Sue from Renu-karoo

Tell us a little about yourself!

I grew up in Kenilworth on the Cape Peninsula and studied botany and zoology at UCT, then nature conservation at Stellenbosch University before completing a Masters on seed banks of invasive alien Australian Acacias (wattle, rooikrans). Thereafter I worked as a volunteer on a farming project in rural KZN near Msinga (Tuela Ferry) before moving to Nylsvley Nature Reserve north of Pretoria to study productivity of indigenous Acacias. THis is where I met my husband ornithologist Richard Dean. We moved to Knysna for a while to build boats and there I worked as a consultant to the indigenous fern picking industry. Having run out of money we accepted a job offer from UCT in 1987 to start a research station in the Karoo near Prince Albert where the focus would be the impacts of sheep farming on rangelands and associated wildlife. I have lived here ever since except for five or so years when I was HOD of Nature Conservation at Stellenbosch University.

How did you start doing what you are doing now? 

I did not like being head of department so I retired early at 55 in 2007 and Richard and I, while doing ecological consulting, started an indigenous seed collecting business to supply restoration projects inthe Karoo with seed. We also started a small nursery growing plants and seeds for restoration. This gradually grew and we expanded to grow a range of Karoo shrubs, trees, succulents and medicinal plants - the latter on the advice of our employees. My husband died in 2022 but by then we had a business partner - Bertus Fourie - a horticulturalist with an interest in conservation - so the business has carried on.

What are you most proud of in this process? 

Raising awareness around the diversity, beauty and value of Karoo plants and increasing knowledge of restoration techniques for arid areas.

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

Where to get start-up funding!

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

Make sure you have a market and do not have to transport your products too far!

Where do you see growing going in South Africa? 

There are various trends - those who can afford it are looking for "organic"and heritage foods. Those who can not are looking for cheap mass produced food. There is a growing interest in indigenous medicinal plants and aromatic oils - but the market is small and unstable. I think that the need for appropriate indigenous seed and plants for restoration of various vegetation types in South Africa will increase.