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Farming has a way of getting under your skin and into your blood. Once it’s there, producing and harvesting become second nature.
John Viollah is a prime example. Growing up on a small vegetable farm in Malawi, he always had a passion for farming. After earning a diploma in marketing, he moved to Cape Town in search of work but eventually found his calling as a chef. Over the years, worked at several restaurants and eventually met and married Christolene, a girl from the town of Prieska in the Northern Cape. Despite his culinary career, the urge to grow vegetables never left him. Today, he runs a small farm in his yard in Prieska.
A small farm in my yard
Following his return to Prieska, John worked for various seed farmers. “I gained a lot of experience in soil improvement, water management, and planting onions and other vegetables,” John says. “Growing vegetables is in my blood, and my dream has always been to have my own little farm. When Christolene complained about the high cost of vegetables, I wondered if I could start my dream of a vegetable farm.”
He decided to convert their large yard into a small farm. With no money to hire workers, I cleared and planted the yard piece by piece. It was a one-man show. They initially experimented, but he soon learned what worked and what didn’t.
John now grows onions, spinach, pumpkin, corn, butternut squash, and beans on his little ‘farm’, depending on the season. Without the funds to buy fertiliser, he makes his own compost from leaves and peels, constantly improving his soil.
Anyone can start a vegetable ‘farm’
John believes anyone can turn a small piece of land into a vegetable garden. “A ‘farm’ doesn’t have to be large. If you can feed your family from your garden, you’ve already achieved a milestone,” he says. His advice to aspiring small-scale vegetable farmers is to start with what you can handle and afford. Pay attention to the seasons and plant accordingly. Ensure the soil is healthy and continually improve it.
Click here to learn more about growing potatoes.
John’s ultimate goal is to expand to a larger piece of land and become a commercial vegetable farmer. He also hopes to create jobs and teach others how to grow vegetables.
For more information, contact John Viollah at 079 156 4941.
