MORE ON THE FARM:
One of the farms that might be available to buy, is a very unique farm that I know very well, because I was raised there, and even farmed with my dad there a few years. It has very rich & deep soil, very strong underground water, with fountains on the Blyfontein, Spitskop & Komfontein parts. The original farms Blyfontein, Komfontein, Hillsonia, Spitskop, De Put, and several other farms were bought out by the existing owner, Mr Des Gutzeit, and is now a total of 10,000 Ha in size, and turned into a Game farm. There is also a separate piece of ground, called “Vangfontein”, included in the 10,000 Ha.
There are over a 100 bird species, and many kinds of game, that includes Springbuck, Duiker, Kudu, and lots of other species. The present owner has made several improvements, like several big dams, a landing strip & lots of small overnight facilities build at very beautiful places. There is also an Abattoir on the Hilsonia part, for the game.
However, if this farm, Brulberg, is not available, there are quite a few farms in our area with also mountains & flat pieces, to make the type of farming I propose, possible. Brulberg would therefore be my first choice, but not the only farm to buy.
FARM POTENTIAL:
However, these farms have got a lot more potential, with the strong underground water that just needs to be drilled open. I know this because I had been in Hydro-Geological services, looking for underground water for farmers countrywide, for over 30 years. The biggest give-away of strong underground water is also the history of the farms: Komfontein has a fountain up in the mountains, that is running at around 14,000 litre per hour, Blyfontein’s fountain used to run at about the same level, but during good rainy times it goes up to nearly 30,000 Litre per hour! My late dad also had quite a few boreholes, producing around 30,000 L/H ea, but they all were closed up over the years because there were no farmers living there. The property called “Spitskop” also has a good stable fountain. The farm Hilsonia had a borehole that could deliver 180,000 L/Hour! There are also very long Dolerite Intrusions, one of the best & most stable Aquifers, running from underneath the Orange River, crossing the farms.
But there are lots of farms in the Karoo, with the same opportunities available.
APPLES
I have 30 years’ experience in finding & drilling underground water all over South Africa, and even in the USA. With all this water that I can find, one can plant & produce at least 120 HA of Apples on the farm “Komfontein”, because this farm does not get frost. Apples can take frost during winter, but cannot tolerate frost after it has started budding, or after starting to grow apples. If you then get frost, you will have no crop. Apples are growing all around that area, in Middelburg, and on some farms, like Table Berg Farm, but only for own use.
If Komfontein, that is part of “Brulberg” is not available, there are at least 8 other farms that has the same qualities, that I can buy.
All Apples on this farm, or any other farm, will be produced with the least interference with nature, meaning using compost, and natural ways to get rid of pests, like with some geese, etc. It will also be High-Density with hail netting.
SHEEP & CATTLE
One can even also farm with a few hundred sheep, and about 50 cattle, for own use, and also for selling. This will have to be on a part of the farm where we will produce the apples, etc. Sheep can be farmed between the Apple Tree rows, benefitting the apples with their urine & excretes.
DRILLING RIG & GEOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT:
I propose that we buy a Drilling Rig & the necessary Geological equipment for the farm, but this equipment can double-up and also help other farmers in about a 150 KM radius.
One of the biggest reasons for buying our own rig is because we will have to drill large diameter boreholes, to maximise the inflow of water into the borehole, with a big pump in it. There are only a few drilling rigs in South Africa that can drill such big holes, and they are mostly down in Cape Town area, as well as Johannesburg area. In the past, the farmers in this area had to wait sometimes up to 6 months just to get such a drill there!
The drilling rig will then also pay for itself, because we will have a great saving to drill each borehole with our own rig. When we are finished, we can either sell it, or start a drilling business, by drilling for customers.
GAME FARMING
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The Game Farm at present has more than 100 bird species to watch, as well as small & large game species, like the very small “Duiker” up to Springbuck & Kudus. There are quite a few mountain houses, with all facilities to give you a comfortable stay, yet, away from all the noises in and around a city.
Here again, if Brulberg will not be available, I can always do the same on another property, because over wide areas of the Karoo Region we can find the same types of game & birds.
Telescope On Highest Mountain: BRULBERG, or the highest mountain on any other farm
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This huge mountain is nearly 2,000 M or 6,200 Ft above sea level, and with our normally cold temperatures, makes it the ideal site for a telescope, scanning the Southern Hemisphere. This could then be a great attraction for Backers as an extra perk when on the farm, as well as tourists.
Again, if this farm is not available, there are lots of farms in this region with also high mountains.