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Green Life Sanctuary Farm
Green Life Sanctuary Farm

South African homestead dream come true

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waynea_green_life_sanctuary

A passion for Earth and food security. Permaculture, regenerative, PGS Organic Assurance.

Spring means renewal. It's my favourite season. So Spring means renewal. It's my favourite season. Some pictures from this time of the year, around the farm.

@waynea_green_life_sanctuary
Pickle plant flowering in water wise garden @wayne Pickle plant flowering in water wise garden @waynea_green_life_sanctuary
Biodiversity means embracing all creatures. Remove Biodiversity means embracing all creatures. Remove a link and risk throwing the balance out. 

Full grown, meter+ Rinkhals today on the farm.

#nature #biodiversity #permaculture #pgs #organic #organicfood #organicagriculture #regenerativeagriculture #foodgarden #foodsecurity #selfsufficient #notill #notillagriculture #igrowyourfood #ifoam #saoso #saveseeds
Our broad beans have done very well this year, des Our broad beans have done very well this year, despite a slow start. 

#nature #biodiversity #permaculture #pgs #organic #organicfood #organicagriculture #regenerativeagriculture #foodgarden #foodsecurity #selfsufficient #notill #notillagriculture #igrowyourfood #ifoam #saoso #saveseeds
Instagram post 18028779706605595 Instagram post 18028779706605595
Some residents of the native South African milkwee Some residents of the native South African milkweed (Gomphocarpus fruticosus). A toxic host to many bugs. While considered a problem plant to some, especially on livestock farms, its unique characteristics make it noteworthy. The sticky white latex film a damaged or cut stem can irritate skin. The beautiful buds and flowers develop into oddly shaped pods before bursting into silky seeds. I think the seeds in the pods look just like little brown brains...
Besides some of the insects in these photos taken on the farm recently, the plant is also the main host of the African Monarch butterfly - an important pollinator. I don't see this weed as a problem, especially as the cows leave it alone (substantial quantities of the plant need to be consumed before it is lethal) and because it is host to a number of beneficial insects. These metallic milkweed leaf beetles are stunning!
For the past couple of years, there have been resi For the past couple of years, there have been resident Spotted Thick-knees around the farm. This year, the couple was very attentive. Soon, it was apparent why. The other day, I needed to sort out the borehole. The pair scattered, trying to lead me away, very much like the crowned lapwings/plovers do. Of course, this made me curious. 

Pics 1 and 2. The thick-knees are not uncommon, beautiful birds, and I'm proud that these two have chosen this farm to make their home. 
Pic 3. Try to spot the object of their attention...
Pic 4. The camouflage is beauty in itself. Cute juvenile thick-knee trying hard to blend in.
A moment of "silence" and serenity that is sadly d A moment of "silence" and serenity that is sadly disappearing the more wetlands are encroached upon. It is essential for us to be informed by nature and make our choices around preserving it rather than invading. We integrate with, and encourage wildlife here at Green Life Sanctuary instead of bending it to our will. 

#permaculture #naturalfarming #organic #pgsorganic
Yay! The first of the season. Encouraging wildlife Yay! The first of the season. Encouraging wildlife on the farm is always so rewarding.

#permaculture #naturalfarming #organic #pgsorganic #pgs #flapneckchameleon
Hairy vetch is one of my favourite green manures, Hairy vetch is one of my favourite green manures, and a great favourite of pollinators. Beside this beauty, there were ladybirds, bees, beetles and a host of others around the vetch. Pity its time for it to come out now, but I'll leave enough for the bugs off to the side 💚
I love spring with all the new possibilities that I love spring with all the new possibilities that open up. 

Practicing the art of cuttings that our dear friend and mentor Rosemary from The Organic Herb Company taught us a few years ago is paying off. Lots more cuttings coming up. 

#plantbythemoon #permaculture #naturalfarming #pgs #farmacy
iGoli Pgs ~ Visit us at the Organic and Natural Pr iGoli Pgs ~ Visit us at the Organic and Natural Products Expo, Wanderers 21-23 October 2022
See link in bio for the latest iteration of our ex See link in bio for the latest iteration of our extremely popular food preserving workshop!
We have been quiet on the social media front, but We have been quiet on the social media front, but certainly not on the ground! Badira Mmogo (Working Together) project received an awesome donation of farm tools in response to a proposal we wrote to the Department of Agriculture. Starting off spring 2022 with a great blessing. Now we are praying for a sponsor for some overalls and gumboots as most of our volunteers work in their best clothes that would rather be used for church than digging soil...

Hint, hint, nudge, nudge 😉 #jonssonworkwear (my favourite brand of work wear! No, really! Unendorsed btw)
'Nuf said 'Nuf said
Absolutely beautiful mole snake not happy about lu Absolutely beautiful mole snake not happy about lunch being interrupted by a passerby. This is the biggest one I've seen, at probably just over a metre. They are not venomous but can inflict a nasty bite. 

Fortunately our staff have been taught not to kill snakes and rather call us for ID. Each encounter is usually followed by a brief educational to make them more aware of the benefits of having them around and what their target prey usually is.

He was left to do his thing after the photo shoot. 

ASI has awesome posters for download. I'll be putting some up for the staff to be more aware. How do you manage snakes at your site?

#nature #biodiversity #permaculture #pgs #organic #organicfood #organicagriculture #regenerativeagriculture #foodgarden #foodsecurity #selfsufficient #notill #notillagriculture #igrowyourfood #ifoam #saoso
Our Clary Sage hosting The Good Folk 💚 this plant Our Clary Sage hosting The Good Folk 💚 this plant has a beautiful flower and amazing health benefits
See the link in our bio for the event this Saturda See the link in our bio for the event this Saturday!
While at one of the project site visits, young Amo While at one of the project site visits, young Amo - who has been with the project since PDC training phase - asked me whether he and some of the other students could come visit the farm and help out a bit. So we organised for a Saturday morning, fetched them all and spent a great time together. They spent time meeting and feeding the farm animals while learning how we care for the animals and how the animals help us. They learned about planting and soil care. Come lunch time, they had hot dogs and were taken home. 

I learned later that they were very upset that they could not spend longer on the farm! So we agreed that we could make this a regular activity, perhaps once a month, funds permitting.

Last photo: nasturtiums are planted all over our farm. We use them as an attractor for beneficial insects, trap crop for pests including aphids and leaf miner, and they taste great in salads!

#nature #biodiversity #permaculture #pgs #organic #organicfood #organicagriculture #regenerativeagriculture #foodgarden #foodsecurity #selfsufficient #notill #notillagriculture #igrowyourfood #ifoam #saoso
Badira Mmogo update - we haven't posted an update Badira Mmogo update - we haven't posted an update from our Badira Mmogo project in a couple of weeks but they have still been very busy!
>We had a visit from the Department of Agriculture, advising on the process we need to take to get the project done of the things we desperately need.
>The team learned about garlic harvesting and storage.
>Zach has been passionately teaching groups of students about the principles applied. More and more of the students have been actively involved (See next post for some awesome news about them)
Crops have started growing including potatoes, pumpkin, and beans...

Exciting times!

Last photo: hairy vetch is a great cover crop and green manure that fixes nitrogen in the soil. It's one of our staple cover cross here on GLS Farm.

#nature #biodiversity #permaculture #pgs #organic #organicfood #organicagriculture #regenerativeagriculture #foodgarden #foodsecurity #selfsufficient #notill #notillagriculture #igrowyourfood #ifoam #saoso
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2021-10-18
By: Sparky0247GLS
On: 2021-10-18

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