A Closer Look at Our Corporate Social Responsibility

Sustainable farming

Sustainable farming is the key to sustainable food systems. At Eenzaamheid we strive towards farming practices that meet the needs of current and future generations, whilst ensuring profitability, environmental health and social and economic equity.

Techniques that emulate nature are favoured to preserve soil fertility, prevent water pollution and protect biodiversity. We are currently investigating the option of converting some of our vineyards to organic farming as a pilot project with the rest to follow based on success and risk.

Biodiversity of fauna and flora

Eenzaamheid is home to several wildlife species including aquatic birds, birds of prey, rodents, reptiles, antelope, deer and the occasional predator. In line with our approach of biodiversity-friendly farming, we have made provision for wildlife corridors between our cultivated surfaces. This provides shelter and allows animals to move freely from one habitat to another. In pursuit of sustainability and a healthy ecosystem, the farming activities at Eenzaamheid are purposefully diverse.

In addition to wine growing and production, the farming operation encompasses Merino sheep for their exceptional quality wool and meat, pasture-raised beef cattle and dryland spring wheat. A large portion of our livestock feeds are also cultivated on the farm as part of our crop-rotation approach.

Carbon footprint

Greenhouse gasses are emitted and absorbed through our operations at Eenzaamheid. With the help of plants, we can naturally remove carbon from the air and store it in the soil in a process known as carbon sequestration – a natural process of photosynthesis. Combined with active efforts to reduce carbon emissions, it is entirely possible to rectify the damage.

Regenerative agricultural methods are crucial to removing carbon from the atmosphere. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and nurturing healthy, carbon-rich soils as part of our goal to reach net zero through a holistic approach to carbon reduction.

Regenerative farming

Over the years we have transitioned away from a chemical based monocultural agriculture that is degenerative to soil and local ecosystems, towards regenerative agriculture as it relates to the management of vineyards, grains and pasture and for greater biodiversity to become the new conventional. We adopted a more holistic and regenerative approach to the management of vineyards, grains and pastures. We have increased the health of our soil and plants through biological pest & disease management, diverse vineyard cover crops and the holistic grazing of sheep in vineyards. Annually we relocate a minimum of 20000 straw bales (360t) from our wheatlands to our vineyards to use as an organic mulch between vines.

Mulches suppress weeds and reduce water evaporation by shading the soil. Mulches prevent raindrops from impacting directly on the soil surface, thereby maintaining soil structure and water infiltration. Mulches encourage biological activity, especially of earthworms through the added organic matter and by keeping the soil moist. Furthermore, mulches supply nutrients that should be accounted for in the fertilizer program.

Energy

We recently made the jump to greener energy by installing a photovoltaic (PV) system. Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy that uses solar radiation to produce electricity.

Roughly two thirds of our operation is powered by a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant that consistently exceeds its targeted output and contributes substantially to sustainability.

The switch to PV energy further reduced Eenzaamheid’s carbon footprint and reliance on the untrustworthy national grid, while resulting in cost savings that both improve profitability and avoid job losses in a high-cost energy environment.

Water-wise

South Africa is a water-scarce country, frequently subject to droughts which are worsening due to climate change.

At Eenzaamheid we specialize in the dryland production of grapes and wheat which means that these crops are not irrigated leaving us with a very low overall water use. Buildings are equipped with catchment systems to harvest rainwater for future use.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

At Eenzaamheid our approach is to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce refers to cutting back on the amount of trash we generate. Reuse refers to finding new ways to utilize things that otherwise would’ve be thrown out. Recycle refers to turning something old and useless into something useful.

An example of this is the hundreds of sheep feed bins we have created by modifying used 25-litre feed molasses containers. All agrochemical containers and related packaging are recovered and recycled by a certified packaging recycler strictly according to the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), its regulations and SANS10402. All wine bottles, boxes and other packing materials from on-site wine tasting and sales are sent for recycling, while boxes in good condition are re-used. Organic waste from cellar operations during harvest and production is composted and used to improve the levels of organic matter in the farm soils.

Conservation

Conservation has long been a priority of the Briers-Louw family. The first reptile reserve in Africa, the J.N. Briers-Louw Nature Reserve, was established in 1972 on Eenzaamheid to protect the Geometric tortoise and its habitat from extinction.

The Geometric tortoise (or suurpootjie as it is known in Afrikaans) is South Africa’s most threatened tortoise species and is endemic to the winter rainfall region of the south-western Cape.

Several endangered lowland Fynbos plant species are also conserved in the J.N. Briers-Louw Nature Reserve.