Our Bramleigh Story
A story of trial and error, perseverance and passion, dedication and integrity, a bucket load of faith, supportive family, loyal customers and incredible team…
In 2015 we were entrusted with the management of the family property.
Excited to have our own vegetable garden, a couple of backyard chickens, and to pick our own fruit, we enthusiastically jumped in, as pair of naive newly weds.
Learning to manage a property, a guesthouse, and a farm had a steep learning curve.
But the beauty of Bramleigh stole our hearts, filling us with determination to preserve this natural beauty - the rolling green grassy hills, protective mountains, and cool, damp mistbelt forest - a diverse landscape, inspiring a diverse farm where each biome calls for different care, different animal impact, and provides in different ways.
Where we started
Bramleigh began with simple questions - how to produce wholesome food, care for the animals, and steward the land in a way that builds a resilient landscape for generations to come?
Our plans began with the idea of running the guesthouse on the side while we continued to work full time - Andre as a solar system designer; Kait as a teacher.
We began to explore regenerative agriculture through Ridgedale Permaculture, GrassFed Life podcast, and of course, Joel Salatin.
Our dream was to grow the farm, to be surrounded by animals and build a thriving ecosystem.
With this backdrop, we began developing a farm inspired by nature; regenerative, and resilient, slowly building up enterprises each year.
Building Bramleigh
2017
Initially we established a market garden, selling vegetables and micro-greens
2018
We started with our pasture raised chickens and eggs, slowly scaling each year.
2019
We added pigs to clear bramble on the property and establish pastures.
2020
Goats joined the team as they seemed better suited to our terrain.
2021
Finally, enter the cattle! A friend from the Regenerative Agriculture Association invested in our farm by assisting us to start with cattle that would be part of the larger regeneration of our veld, and close the loop through grazing the nutritious forage that develops following the fertility provided by the chickens raised on pasture. From there we have grown our own beef herd.
Regeneratively raised
Grass-fed & finished beef
The fertility provided by the chickens produces nutritious grass allowing our cattle to be raised fully on grass, frequently rotated to new grazing. Our aim is to build healthy topsoil through the careful management of our animals. We don't have to use artificial fertiliser, and animals can move in natural patterns of grazing, allowing the grass time to rest, recover, and develop.
Healthy soil → Healthy grass → Healthy animals → Healthy food
Farm to Table
Local Food with a story
Growing good food is only part of the picture. We also wanted a way to connect directly with the people eating it...
A key transformative element has been REKO, a Facebook based Finnish market system designed for small scale farmers, aimed at increasing food security, social relations, and transparent local food production. Having seen this modelled overseas, we decided to start up a REKO Ring in our area. This has been instrumental in getting our business off the ground, and keeping it afloat through the ups and downs. Selling directly to customers has allowed us to keep learning and growing.
Regenerative Living
The idea of regenerative living on every level has forced us to think differently, to run our business differently, and a create a regenerative lifestyle for our family.
REGENERATION IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION, AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY LEARNING, GROWING, EVOLVING AND ADAPTING. EACH DECISION IS EVALUATED ACCORDING TO ITS ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL IMPACTS RELATIVE TO OUR CONTEXT.