bird watching, canoeing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming and water skiing.

travelsavvymom.com

http://www.travelsavvymom.com/africa/south-africa/wild-olive-guest-farm-still-bay-south-africa/

Good to know
Wild Olive offers training in the techniques of permaculture farming – and after a tour through Hazel's garden, you'll be inspired to start your own. The farm is a bit off the beaten track so bring food and drink but also stop to sample delicious meals from the farm kitchen and fresh veggies from the garden. The farm is busy throughout December holidays.

Permaculture - E-book - STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOST HEAP

Permaculture - E-book - STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOST HEAP - selection from my book.

STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOST HEAP

The type of structure used for composting can vary greatly, depending on the materials available, the needs of the composter and the climate. A structure isn't essential - many composting methods employ freestanding piles or heaps. As long as the volume of materials is at least 3 cubic metres, the container is relatively unimportant. Compost bins are made of wood, plastic, concrete, bricks or just about any durable, weatherproof material. Whether permanent or portable, bins can protect compost from the weather, conserve heat during composting, and keep out scavenging animals. They are also more aesthetically pleasing. Composting structures made of wire fencing or wood and wire frames are sometimes called pens. Pens may be somewhat more portable than bins, but the terms are often interchangeable.

Permaculture - Wild Olive Guest Farm:

Permaculture is both a lifestyle ethic as well as a design system which utilizes a systems thinking approach to create sustainable human habitats by analyzing and duplicating nature's patterns (ecology).

The word 'permaculture', coined by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren during the 1970s, is a Portmanteau-style contraction of permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture.

Permaculture is also about careful and contemplative observation of nature and natural systems, and of recognizing universal patterns and principles, then learning to apply these 'ecological truisms' to one's own circumstances in all realms of human activity. Please call me on Tel: +27+28-7542719 or e-mail me to order my permaculture course book enquires@wildolivefarm.co.za.

Permaculture - E-book - THE ROLE OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL LIFE

Permaculture - E-book - THE ROLE OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL LIFE - section from my book.

THE ROLE OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL LIFE

Because mineral elements essential to plant growth are easily leached out of the soil through water and exposure to air, they need to be converted to large, stable, insoluble molecules. Humus provides these stable molecules. Humus has little to do with directly feeding plants and more to do with soil structure. What it does do is provide a large surface area with lots of negatively charged ion exchange sites. This means that they can capture positively charged ions of ammonium (containing nitrogen) potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. Humus therefore, acts as a large magnet for essential elements, preventing them from leaching, or escaping into the air. Bacteria can then separate off these charged particles – which is easier than breaking down huge humus molecules – and make them available to plants.

Permaculture - Wild Olive Guest Farm:

The word 'permaculture', coined by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren during the 1970s, is a Portmanteau-style contraction of permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture.

Permaculture - E-book - PERMACULTURE DESIGN PRINCIPLES - section from my book.

Permaculture - E-book - PERMACULTURE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

PERMACULTURE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

In all designs and plans, there are principles to be observed. In Permaculture these are:

Observe and interact
Catch and store energy
Obtain a yield
Apply self regulation and accept feedback
Use and value renewable resources and services
Produce no waste
Design from patterns to details
Integrate rather than segregate
Use small and slow solutions
Use and value diversity
Use edges and value the marginal
Creatively use and respond to change

Permaculture - Wild Olive Guest Farm:

The word 'permaculture', coined by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren during the 1970s, is a Portmanteau-style contraction of permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture.

Permaculture - E-book - Why a Vegetable Garden?

Permaculture - E-book - Why a Vegetable Garden? - section out of my book.

Why a Vegetable Garden?

Healthy forest ecosystems are self-maintaining, self-fertilizing, and self-renewing. Wouldn't it be nice to grow food in an ecosystem like that in your back yard? Well, you can! Edible forest gardening is the design of gardens that mimic the structure and function of natural forests, but grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, and "pharmaceuticals." I hope learning this forest gardening will inspire and give you practical ideas, images, and examples, as well as information on the multiple uses of forest garden plants.

The garden is designed to meet several goals:

to produce food
to produce forage for beneficial insects, pollinators, chickens and song birds
to create wildlife habitat
to nurture our bodies through herbal teas and concoctions
to create beauty and sense of well being

Permaculture - Wild Olive Guest Farm:

The word 'permaculture', coined by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren during the 1970s, is a Portmanteau-style contraction of permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture.

River View - Wild Olive Guest Farm

Accommodation - Wild Olive Guest Farm

River View - Wild Olive Guest Farm

River View is our latest addition to the farm accommodation.

Overlooking the Gou Kou river .This cottage has 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms plus an outdoor shower.

River view sleeps 8 with comfort.

The large lounge has a huge fireplace and well fitted kitchen. There is a large double door fridge, microwave toaster and kettle.

Games and a library are available in the cottage.

Please note: We have intentionally not included televisions in the chalets as the general feeling is that they would disturb the peace and tranquility of this magnificent setting. A small clock radio is provided.

Please click here to see our accommodation photo album.

Please call us on Tel: +27+28-7542719 or e-mail us on enquires@wildolivefarm.co.za to make a accommodation booking.

About Us - Wild Olive Guest Farm

In 2002 the family farm changed direction from a sheep farm to a Guest and Olive Farm. We started off with just two chalets and in 2003 we restored Apple tree Cottage, which is one of the original cottages in the area. Our latest addition "Wild Olive Cottage" came aboard in 2004 when we realized the need to offer accommodation for large families or groups. Click here to get directions to us.

The Farm Kitchen started off in one room offering breakfasts. Before we knew it, it had expanded ,taken over another building and evolved into a 30 seater restaurant.

Being intent on only producing the freshest and the best meals we realized we would have to grow our own produce. We were introduced to permaculture by an avid gardener Leonora Bentley whose farm is nestled in the mountains outside Mossel Bay. Within a year we were not only supplying the farm and guests with truly organically grown produce ,we could also now supply to the local village.

With the help of Kate Muller our extremely hardworking "WIF" for the last year, we have learnt so much and look forward to sharing this knowledge with like minded souls. See our Blog.

If you have any questions please call us on Tel: +27+28-7542719 or e-mail us on enquires@wildolivefarm.co.za

e-book for you to download

dowload link. - #10.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gox10ejojjj

12 Day Course - Permaculture Training - Wild Olive Guest Farm

Permaculture Training - Wild Olive Guest Farm

12 Day Course

Topics covered in the 12 Day Course.

This 12 day Permaculture Design Course will provide course graduates with a Permaculture Design Course certificate. They will be certified as Permaculture Design Trainees. This certification allows students to practice as Permaculture Designers and to develop a body of work in order to be fully certified after two years of work in the field demonstrating proficiency and practice.

Course Topics will include:
Ethics of Sustainability.
Principles of Permaculture.
Pattern & Design. (Zoning and Sectors).
Food garden layout including seed to harvest, Bee keeping.
Nature of Eco system.
Water Harvesting and Management.
Alternative Energy.
Building Soil Fertility,
Natural Building Design, (Practical and theory).
Waste Recycling and Treatment.

The 12 day internationally recognised Permaculture Design certification is R5000.00 plus accommodation and meals.

We operate by the lunar calendar so try to run courses during the fertile days.

PERMACULTURE COURSES 2010
DATES

12 Day Permaculture design Course
October 11th ending Friday 22nd

4 Day Course - Permaculture Training - Wild Olive Guest Farm

Permaculture Training - Wild Olive Guest Farm

4 Day Course

Topics covered in the 4 Day Course.

Introduction to permaculture ethics and design principles.
Garden design maximizing on what nature provides. (Zoning and sectors).
Water catchments and use.
Urban animals.
Companion planting in detail.
Creating and caring for the soil.
Bed preparations - No Dig, Double dig, Mandala Gardening.
Creating compost.
From seed to harvest.
Designing and building a food forest.
Natural pesticides.
Marking out contours on slopes and swale building.
Generating Hot water the eco way.
Salve making.
Building of worm farms and Worm Farming.

The Cost of the 4 Day is R2950.00 This includes all meals and drinks, Accommodation, training and the Manual.

We operate by the lunar calendar so try to run courses during the fertile days.

PERMACULTURE COURSES 2010
DATES

4 Day Course
April 19th,20th,21st,22nd

4 Day course
September 20th 21st 22nd 23rd

4 Day course
November 15th 16th 17th 18th

2 Day Course - Permaculture Training - Wild Olive Guest Farm

Permaculture Training - Wild Olive Guest Farm

2 Day Course

Topics covered in the 2 Day Course.

Introduction to permaculture ethics and design principles.
Garden design maximizing on what nature provides. (Zoning and sectors).
Water catchments and use.
Urban animals.
Bed preparations - No Dig, Double dig, Mandala Gardening.
Companion planting in detail.
Creating and caring for the soil.
Creating compost.
Worm farming.
From seed to harvest.
Propagating.
Natural pesticides.

The cost of the 2 Day course is R1990.00. This includes accommodation, all meals and refreshments, training and the manual.

We operate by the lunar calendar so try to run courses during the fertile days.

PERMACULTURE COURSES 2010
DATES

Week end Course
March 12th 13th 14th

Weekend Course
April 9th 10th 11th

Week end Course
May 7th,8th,9th

Week end Course
July 16th 17th 18th

Weekend Course
August 6th 7th 8th

Weekend Course
September 3rd 4th 5th

Weekend Course
November 5th 6th 7th

Weekend Course
December 4th 5th 6th

Wild Olive Guest Farm - Stilbaai, Stilbay, South Africa

Thursday, March 18, 2010