Видео

Ah, thank you, me neither! Thank you for your support 🌻

Thanks so much and yes, it's a massive step, but I'm also being realistic that it could get wiped out, but that parr of learning my local environment and challenges. Including my kids in this journey is one of the main reasons for doing this. It's so important that they have a full educational experience and not just be told to learn something because the government says they have to. Teaching them real world thinking is the most important thing we, as parents, can do. You already know the next update isn't great but there is so much I will be sharing, even though I won't be doing anything on the farm. Thank you for all your support 🌻

Ah, thanks Carol and yes, you are more than likely correct! I am expecting things to not be very successful but hoping for something, even if it's just seed saving 😁 My honest expectation (probably a worthwhile video) is that it is going to give me great insights into pests, watering and wind damage. I am wanting to use those insights to make improvements. I have ready decided I need to close in my whole fruit orchard and veggie garden because there are baboons but they should go for grains, mostly corn. Once again I'm testing this 😁 I have already thought I need a perimeter fence of chicken wire to keep any animals (hares, porcupines, etc) out but I don't know what height or if I should just close this in too. I hope you enjoyed watching my son and I and that you continue to enjoy our videos in the years to come 🌻

@@tamakoa-homestead I think what you and your family have planned is awesome 👌 live and learn best way look at the memories you have made with your son fabulous 👌

Hi guys - well done on your progress thus far - you and especially your son are reliving my childhood on my Homestead in KZN - If I may recommend - set up some camping sites with basic facilities for people with skills that can come and assist for free in further developing your property - I know I would love to come over - good luck going forward ❤

They sure do! I'm so glad you use them too and I know Sean appreciates you and your support 🙏

Hey, thanks for those insights and you are so right that wheat here is a winter crop, so I am really pushing the boundaries of what's possible. That being said, if it fails then I will just treat the row as a cover crop and weed eat and mow it in time for it to settle for the winter planting. I must say, I have found the pine needle debate to be one of the most hotly contested debated around 😆 I used them extensively in my urban garden for many years and they were absolutely incredible and the reason why I did was after reading 3 different university studies that were done. All 3 studies showed that there was zero change to the PH of the soil and that to change soil PH you would need huge amounts of green needles. I found this super interesting and I am actually going to see if I can possibly work with a local university to run some tests. Could be pretty interesting! Thanks again for all your support and insights 🙏

Hey Rick, yeah, you are spot on! My back is taking a beating and I am actually talking to someone in the area that has a TLB that as you say, make an offer and pay for diesel and you get a huge amount done in very little time. I need it mainly to clear the fence lines as it's 1.5m high renosterbos which is a massive risk come fire season. I want to try clear 2m each side and then can some more clear inside where I want the veggie garden and the rest of this grain section. I planted it out today and it was absolutely awesome so keep an eye out for that one 🌻

Thank you! Yeah I think it is 1.8HA which is enough to do everything we want to but also not waste any space. I know all the spots around me are sold, but I think there are still one or 2 left. I have a contact if you are wanting to find out more? 🌻

Sure 😂

@@jacquesjooste thank you so much for your comment I totally agree with you! I'm so incredibly happy that I didn't dive into anything and start building without going through all the seasons. After this winter I now know, as you said, to narrow spacing, make sure there is bracing and reinforce absolutely everything. I am saving trees wherever I go and have quite a few set aside but also been pondering the best options for the wind. I'm thinking poplar as there are lots of them in the area and they grow SUPER quickly. I have a handful of pine trees and then a bunch of indigenous trees. Are there any windbreak trees you would suggest? 🌻

@@tamakoa-homestead nice, I think you are covered

I must say I am incredibly happy that I have not yet done any building or set up any structures as yet, having now been through a full year of seasons. I have now also seen how the local troop of baboons move which unfortunately means I am going to have to cage in my fruit orchard and veggie garden. It makes such a difference observing first before diving right in. It's also really interesting to know about the 5 year high on some dials. I am keen to see what this summer holds as last year it peaked at 49 degrees, which is really intense! Thanks for taking the time to share advice and insights 🌻

Wowzers that's proper chilly! I hope you didn't have any seedling damage. I know quite a few people that planted out mid Aug as we usually can here in the WC and got a lot of seedlings damage. This year the winter was really all over the place! Let's see what summer brings 😁🌻

@@tamakoa-homestead I germinate indoors, then keep them out in the sun in daytime until they need to be potted up. Then I cover their outside shelf on very cold nights. I would have to plant out the peas and broad beans very soon.

Nice! It sounds like you have your system all figured out to make it work for you. I love seeing how others achieve this - well done 🌻

Thank you Pam and yes, it really has been hard on so many people. I have seen some other homesteads and farms get absolutely smashed this winter. From flooding to freezing and winds blowing roofs off. I have also heard from many in these areas that they have never experienced winds and storms like this before so I am really hoping this is more of a once-off than a regular occurrence in the years to come. Time will tell though 🌻

Thank you 😁 yes, it's such a simple thing that soooo many people just don't even consider that can bring in much nutrients into your garden without any cost and without too much effort 🌻

Great suggestion, thanks so much 🙏

Gary, you are spot on and I tried to get hold of a rotary tiller but I just cannot find one. I am going to keep asking around the community to see if I can maybe find a nearby farmer that can lend me a hand. My thinking has been a 1 time rip/tillage of the ground and then build on that. Thanks for your great suggestion 🌻

Thank you so so much for your comment and suggestions 💚 this is 100% my concern because I would need to remove all the main horizonal support wires to replace the pole and hope that it all lines up again afterwards. Lots to think about to hopefully make the right decision 🌻

Sistering is a good idea! Then adding boxing.

@@SimpleEarthSelfReliance thanks so much! Someone else also mentioned sistering the posts so that is something I will most certainly look into. I am still pretty green when it comes to fencing, so do you mind explaining to me what boxing means?

Yeah, I must say, doing things with family makes it a lot easier and memorable. I mean, it is amazing doing the work yourself, but having others there makes it even better. Thank you for all your support 🌻

Yeah, I totally agree and I'm glad I was able to share it to show others wanting to possibly do this that it is not always moonshine and roses but that's it's a lot of ongoing work. Thanks for your suggestion on replacing the posts and for confirmation my initial thought 🙏🌻

Yeah, absolutely! I am very grateful that I haven't built yet and that I could see what a beating this shed took that was in the property when I bought it. It has showed me how I really need to do things properly and no corners can be cut. I have actually changed my mind on the build, which is SUPER exciting. I think it's an amazing change that makes a lot more sense. I'll post an update on that in a week or 2 for you. That means that luckily you haven't missed any build videos and that I luckily didn't build such a shocking structure 😁 Thank you for your support and I look forward to sharing all the exciting updates with you 🌻

Ah, thank you, this comment really helps a lot as! I totally agree with you but I also know what plans I have to bring in more fynbos diversity along with food so it can become a highly diverse and productive environment. I must say, if you have never showered completely exposed out in the open then there is some seriously exhilarating about it and so natural, which is something we have completely lost touch with 🌻

Ah, thanks Neuton, all your comments and words of inspiration are so valued and appreciated 💚 You actually have a really good point there that I haven't yet considered, which is actually a really logical one and that is to check every pole now. They are pretty thick fence posts so I should be able to give them a really good shove without anything happening and if I hear any cracking or it breaks, well then I have proactively just saved some hassle. I'll definitely give that a go, so thank you for that great idea. Good luck with your phone and connectivity! I also had to make the switch earlier this year too and it's never great moving phones, but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end. Luckily you also haven't missed any of the build videos as I have some other very exciting tips up my sleeve that I want to share in the next week or 2 🌻

Absolutely and thank you for the motivation 💚 you are so right and to just keep chilling away is all we can do and maintain a sense of humour along the way! My mom is, as you say, a real trooper. She can go for hours and the next day I could hardly move and she was completely fine 😁 the baby boomers are a group of people that (mostly) are not afraid of hard work and really understand that nothing comes easy. Hopefully we can help change that perception for future generations 💚

Hey Den, thank you so much for all your support, it really is appreciated 🙏 To be very honest I have not thought about that at all. That being said I follow a channel called The Nomadic Movement and they are self building with light steel framing and it looks like it takes forever to get the smallest thing done. From grinding to welding there is seemingly no room for error. My thinking is that wood is a lot more forgiving and easier to work with, but you have stirred up my interest now and it might be something for me to look at for our main house down the line 🌻

It really does and I am so glad that the footage brought across the amount of hard work it took to get it to that point. That being said I am only about 1/3rd of the way so lots more back breaking work lies ahead...I am sure it will all be worth it in the end 🌻🌻🌻

Aw, thanks Mell, really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment 💚 Can't wait to have to come visit sometime soon...must need to dust off those wellies though 😂

Thank you, Etienne 🙏 it's back-breaking work, as I am sure you know, seeing that you are doing the same thing on your side. That being said it's incredibly rewarding and makes me feel alive. Way more than sitting on the couch or in front of my laptop! It sounds like you are on your way to making something great where you are and urban homesteading is incredible! I actually have another channel on urban sustainability called My Sustainability Journey, if you have not yet heard of it. I share lots of local tips and tricks of growing in urban spaces. Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment and wish you nothing but success and abundant harvests 🌻🌻🌻

Oh wow, thank you so much Mitchell and thank you for following my journey from the other side of the world 💚 I am also super excited to see how my soul improves as I have some greatness planned for it. Just need to get through this back breaking phase first 😂

That is a SUPER suggestion and I actually have some of them that I ordered from Livingseeds that I need to get started so I will hopefully be able to divide up that plant in the near future 🤞🌻

Sy kan, ja! Sy is 63 en werk asof sy n tiener is en sit my enige dag ore aan 😂 sy is mal oor bou projekte so ek is seker sy sal baie betrokke wees in the huis bou.

Ah, man, if I could do that I 100% would! That would be the most natural and effective way of clearing spots, but right now I don't live there as there isn't a house on that land yet. I must say it's been quite the challenge balancing everything and what to do next as everything is a priority in my mind 😂 I decided grains because they are all drought tolerant and don't need me there all the time. I am sure once there is a little house in place that I will be able to get a lot more done 🌻🌻🌻

Haha, I'm keeping the suspense... Jokes. I would absolutely LOVE to create more content and share daily updates, but with my split life and full time job I only get to the homestead / farm on weekends and some weekends the kids keep me busy so I always try have 2 to 3 weeks of content as a backup for when I can't get there. Hopefully I get to spend more time there and create a lot more content over the December school holidays 🤞 Thank you so much for your support and for loving my content and journey so far. I really do appreciate you 🌻🌻🌻

Ah, you beat me to a topic I will be covering in the next 2 to 3 weeks 😀 I have spent a huge amount of time researching all the different planting and growing options that I almost feel dizzy! So, long story short, after considering food forest, Syntropic Farming, swales, berms, and so much , I have decided to follow our fellow African's far up north where they are using half moon berms. From what I has seen this is going to give me the best possible reward in my smaller space. Swales put me off because of the huge footprint they have and with my diagonal and altering slope it's going to take up a huge amount of space. The half moons will only be 2m in width and each tree will have its own half moon. I can then plant the berm with flowers, grains and other things whilst growing crops or cover crops inside the basin. It is a highly effective flooding method to infrequently soak the ground around the tree and with alternating half moons as one overflows it runs into the one below. I really believe this is an incredibly underutilised method in agriculture which I am really excited to explore, test and share with you and the world 🌻

Good! The half-moon swales will do the same for you in the rainy season.

Thanks so much for your comment, you actually just reminded me that I need to join up before our summer fire season. I'm actually getting a TLB in to clear a fire break on either side of our fences because of the high risk of fire in the area. I need to start getting into a fire mindset soon 🌻

Hahahaha you got me good on that one! CAN. YOU. IMAGINE 😂 I am pretty sure I would have lost my sense of humour if that happened 😂

Thanks for commenting 🌻

Hey, thanks for reaching out and sharing your story. Well done for chasing a lifestyle that will benefit your entire family, even under challenging circumstances 💚 The best place to find cheap wood is directly from your local sawmill and ask them if they have any written off or returned stock they cannot sell. If you want you can pop me a DM on my FB or Insta pages then I can share some details? 🌻

@@tamakoa-homestead cheers, much appreciated, will send a DM 👍🏻

@@ronaldlucas5360 thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it 💚

Hey Ant, thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a comment and I'm so happy to hear you have enjoyed watching my journey so far. It's such a relief knowing that all the extra hard work, on top of building everything up from scratch, is paying off. So I actually spent about 5 years looking for land and when the right one came around acted quickly. There are a few things I looked for but most importantly was water and security. For security I wanted to be tempted with difficult or very slow access to the land and then a single road in and out of the area. If something were to happen it's easy to alert others and block roads and start searching. I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions 🌻

@@blunderchips that's a really good question and to be honest, I am still busy with plans as the local municipality has been absolutely useless. As we won't be living in it for the time being I am classifying it as a temporary storage house until everything is sorted, which gives me a bit more leeway. It's a stock standard 9x6m unit which most Nutec companies use for their houses and I have seen a lot of Nutec builds that are incredibly poor builds. As it is completely rural I am very confident it won't need to comply with any local bylaws like we have to in built up neighbourhoods 😁 As far as I am aware, as long as you don't need huge earthworks or structural elements then you don't need engineers to get involved that then require build phase sign offs. Once again, not have residential bylaws make a big difference here. I will more than likely be picking up a lot of insights as the process unfolds which I will be sharing here for everyone to know 🌻

@@denbeech6647 it's the greatest of pleasure and I'm actually logging every expense and I will be sharing yearly expenses in detail in videos. I want to make this entire process as transparent as possible so people know exactly what awaits them and if this is a realistic journey for them. As you very correctly point out, a lot of people hold back due to not knowing what awaits them, especially around costs and this is something I really want to help people out with. I really hope my future content continues to add value for you 🌻

I am just in the process of building my own timber frame house on my homestead in southern Italy. I can totally understand your feelings and excitement. It was such a surreal feeling when I actually screwed the first pieces for the floor together, that's a few good weeks ago now. I had to stop because the heatwave makes it hard to work during the day, but the structure is closed, the vapor barrier is on and the windows are in. I will continue my building journey in September when the weather takes a breather. Have fun building, I will definitely be following you

@@reneemm6519 oh wow, that's absolutely amazing to hear and thank you for sharing that with me! Are you documenting your build in any way? Please post a link here if you have a RUclips channel or social channels then I would love to follow you. I would love to see how your journey unfolds too and how your dream transforms into reality. Thanks again for taking the time to leave me a comment and I hope you enjoy my future videos 🌻

@@tamakoa-homestead I have thought about documenting my journey for a long time, but in the end decided not to share it on any socials. Since I am building it all by myself while working full-time, the time I would need to learn to edit and make videos would take away too much time from the build and understand everything about my land such as rain and wind patterns, and how to regenerate the land in the best possible way

@@reneemm6519 nothing but respect for you! I totally understand that decision and I can tell you it's incredibly difficult and time consuming to document a homesteading journey. For one, it takes double, if not triple the amount of time to do things and then your mind is always thinking of what to film, the angles, the shots, etc. If you have any learning you can share with me as I post videos please share them. I know I am going to make mistakes along the way and any sort of guidance would really help 🌻