The bulldozer finally arrives today. It will be a 30 tonne machine which will rip open the soil to about 1,2m hopefully. This will mean in agricultural terms much more soil available for the plant to extract water and nutrients. The deeper the better really. The soils down by the river seems to have lots of clay and is quite deep. A hole we dugged earlier to about 2m still had no restrictions. We expect here lots more growth and also bigger harvest. We therefore have to plant a bigger trellise system. We will be using a 5 wire trellise system with 2,4m poles. If planted the poles will be about 1,8m above soil level.
The rows will run North South meaning you will get sunlight on both sides and less of the big Calitzdorp heat in midday. Meaning less sunburn on the bunches. Also the rows will be longer and less amount of rows. This means less anchor poles and anchors which is the more expensive and important part of putting up a trellise system. Withoek will be going into recycling by using 13 inch tyres as part of our anchors. This giving a use for 25 years for those tyres allready used.
The plants itself will be planted further apart (1,5m) than leaner soils because they will develope bigger root systems because of the better soil type. The rows will be 2,5m wide meaning more rows which leads to more plants which leads to more harvest.
As you gather it is quite an expensive excersice. The total cost according to the good bookkeepers amont us is about R70 000 to R100000 per hectare. As we are planting quite a few this year we pray for an excellent summer and harvest.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
SNOW!!
On Monday the snow came down. Some well appreciated rain also fell in the Little Karoo. Only 8mm registered on Withoek. My workers were send home early yesterday and I took the chance to go and do some business in Oudtshoorn. As usual did the tour to Boshof Boumateriale. A few gems can be found there. Beautiful sash windows - the old big ones in very good condition.
We are still putting up the 'no entry' plates. This is done after a meeting with the Police in March in which the Besemkop area was pointed out as a crime hotspot. Most of the crimes is break inn's, especially empty buildings. To see that those don't get to the buildings we will try and see to it that they don't come near the problem areas in the first place. We are also working closely with the ACVV with the neglected children in the area. Also getting the children to school in the school term is now closely watched by us.
We are still putting up the 'no entry' plates. This is done after a meeting with the Police in March in which the Besemkop area was pointed out as a crime hotspot. Most of the crimes is break inn's, especially empty buildings. To see that those don't get to the buildings we will try and see to it that they don't come near the problem areas in the first place. We are also working closely with the ACVV with the neglected children in the area. Also getting the children to school in the school term is now closely watched by us.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Amazing Race - Calitzdorp
As the world prepares itself for the most glorious event of the beautiful game Calitzdorp prepares itself for the Amazing Race. On Sunday the Connexio social club will hold an amazing race event through Calitzdorp. The previous one was a big success and I know this one will just be better.
Well the big fever also hit the workers at Withoek Calitzdorp and they asked nicely if they can't get earlier leave on this great day. So from 12.00 clock you will find most of them on the streets on their way to Queens to celebrate Bafana's success prematurely.
Workwise the B-list is far from finished. We are busy clearing the Indraai street - the street round the koppie with the 'Zimbabwe ruins' on the top which you see so magnificently from James's stoep at Spekboom. The street is the municipality's responsibility but as with most things they don't get to it. So in the Sandy Alpert mode we will do it at our cost. They only users of the road is mr AJ van Coller, Withoek and Selma's daughter Lize. It is a very nice walk with views of the future vineyards, orchards (still to be planted 2010) and the Wesoewer areas. Sort of give a bit of the farmy feel. The bushes there were a bit wild and sort of closed the road nearly at certain places. This will be altered within the next week.
Well the big fever also hit the workers at Withoek Calitzdorp and they asked nicely if they can't get earlier leave on this great day. So from 12.00 clock you will find most of them on the streets on their way to Queens to celebrate Bafana's success prematurely.
Workwise the B-list is far from finished. We are busy clearing the Indraai street - the street round the koppie with the 'Zimbabwe ruins' on the top which you see so magnificently from James's stoep at Spekboom. The street is the municipality's responsibility but as with most things they don't get to it. So in the Sandy Alpert mode we will do it at our cost. They only users of the road is mr AJ van Coller, Withoek and Selma's daughter Lize. It is a very nice walk with views of the future vineyards, orchards (still to be planted 2010) and the Wesoewer areas. Sort of give a bit of the farmy feel. The bushes there were a bit wild and sort of closed the road nearly at certain places. This will be altered within the next week.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
THE B-LIST
As we are waiting for the machinery to be available for our soil preparation we sort of get a chance to do all that not so important stuff. Putting the irrigation lines on a wire about 30cm above the soil, mending fences, etc.
We are putting up "No unauthorised entry" plates on our gates. The reason being for all the unwanted wanderers of the planet. For you that allready asked me and/or the other landowners permission are still authorised and you can continue on your daily journey through rural Calitzdorp.
My sheep escaped and got hold of Sandy's garden. Lady like she is she even brought me the 'jakkalsdraad' to mend my fences and to keep my sheep out of her garden. I think that is the first for me. Thanks Sandy.
The bottles for the Shiraz, Ruby Port as well as Muskadel arrived today. So hopefully at the end of the week we can be finished with the filtering of the wines and bottling may start next week. With lots of rain predicted for next week it might be a good plan to get to bottling of these wines. Maybe a bit of tasting as well.
Calitzdorp Cellar has brought out their new label. Very simple - in a good sense - unsophisticated, honest label. I like it very much and the branding will be 'Calitzdorp Cellar' from now on. The new wines is a Sauvignon blanc - a bit of the typical greeness with a hint of tropical fruit, a very good buy and support your local farmers.
Their Cabernet Sauvignon got some nice dry tannin structure, red berry on the pallet with an almond aftertaste. A very dark, nearly black wine. A good company for red meat. The Ruby Port also a spicy number with lots of sugar - a definate must for this weekend. Think snow on Swartbert - a glass of port. You can't go wrong. The Chardonnay is again probably the best made in the Calitzdorp region. Nice creamy with lemon lime and honey. A real treat.
Well lets go see what is left on the B-list....
We are putting up "No unauthorised entry" plates on our gates. The reason being for all the unwanted wanderers of the planet. For you that allready asked me and/or the other landowners permission are still authorised and you can continue on your daily journey through rural Calitzdorp.
My sheep escaped and got hold of Sandy's garden. Lady like she is she even brought me the 'jakkalsdraad' to mend my fences and to keep my sheep out of her garden. I think that is the first for me. Thanks Sandy.
The bottles for the Shiraz, Ruby Port as well as Muskadel arrived today. So hopefully at the end of the week we can be finished with the filtering of the wines and bottling may start next week. With lots of rain predicted for next week it might be a good plan to get to bottling of these wines. Maybe a bit of tasting as well.
Calitzdorp Cellar has brought out their new label. Very simple - in a good sense - unsophisticated, honest label. I like it very much and the branding will be 'Calitzdorp Cellar' from now on. The new wines is a Sauvignon blanc - a bit of the typical greeness with a hint of tropical fruit, a very good buy and support your local farmers.
Their Cabernet Sauvignon got some nice dry tannin structure, red berry on the pallet with an almond aftertaste. A very dark, nearly black wine. A good company for red meat. The Ruby Port also a spicy number with lots of sugar - a definate must for this weekend. Think snow on Swartbert - a glass of port. You can't go wrong. The Chardonnay is again probably the best made in the Calitzdorp region. Nice creamy with lemon lime and honey. A real treat.
Well lets go see what is left on the B-list....
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Waiting!!
Most of the preparation that can be finished for the new plantings is finished. So at Withoek we are now focusing on the things on the B list. Things we don't normally have time for. My job creation project is also coming on nicely. I have about 10 people making wood for the local market, that is restaurants, guest houses, any one really, that wants wood for braaiing and /or 'kaggels' in the Calitzdorp region. I think it is a great opportunity for these people that stay in our area that don't have other income and I am surprised at their commitment to the project. They want to work and earn some money and make living.
Thanks also to the people that support this project through the buying of the wood. I don't think you guys know how many people you support through just the buying of the product.
Thanks also to the people that support this project through the buying of the wood. I don't think you guys know how many people you support through just the buying of the product.
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