Regenerative Farming: A Way of Life, Not Just a Practice
Our farm is being developed around the idea to grow food at the standard that we want for ourselves, in a system that is ethical, and creates the best environment for the livestock, as well as broader ecosystem. To do so, we apply regenerative agriculture principles.
Inspired by established regenerative farmers who have been vocal about the flaws of conventional farming methods, we were drawn to the regenerative approach because it enriches biodiversity and uses nature's power to improve the soil and grow healthier food.
What is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative farming can become just another buzzword. Over the years, we've seen terms like natural farming, sustainable farming, organic farming, and now regenerative farming.
Wikipedia describes it regenerative agriculture well: Regenerative agriculture is a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems. It focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, supporting biosequestration, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil.
Our Approach to Regenerative Farming
Our background in economics, business process optimization, and customer service, combined with our Dutch upbringing, shapes our view of regenerative farming. On the farm we want to apply the regenerative agriculture principles, and use the toolsets to conserve and rehabilitate the soil, and produce healthy food. Beyond that we aim to be regenerative in our community, and contribute positively to a regenerative economy.
Applying regenerative agriculture tools and techniques
We focus on improving the soil through natural processes, which brings new life and vigour, making animals and people happier and healthier. We don’t use pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers. Instead we rely on natural pest control through chickens and rotational grazing, and compost, beneficial plants and animals to fertilise the soil. We’re creating an environment with trees, shrubs and water features that enhances biodiversity which introduces natural predators that help to mitigate pests. One such welcome guest is the ladybird, which is nature’s perfect solution to managing aphids on fruit trees. The other is the dragon fly, which is an incredible predator that consumes large numbers of house flies and mosquitos daily.
Producing food that contributes to good health
By raising animals in a natural system and allowing them to engage in their natural behaviours, they contribute to the vitality of the entire ecosystem, including soil, plants, insects, and birds. This leads to better quality produce, which is healthier for our community.
Over the years, we've become concerned about the food system and the highly processed foods we consume. These foods are profitable for large companies but often lack nutrition and contain additives that may harm our long-term health and affect mental health.
We believe in wholesome food in its purest form using traditional methods. With our range of signature sausages we aim to bring not just sausage cause we love ‘wors’ in South Africa. We use our pasture-raised meat to make sausages that you can't get at any random shop. We're using a myriad of spices and herbs to bring a range of handcrafted sausages with unique flavours, as variety is the spice of life. We’ve named the main variants of our cured sausages Sing, Veg, Bid, Huil, Lag, Werk en Verwonder. It’s a reference to a classic Dutch song on the topic of mental health, and reminder that happiness doesn’t just occur, it’s an act. Sing, Fight, Pray, Cry, Laugh, Work, and Marvel to create a life that is fulfilling. Reach out to people, and share moments together.
Being regenerative in our community
We moved to Swellendam as the town and community spirit appealed to us. In turn, we find it important to contribute our share.
We believe in focusing on healthspan rather than just lifespan. In addition to diet, physical activity and a sense of community are vital. That's why we participate in and volunteer for the Swellendam parkrun, which offers free outdoor exercise and social connection for everyone.
We also support "alien hacking" activities in Swellendam, removing invasive trees to create space for native species. Restoring native plants is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems. We've planted indigenous trees in our pasture to enhance biodiversity, improve soil, and provide fodder for livestock.
Building a regenerative economy
In our economic system, we aim to facilitate the use of fair currency that improves financial well-being. Unlike the Rand, which devalues annually, a regenerative currency should allow all income classes to retain or improve their financial well-being. Devaluation of the Rand (usually referred to as inflation) means that with the money (Rands) you save today, you can buy less in a year’s time. That system is unfair, and undermines the ability to set money aside for future use if you don’t have the means or knowhow to invest in assets with a higher return. As such the fiat system only benefits people in higher income classes, corporations, and governments that are able to invest that money in assets that retain its value more than the Rand does. To build a regenerative economy a currency needs to allow for all income classes to be able to improve, or at the very least retain, their financial well-being. That can only be done when a currency is truly scarce and cannot be printed by a Central Bank/Government. The only currency that is truly scarce is Bitcoin, and therefore we prefer Bitcoin as a payment method. By accepting Bitcoin payments we play our part in building a circular economy whereby people can receive, hold and spend Bitcoin as part of their everyday transactions. It is a more inclusive system that goes against the current trajectory that we’re on with the fiat system, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. A good series of interviews that explain Bitcoin can be found here and locally Bitcoin Ubuntu supports thorough understanding of bitcoin through training and knowledge sharing.
Striving for improvement and being willing to learn
The name "Omweg" refers to the many turns in our journey of aiming to be regenerative. It's not a straight road, but these detours open our eyes to the beauty of nature and our community. As Stef Bos said in his song 'De Weg': "De omweg is veel mooier en duurt langer, je ziet meer langs een weg die je niet kent". It means "The detour is prettier and takes longer, you see more on a route you're not familiar with". We strive for ongoing improvement, knowing we're not perfect. We do our best every day with the knowledge, experience, and resources available to us. The owl in our logo symbolises this wisdom, reminding us to be receptive to learning and growth.