A very refreshing break

We left Cape Town on Boxing Day - by we, I mean RMan, myself, NGirl, MKid and WGuy - RSon joined us 3 days later.

Surprisingly, there was very little traffic so the trip only took us 2 1/2 hours.  Naturally, we had to stop at Dassiesfontein - NGirl wanted to show WGuy all the goodies available there, and RMan (finally) bought himself a hat to wear whilst working on the farm - very necessary for those hot, sunny days.

Talking of sunny days we had nothing but overcast skies for the entire time we were there - drizzling now and then, but only producing 4mm of rain in 8 days - just enough to rinse off the leaves.  But the overcast skies were perfect for getting out onto the land and getting some work done.

Before RMan pulled a shoulder muscle using the pick, we managed to plant and lay irrigation to : 5 tiny Eugenia trees (as a wind break) 1 conifer which had been slowly dying of thirst in a broken pot at our home in Cape Town, 5 tiny lemon trees (grown from pips last year) and three avocado trees - also grown from pips - in the compost heap - LOL.  I think I have heard that avocado pips do not produce fruiting trees - time will tell...


We created a small wind break - to help the lemon trees along -
the wind blows something awful there...

We also lined the 5 individual pomegrate trees we have planted with a square mtr of Weedguard (a permeable ground cover for the prevention of weeds and the evapouration of whatever water we give the trees) and then we laid a continuous strip where we planted the lemon trees - we're very interested to see which method works better!

The renosterveld which has sprung up in the three months since we last able to visit were terrible - RMan, RSon and I climbed in and cleared the area where we planted fthe first of my lemon trees, and RSon also cleared the driverway - which was becoming completely overgrown.  We also gave the grape vine area a good weeding and installed some wire supports - as well as creating a border round them - it would appear as if some sheep and cows have had access to our property - not too sure how, for we can't see the fences broken / changed, and the new growth on the grape vines has been "pruned" - but we can see their droppings...

Believe it or not - weeding this area took RMan and I three hours - boy, is that ground hard!

Weeded and fenced - now the grape vines may have
a chance of survival against the heat and the cows / sheep


MKid just had to go to the closest thicket of wattle trees to build a "Survivor" shelter with WGuy - Cubs is obviously rubbing off on RKid - well Cubs, Ultimate Survivor / Ray Mears and Bear Grylls (can't stand the latter personally)  :-)  RKid wanted to sleep in the shelter - until he saw a large-ish spider and a couple of beetles walking round in it.

I'm very impressed with what they achieved though - using only branches - no twine or string at all - and it survived a night of hectic wind too... 

MKid had an absolute ball and is now the Official in Charge of All Fires - nothing he likes more than lighting the fire (with adult supervision, naturally) for the evenings braai (barbeque) - yes - we did manage to braai our dinner every day - and very cosy it was round the fire even when it started to drizzle slightly.

This was WGuys first exposure to anything eco - and I am very pleased to hear that he is trying to convince his parents to follow our example - he has, apparently, even gone so far as to start researching wind turbines, etc.  Very chuffed I am - hope the enthusiasm doesn't wear off as he becomes submerged with his normal working / daily life.  He was very impressed that our total energy use was 95 watts at any given time...

A simpler life is possible without too much loss of comfort - we are providing proof!

But the most exciting news of all - a neighbour of ours has recently started developing his piece of land, and has put up some temporary living structures (sleeping area and bathroom).  And he has put up a wind turbine!

What a thing of beauty it is.  It was spinning madly when we arrived - and continued spinning (even on the gentlest of breezes) for the entire time we were there!  I sat, transfixed at the sight of energy being produced with nothing other than the wind!

We took a walk there on the last morning - as the skies were clearing.

Naturally I had to get a closer look so we took a walk to see it - not only is it gorgeous, but it is also whisper quiet.

I am a shade of green - and it has nothing to do with being eco-friendly!  Ah well, we'll get ours when finances permit...

BUT - we have proof that a wind turbine is the route to go - not that I needed any - I have always been convinced that that will be the solution to our power requirements.

I can hardly wait J.