Week full of work

This week we finished most of our preparation of the soils for the different new plantings. Sort of finishing of with the removal of the rootstocks especially on the blocks we are going to plant the same type of plant. In Afrikaans they talk of 'wisselbou'. Because of the size of the previous blocks and the variety of cultivars as well as fruit types it makes it very difficult planting a new type of fruit and the economics forces you to plant as quick as possible to fully utilizing your possible natural resource soil.
Next step is the lay out of the blocks with chalk. We will then see precisely where the rows will be and where the irrigation pipes must come. We will also begin to dig the channels into which the irrigation laterals will go as well as the new pipeline system running down to Herminashof. With this comes a total new irrigation system which runs out of a dam which allready has to service a irrigation system. Thus the dam must be enlarged to accomodate this extra water volume.
The Withoek workers community also lost a member the past week. Dina Meiring died on Saturday the 3rd of July. She was the wife of Frans van Staden which was the secret behind the beautiful garden of Herminashof. They have one son Elton Meiring. Frans was arrested on Tuesday the 6th of July. Unfortunately for the small community around Withoek violence is still a possible solution to many a problem.
Chrissie is thinking of getting a program going amongst the Withoek community to try and eliminate the use of violence as means of solving problems. We will have to stop this soon.
Willem Mampa is the new gardener and allready started on Monday. We really hope he can fill the efficient shoes of Frans.
Also since Monday we started our annual pruning of the vineyards. We started with the early cultivars first and work our way through the spread.