Roux Pecans

www.pecannuts.co.za EU Cerified Organic Pecan Nuts and Kernel

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Location: Ramah Farm, PO Box 255, Hopetown 8750. South Africa, Tel/Fax:+27-53-2040001, South Africa

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Rhodesian Ridgebacks playing





We went out to see whether or not sheep and game are using our new trough and the dogs enjoyed a run.


It is still very hot and dry. Ramah was fortunate to have 40mm a month ago and our veld dams got some water.


After resting in the shade of a thorn tree for a while we walked over to the dam.


They had a ball!!


"Oslo" (with collar) her mother "Maxi" and her father "Red" just loved it.




The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an "African dog" and used in early times in packs to guard animals (cattle and sheep) and people when they moved about the country in search of grazing or hunting.


They are exceptionally loyal and protective and can be effective in tracking animals - if trained well to do so.

They are also known as "Lion dogs" because of their fearless defence of cattle and people against raiding lions.


We breed them on the farm. Maxi recently featured in a BBC documentary called "Vet Safari" with her litter of pups. Oslo was one.
It is easy to see how the breed got it's name when viewing Oslo's back as she stands near the new trough.

Friday, February 09, 2007

New water tank


Ramah Trust decided to sell a portion of the grazing land to a neighbour. The result is that the watering point on that property will be lost to us and a new point needs be created.

This is the tank and stand at the dam near the house that gravity feeds the watering point about 500m away.

Iused an old diesel tank stand (2500l diesel tank) to hold the tank. For some reason the whole stand collapsed during the night with 2 tons of

water from a height of 2m. It is made of plastic and you can imagine that it burst like a baloon!!!

So, this is MkII with a custom made 3m tank. Should hold now!

Tortoise refuelling


Yesterday we had 40mm of rain. This is the first rain we have had in 2007 and December, January and February have been frightfully hot. Temperatures daily above 35C and cooling to 25C at midnight.

This old dear (yes, it is a female) had her head under the water in this pool in the road this morning.

A major refuelling. What a relief. Guess she's seen it all before!!
We have a good friend from Switzerland who generally speaks excellent English but insists on calling one of these a "torture".
Annemarie......we think of you each time we see one!!! and, it is often too.

Budding seedlings in nursery



They "new" nursery at Ramah operated by James Blanckenberg (Tala Nursery).

The seeds were planted a little late in November 2006 and despite this they have shot up so, that we are able to start budding them already.

A very pleasing result.

Elias is budding Pawnee onto this one. In the winter of 2008 all these trees will be "read-to-go".


It is a lot of hard work with small windows of opportunity do be successful at the technique

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Baby "Steenbok"



The orchard is host to many buck and quite a few specis year round. But particularly in summer when the veld is very dry and the orchard a green heaven by contrast.

James Blanckenberg was collecting graft-wood and found this baby Steenbok. (Raphicerus campestris) under a tree. It's mother had hidden it there while she was grazing.


The Steenbok only grows to 52 cm at the shoulder and weighs 11 kg when adult!

The gestation period is approximately 6 months


They are truly beautiful little antelope.


James's finger gives an idea of scale.

Mulching the orchard



It is mid summer now and we cut the grass and clover that has grown between rows. The mowed grass rots and feeds the trees.

The pictures show the typical rows before and after mowing. This keeps the soil cool and moist and together with microbial activity keeps the soil alive and healthy. Earthworms decompose this matter too.