Hartenberg - Whatever it takes
Hartenberg lies in its own self-contained valley with a pure water source flowing through the entire length of the property into a pristine wetland system. This wetland, which occupies 80 of the farm's 170 ha, has never been cultivated. Neither shall it be.
Since their purchase of the property in 1986, the Mackenzies have intensified conservation efforts, especially regarding alien clearing and birdlife proliferation on the property.
Conservation Philosophy
Owners and staff have accepted responsibility for the conservation of the property through responsible and sustainable use of all natural resources. Our stated intention is to leave the property in a better condition than in which we received it.
Water Initiatives
In 2003, a Water Quality Management Report was conducted for the estate in order to optimize water use and re-devise domestic and cellar effluent systems. The result has seen the implementation of a system whereby gray water is aerated and filtered, then re-used for vineyard irrigation. R80 000 was spent in 2004 to transfer all garden and lawn irrigation from potable borehole water to farm dam water. Water consumption has dropped by 50%.
Since 1999, we have reduced our irrigation from 80% to 10%. Today irrigation is either drip or micro, with considerable water savings as a result. Vineyard irrigation is only used now when necessary, with soil probe and leaf pressure bomb readings triggering watering. In order to prevent soil erosion and silt being carried into the wetland, most water furrows have been cement-lined or hand-packed with stone.
Biodiversity and Wine Initiatives
In 1997, an eight-kilometre electric fence was erected around the farm's perimeter. Within two years, substantial increases in animal sightings and nesting bird life were recorded. With a significant contribution from the owners, wage staff were incentivised to acquire their own property off the farm. As a result, human impact on the wetland was reduced by 60%.
Alien Vegetation Removal
A R50 000 investment has seen the removal of a lane of about 50 massive Blue Gum trees growing on the feeder river, upstream of our wetland. We have noticed increased and longer runoffs after rains and into spring. A lane of about 60 mature pine trees was removed in 1998 at a cost of R70 000.
Recently a forest of about 200 to 300 Blue Gum trees was removed near our front entrance. Every year since 2002, the wetland is cleared of any new possible alien vegetation.
Other Initiatives
The farm has gradually moved from annual to permanent cover crops between vines (like Fescues) which provide additional natural habitat for fauna.
A moratorium on the removal and/or disturbance of any indigenous flora or fauna has been declared. All staff have been educated as to the reasons.
Disused Telkom telephone poles were acquired and erected at strategic points for use as raptor poles.
There is an ongoing indigenous tree-planting programme on the property.
No yearly fertilizers have been added for the past 10 years. Annual leaf and soil analyses determine maintenance nutrition for the vines and, should it be necessary, nitrogen is only added locally in the form of organics like chicken manure.
Nitrogen-fixing cover crops are also used.
Our refuse management strategy changed in 2001 from traditional burning and/or burying, to contracting the removal of refuse by an outside party. The large rubbish dump was covered over and will in time be rehabilitated.
Weed spraying is only carried out on wind-still days and then only in a covered unit.
Hartenberg does not follow the traditional, fixed and preventative fungal spray timetable. Three strategically placed weather stations on the farm record conditions conducive to mildew infection. If an impending threat is noted, an SMS is sent to the viticulturist alerting him. With the guesswork taken out of spraying, not only have we managed to reduce our spray bill by 50% but a lot less chemicals are now applied to the environment.
Possible Future Initiatives
Nature walks along the wetland area.
Erection of bird hides.
To join and incorporate our wetland into the Bottelary conservation area.
Scientific surveys to record amphibian, bird and plant status and their diversity.
Re-establishment of fynbos in vacant suitable sites on various areas of the property,
Investigate use of fynbos as a possible permanent cover crop.
Removal of Kikuyu grass areas in a specific portion of the wetland.
Important Bird Life
African Fish Eagle (summer visitor)
Burchell's Coucal (rare in the Western Cape)
Jackal Buzzard
Guinea fowl (approx 300 birds)
Spotted Eagle Owl (three breeding pairs)
Animal Life
Antelope
Caracal
Civet
Mongoose
Porcupine
