Deb and Alan from Robertson

Tell us a little about yourself!

Deb grew up under Table Mountain with parents that loved to be doing “things” outdoors. Hikes on the mountain, windsurfing & paddle skiing as well as days on the farms surrounding the city, training dogs for field trials. Holidays were spent camping & hiking. 

Alan grew up on the outskirts of London. His days were spent bike riding through the surrounding woods & fields, as well as having an avid interest in knives, guns & anything with an engine. He moved to South Africa to enjoy the freedom.

How did you start doing what you are doing now? 

Alan & Deb realised that getting out of the city was a priority for them both. In 2016 we found the “perfect” property to start a new life.

Alan set up a solar system before leaving Cape Town so that we could have electricity quickly upon arrival.

We had a fully kitted caravan in which we planned to spend a few years before deciding where on the property to build. However, this quickly proved unrealistic. We are not neat & organised people! So, we built a “temporary” house within a few months. Now we are so entrenched, it looks like this is the place on the property we will stay!

We got goats soon after arriving, for milk. We knew nothing about them! However, you learn fast. We fell into the trap of Nigerian Dwarfs for the best milk! It is! But in South Africa, no-one had been breeding them for milk & they mostly have very low production. I feel 100ml is unrealistic – that’s 10 goats to the litre! I started to cross-breed to get a medium sized goat that gives “enough” milk. There are now many more people around the country who are doing this. Slowly we will get a South African Homesteading goat! A goat that is a good mamma, gives a reasonable amount of milk while still feeding kids & maintaining her own condition, & who is stocky for meat value. 

What are you most proud of in this process? 

Alan & Deb did most of the initial work ourselves. Barring bricklaying & roofing of the initial buildings, we painted & sanded floors, fitted doors & fenced. And Fenced. And Fenced!!!! 

Alan did the civils, building roads, putting in plumbing & of course the electric. 

What is the most helpful piece of advice you received when you were just starting out? 

You are taming the land. It will take time.

What advice would you like to give to others who are younger/earlier on their journey? 

Don’t try to do everything at once. Don’t start too big. Don’t grow too fast. Remember that there may be accidents (Deb’s broken arm) that will slow down all that you need to achieve each day. Make sure you have space in your life for “bad” days. 

Where do you see growing going in South Africa? 

Most of South Africa allows small ruminants in your suburban garden. Get a pair of goats!

They need secure fencing, but they are delightful animals with a sense of fun & intelligence to match a dog. And fresh milk!