Kathryn Eybers and Ross Dwyer
Owners of the permaculture farm Numbi Valley
When Ross Dwyer and Kathryn Eybers bought a barren patch of land outside De Rust 18 years ago, trodden by ostriches that had been kept in camps, the locals thought they weren’t of sound mind if they believed they could farm there, and off the grid to boot.
Today, 60 different fruit trees grow on Numbi Valley – that’s the name of the farm, and not a true valley (numbi means “breasts”, in reference to the shape of the koppies). The steep circular beds in their permaculture garden – complete with a rotating team of chickens that do all the aerating and fertilising – contain a wealth of vegetable varieties that they sell in weekly vegetable boxes and share with the guests who rent the two-selfcatering cottages on the farm. They also have beehives and offer permaculture and cob-house building courses. Kathryn also works on demand as a yoga instructor and massage therapist.
In under nine months the two of them (with a little help from friends at times) built a wonderful temperature-controlled cob house with a floor of loose shale that will weather over time. It cost them R30 000 and the only technology they used was a cordless 12V drill and a chainsaw. Platteland plans to visit again soon and will definitely rent this property, which has an egg-shaped swimming pool.
“In the beginning we had to make do without an income for a long time, and we had to learn how to work creatively with things we picked up,” Ross says. “Today, we live very comfortably – we really have everything we want and need – but we are certainly not big consumers. Although we aren’t vegetarians, we do mainly eat plants because we grow them ourselves. From time to time we trade vegetables for dairy or good meat, and sometimes one does have to exchange cash for coffee or whisky…”He laughs.
“But we’ve found our rhythm for living in harmony with this earth,” Kath says.
Contact
072 191 8672 to book a permaculture tour or accommodation.
