Off-Grid Living
Bee propolis in South Africa: how to harvest, store and sell it
How to harvest propolis cleanly with a trap mat, freezer and cold water, store it, and sell it as a raw hive product without health claims.
The seven pillars
Everything here sits under one of seven headings
Each is built the same way: the system explained, the standards named, and the mistakes that cost people the most set out plainly.
03
Grow
Soil first — compost, worms, biochar and mulch. Then permaculture, bed types and which suits your ground, hydroponics and aquaponics.
04
Animals
Bees, chickens and fish. What they cost to keep, what they give back, and which species you may legally hold in this province.
05
The Still Room
Ferment, preserve, store and remedy. Beer, mead and kombucha; canning and bottling; a pantry that rotates rather than rots; the herb bed.
06
Make it Pay
The enterprises that turn a smallholding from a cost into an income — and the honest arithmetic on each one.
07
Security
Private provision is permanent infrastructure in this country. What it costs to do properly, without the fear-mongering.
Start where you are
You do not need land to begin
Pick the space you actually have. We will show you what it can carry, and what to do first.
01
Windowsill & balcony
Herbs, microgreens and a bokashi bin. The cheapest place to start.
See what fits →Latest
From the ground
The newest entries in the journal — researched write-ups of the systems we are building, testing and costing, each one dated and signed.
Off-Grid Farming
Mushroom spawn in South Africa: an off-grid growing guide
Mushroom spawn in South Africa: where to buy it, what it costs, grain vs sawdust, judging quality and storing it in our heat. Dated local supplier prices.
Solar Energy
Choosing solar panels in South Africa: TOPCon, certification and price per watt
How to choose solar panels for South African conditions: TOPCon or PERC, the datasheet numbers that matter, hail and salt-mist certification, roof mounting and a dated price per watt.
Off-Grid Living
Off-grid herb garden in South Africa: six herbs that earn their place
Six herbs that survive South African sun, frost and water limits, with companion planting, shade and mulch tactics, and dated heirloom seed prices.