All around Ballito are quite a few farms, but how much do we know about them? We spoke to a few incredible local farmers who gave us a sneak peek into their fabulous farms.
Bloemendal Foral Farm
Did you know that there is a farm that grows beautiful flowers right on our doorstep? Meet business partners Sean O’Connor and Jonathan Hein, who grow three types of cut flowers, namely Anthurium, Gerbera and Ruscus. They sell their flowers to the flower wholesalers in Durban, such as Vegmoflora, who in turn distributes them countrywide. It’s very likely you would have bought a bouquet with their flowers before!
The history of the farm is a story to tell. The founder of the farm, Dick van Egmond, came here from Holland in the late 1980s and saw potential in South Africa for cut flower farming (Anthuriums in particular), something that he was already proficiently doing in Holland. He started here from scratch and, with hard work and dedication, managed to build Bloemendaal from the ground up.
Sean joined Dick over 24 years ago and carried on what he started, replacing old shade houses with new greenhouses and introducing more modern production techniques. “Together with Jonathan Hein, who joined me 15 years ago, we run an extensive flower farming operation, with four hectares under plastic, producing around five million stems a year,” Sean says.
As with all forms of agriculture, there are challenges that any farm could face, some being global (climate change and world economics) and some that are unique to South Africa (labour laws and distance to export markets). “The biggest challenge for us at the moment is the excessive increase in production costs compared to the low increases in market prices that we receive for our products,” Sean explains.
But even with these challenges, there are still many rewards – for Sean and Jonathan, it is working in such a colourful, aesthetically pleasing environment. “It is also super rewarding to see our products put smiles on people’s faces at functions and venues all over the country. And, of course, being able to live and work in such an awesome place such as the greater Ballito area is just the cherry on top,” Sean says.
Mayfeld Farm
Mayfield Farm’s history goes back three generations, starting with Piers’s grandfather, who moved to South Africa in the 1930s after sugarcane farming in Cuba. In 1942, he bought Mayfield Farm, changing it from wattle plantations to the farmhouse where Piers and his family live today.
After studying agriculture, Piers returned to the farm to manage it, continuing the family legacy and broadening the farm’s activities. He planted macadamia trees, grew tea trees to make essential oil, adopted syntropic farming, kept bee hives for honey, and offered space for a composting project, Convert the Direct, run by Natalie Teixeira.
The family prioritises ecosystem health, particularly soil health, using Convert the Dirt’s biologically-focused composting to reduce artificial fertiliser use. This approach fosters beneficial microbe communities that provide essential nutrients to their crops.
Piers’s biggest hurdle revolves around market dynamics, mill operations, and the insufficient support for regenerative and organic farming in South Africa. Organic farming can be isolating, given the limited number of practitioners in the field. Piers prefers selling locally but the South African organic market isn’t as strong as the international market. Thus, encouraging consumers to choose local and organic options is vital!
Piers cherishes life with his family, learning from nature while doing daily practical work. They enjoy eating from their organic gardens and value seasonal eating. His wife, Dominique, creates organic skincare products from Mayfield’s products, with tea tree and macadamia oils.
The family emphasises environmental preservation, balance and wholesome food production. Piers also values the wisdom of weeds, as they are indicators of soil health and offer insights into needed improvements.
Inglewood Grass Farm
In our picturesque coastal area of South Africa, Inglewood Grass, a family- owned company, has been supplying various types of instant lawns for over 30 years. The region’s growing demand for lush lawns, driven by rapid developments like Seaton, Zululami, Elaleni and Zimbali Lakes, has positioned Inglewood Grass as a key player in meeting this need.
Tracey, who runs the farm, recalls the company’s modest beginnings. “We bought over Inglewood Grass over 10 years ago with a small operation and a passion for cultivating quality instant lawn.” Over the years, their dedication has fuelled substantial growth.
Today, Inglewood Grass operates on three farms, two in Glendale and one in Tinley Manor, strategically positioned to serve a wide customer base. Tracey proudly shares, “We take pride in serving our local community, spanning from Richards Bay to Amanzimtoti and everywhere in between, establishing us as a trusted supplier in the region.”
However, like all successful businesses, Inglewood Grass has faced a few setbacks. “Our greatest challenge is keeping up with the high demand for instant lawn in our region.” In 2022, the devastating floods wreaked havoc on their operations, completely destroying one farm and heavily damaging the other two. “We faced an enormous cleanup operation, removing vehicles, equipment, trees, tires, sand and other debris carried by the floodwaters,” explains Tracey.
Yet, what keeps the Inglewood Grass team going is the satisfaction of witnessing their instant lawn transform homes, sports fields and golf courses. “The most rewarding aspect of farming instant lawn is observing the transformation of our surroundings,” Tracey says with pride.
“We’re recognised for our competitive prices and top-quality products, which garners positive feedback from our delighted customers.”
With its unwavering commitment and passion for enhancing landscapes, Inglewood Grass isn’t just a business, it’s an integral part of the communities it serves, contributing to the region’s beauty and greenery.
