Easter with Shepherd and the Eggs of Limpopo

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

Hello Everyone and welcome to another instalment of our family adventures in South Africa. With Easter fast approaching it seems only fitting to delve back into the world of Shepherd our gardener and to visit his chicken farm in the rural province of Limpopo. An expansion of the farm to include a coup of egg laying chickens has been this year’s success story. So, it’s eggs at Easter here for Shepherd and his young family. 

Let us refresh ourselves on Shepherd’s story, discover more about his family and the common problems that face South Africans, and follow them on this eggtraordinary adventure. 

Shepherd

We first met Shepherd back in 2018 when we moved out to South Africa from the UK. He was the gardener of our rental property, and we got to know him over lunch every week as we learnt about South Africa through his stories growing up in this beautiful land. Shepherd’s wife, Rebecca, passed away in 2019 after a very brief battle with cancer leaving behind five children, two of whom were still at school. It was a really difficult time for him and for his children who were now left to live on their own in their rural homeland of Limpopo whilst Shepherd continued to work in the city of Johannesburg. Shortly after, Laurence and I discovered that Shepherd and Rebecca had had a dream to run a chicken farm, which due to financial reasons had never come to fruition. So, with a desire to see Shepherd’s family recover from the tragedy of Rebecca’s death, and to see him rise out of poverty and realise his dream, we hatched a plan which resulted in the creation of ‘Shepherd and Rebecca’s Chicken Farm’ back in January 2020. It was such an exciting time, and it was also a step closer to Shepherd being able to return home and retire with a sustainable income. 

The first ever batch of meat chickens on
Shepherd and Rebecca's Chicken Farm back in 2020

After a year of Shepherd’s family running the farm on their property in Limpopo, it became apparent that a second form of income would be needed. A batch of chickens had all fallen ill and died, leaving the family without an income for that month. Shepherd decided that he needed to broaden his horizons so that he wasn’t completely reliant on chickens for their meat. Eggs was the solution, and so Christmas 2020 saw Shepherd and his family build a coup for some egg laying chickens. Phase 2 of the farm was complete, and we just needed to wait for the chickens. It wasn’t until a whole year later when Shepherd was home for Christmas in 2021, that he had the time to rear 30 chicks and establish the egg laying side of the business. As January 2022 started and Shepherd once again returned to Jo’burg for his work as a gardener, we waited with anticipation to hear if the egg layers were a laying… The end of January and the first few weeks of February passed, and still there was no news of eggs from Limpopo. The cost of feeding the chickens was eating into the only bit of money Shepherd had, and that was meant to pay for food for his family in Limpopo and himself in Jo’burg. We researched ways to improve the environment for the chickens, and Shepherd had boxes added for the chickens to lay eggs in, and branches in the coup for perching. Shepherd then decided that the chickens would need more food in order to have the energy to lay, so with a final outlay of money to buy more feed, we waited again for the prized eggs. Towards the end of February, Shepherd was rewarded with his efforts…the chickens started to lay, he finally had eggs! It took a few weeks before the chickens were laying like clockwork, and food was increased yet again as they started to eat their own eggs, but as of the end of March 2022, the chickens were laying enough eggs to cover their own feed, and even some extra for profit. 

The arrival of the egg laying chickens, Christmas 2021

Eggs, eggs, eggs!

We are so happy for Shepherd and his family with what they have achieved over the last few years. Our weekly lunches continue three and a half years on from when we first met, and our understanding and appreciation of Shepherd’s life deepens every time. Here is a little insight into the family he holds so dear… 

Shepherd with his mom, Muofhe, who at 83 still
sleeps on the floor every night without a mattress. 

Phindulo (Pretty) , the first born at 29
and a teacher in Limpopo

Pfarelo, the second born who looks after
the family and manages the meat chickens
with the third born, Thabelo (Kingsley).

Shepherd and the two youngest boys, Mutikedzi and
Rikundele during the initial build back in 2020. 

Shepherd, like many South Africans, has suffered immeasurable loss in his life. As a child he lost his twin brother to something that was no doubt curable, and as an adult, he lost his older brother, Ayhashoni, to a vengeful poisoning at work, and who died in his arms. He also lost his younger brother, Tshimangadzo, who just disappeared one day. Someone disappearing is apparently quite common out here, as body parts are requested and used by witch doctors to make medicine known as ‘muthi’. The country is so vast and the practice so widespread that the police haven't the means to investigate. As a result of these significant events in his life, Shepherd tries to protect and support his family in any way that he can. Phase 1 of the chicken farm with the meat chickens gave his older children, Phindulo and Thabelo, a job and a purpose when unemployment is so high in South Africa, and Phase 2 with the egg laying chickens has given his nephew, Humbulani, who is disabled and unable to find work, a job and a purpose too. Humbulani, sells the eggs from Shepherd’s home, and if he has any left over at the end of the week, boils them and takes them down to the local football ground to sell as snacks to the supporters. Retirement for Shepherd moves ever closer and ever more possible as he nears 60. We hope when it comes, it will be an exciting and not a stressful time for him.

Shepherd's nephew, Humbulani.

For the Willmore Family, these past few months have been extremely busy. School and school trips for the children (Amelie is currently surfing with her class mates in Durban), and work and more work for the adults. I have said goodbye to my volunteering with the French organisation, Creche Gabrielle, that I worked at once a week for a year. I will now start back up at The Riversands Primary School in the township of Diepsloot where I taught before Covid and which has finally returned to full time education 2 years after the start of the pandemic. Shepherd has also been helping me in our veggie patch at home providing me with the tools to become more sustainable in our own lives too.  

The Willmore's just before Amelie left
on her week long school trip,
and Amelie surfing the Durban waves...

Saying goodbye to the little ones at Creche Gabrielle

Photobombing a final imaginary tea party!

Posing with Shepherd in amongst
 the maize in our veggie patch. 

So, it's eggs in Limpopo that we are celebrating this Easter, and Shepherd's step closer to a sustainable way of life for him and his family. Thanks so much everyone for reading the blog and for all your support. I hope you are all safe and well. 

And let us keep all the people of Ukraine in our hearts at this time. 

Lots of love, Jess xxx

Previous post: Saving Lives and Saving Face!

Next post: Fresh Water, Salt Water, No Water, Floods!

Related posts: Shepherd's Dream of Chickens, Life in the Bush-veld with the Cows and the Crocs

Some extra pics from the last few months...

Friday treat at the Bryanston Garden Centre

Mardi Gras style parade at the French school.
Joel is dressed up as 'love'.

Elowen as a cheetah.

Amelie as a last minute monkey.

There's snow in Africa?

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

In the depths of an African winter, we have continued to explore this awesome continent. We celebrated the winter solstice with a festival at Joel's school, followed by a wonderful skiing holiday high up in the Maloti Mountains, in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Not your average June or July, with the absence of Pimm's and Wimbledon, but some incredible experiences to treasure.

The second term at school ended in particular fashion as Joel's school celebrated the winter solstice with the Festival of St John. Originally to celebrate light in the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it also suits a cold dark night with lanterns and a bonfire. At Joel's school, the children passing from primary to secondary school, which happens at thirteen in South Africa, celebrate their transition by lighting the bonfire with a javelin style throw of a torch, followed by a jump over the lit bonfire (A British health and safety crisis in the making).

The primary school children carrying their torches to the bonfire. 

The transition to secondary school with a jump through the fire

With only a few sizzling and smokey shoes later, it was everyone else's turn to take on the bonfire, and Amelie and Elowen were in their element as they charged over it. We followed many rounds of fire jumping with a warm soup in the school courtyard, which was lit up with lanterns and twinkling lights. I, all of a sudden, felt like I had been transported to a beautiful and atmospheric European Christmas market. I loved the Christmas spirit which I found had been absent in December, and was so happy to experience it, albeit in June.

Amelie and Elowen jumping over the bonfire.

Some of the school children's homemade lanterns.

In the school courtyard with the lanterns and lights.

Joel didn't come to the evening festivities as the nursery school children can only attend when they start primary school, but had their own mini festival during school time. Prior to experiencing the evening myself, I had assumed that Joel's day had involved some homemade lantern waving and a few songs, but after further investigation and to my surprise, it had also included some fire jumping as well. I had a chuckle to myself; of course it did, we are in Africa after all.

We entered into the school holidays enjoying the warm sunny days, and then wrapping up in blankets with hot water bottles, for the bitterly cold evenings. The girls enjoyed a week of holiday club at a local church, after which our exciting skiing holiday week began.

Laurence's school friend Mike, who I've enjoyed getting to know over the past thirteen years, and his amazing wife Yvette invited us to go on holiday with them, their daughter Rebecca, and their extended family. Laurence's youngest sister, Ashleigh, joined us from Cape Town and we also got to spend some precious time with her too. We began our drive to the remote ski resort in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a mountainous country inside of South Africa. We stayed in a little dorp called Bethlehem en route to the resort so that we could get there early for our first day of skiing. Knowing my frugal ways, Laurence was panicking slightly that I had booked us a stable, but he was proved wrong as we pulled up at an Inn, even if it was opposite Bethlehem's casino!

Off on holiday to Lesotho with Auntie Ash.

Afriski was amazing. The girls were whizzing down the slopes in no time. Elowen spotted a ski park full of lots of quite large and intimidating ski jumps that she decided she wanted to try. My response of, "Maybe one day", seemed to fall on deaf ears as she promptly skied into the park and landed a jump.  As the adult in charge at the time I felt obliged to follow suit even though my heart was in my mouth. I would rather not break my leg skiing again... The resort was small and relaxed, to the point that one day, over lunch, I looked over to the main slope only to see Amelie navigating a slalom course on her own. She did really well but the child supervision package that we'd booked was seemingly a rather loose term. Joel learnt to ski as he snow ploughed and turned down the slopes, which was so lovely to see. If given the choice though, he would have spent the whole week flying down the slopes on an inflatable rubber ring waving at anyone who would care to look in his direction. It was such a special and happy week together.

All three kids in their best spiderman pose
 and ready to ski, outside our lodge.

At the top of the main slope together.

With friends Mike and Yvette

Laurence and Ash on the slopes.

A moment together on the ski lift

Selfie with Elowen

Joel before a successful descent.

Joel in his rubber ring with the ski park in the background.

As with all great holidays, it was sad when it ended, and we began our journey home winding through the beautiful Maloti Mountains. It was amazing to pass through small mountain villages where people were wearing blankets and straw hats, which is the traditional dress in Lesotho. Cattle were pulling carts; people were collecting grass for the roofs of their round houses; men were herding cattle, goats, donkeys and sheep; and children played on the mountain side. We even passed a sign pointing down a dusty track to a mission hospital. It was as rural as it gets, beautiful, and life looked to be extremely hard, particularly in the cold nights of winter. Once back across the boarder into South Africa, we had lunch in a peaceful and picturesque dorp called Clarens before heading home and back to reality.

A round house in the mountains of Lesotho.

A rural mountain village. 

The beautiful Maloti Mountains.

Lunch in the picturesque dorp of Clarens.

We are back to school and work now as Term 3 has begun this week.

It's been a magical month exploring traditions and cultures both at school and in Lesotho, and of course, action packed as ever with some memorable fast and furious skiing with family and friends.

We hope you are enjoying the glorious long summer evenings, all the summer festivals and events, holidays and special time with family and friends.

Lots of love, Jess xxx

Next post: When building a wall is a good thing...

Previous post: There are Ants in my Sugar!

There are Ants in my Sugar!

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We have had a busy 6 weeks here in Africa. There’s been a general election, we’ve delved further into South African history, and burst onto the sporting scene as a family. Grandma has visited from the UK spending a lovely 2 weeks with us, and teaching at the township school is going well, as we reach mid-year and the end of Term 2.

Grandma Carol, visiting from the UK.

South African elections took place in May but realistically only ever have one winner, the African National Congress (ANC), the party formerly run by Nelson Mandela. It has a tall mountain to climb and has been marred with corruption in the last decade, but it does however have a good leader in Cyril Ramaphosa. There are those who are apathetic, those who are frustrated and those who are hopeful about politics and the future of South Africa. Election day is a public holiday here. Whilst we decided to go on safari for the day, people queued at polling stations to cast their vote. In South Africa, you can turn up at any polling station in the country to vote so the verification process for each person is quite lengthy. Everyone is marked with a black line on their thumb nail so that they cannot go to a different polling station to vote again. And social media is awash with photos of voting thumbs as people proudly state that they voted and encourage others to do so.

Propaganda from the biggest 3 parties.
The yellow poster is the ANC.

The ANC, who gained a majority in this year’s general election and who have been ruling for the last 25 years since the end of Apartheid, have an incredible history. Mum and I went to a suburb called Rivonia, which is 5 minutes from where we live in Lonehill, where a museum now stands on the property of an old farm called Lilieslief. Rivonia back in the early 60’s was a rural area occupied by only whites. The ANC, who had been driven underground by the ruling Afrikaans party, secretly bought the farm and covertly ran their head quarters from it. A white family lived in the farmhouse so as not to raise suspicions, and Nelson Mandela worked as Thomas, a farm helper. The ANC had tried for many years by passive means to bring about change in South Africa, but, as the rights for black people were withdrawn, the ANC felt the only way to make the Afrikaans party listen was by force. It was during a meeting where they were plotting to overthrow the government, that an unassuming dry-cleaning van pulled up at the farm. Out jumped the special forces, and the covert operation was over. ‘The Rivonia 10’, both black and white men, faced trial and it was from here that Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, mostly on Robben Island. To top off what was an incredible morning, we sat chatting with a gentleman at the museum who told us that he himself had been imprisoned on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela for 6 years and that Mandela had taught him, with some resistance, that he must befriend ‘the enemy’, the whites, as they were also trapped in the system of Apartheid. A truly amazing story.

Luckily, the one thing that seems to subvert politics is sport and we have thoroughly immersed ourselves in it. Amelie has taken up netball with the girls at school, and after a few lessons in the garden, is absolutely flying, playing both attacking and defensive positions. 

Amelie after her 1st netball match.

Elowen was quite adamant that she wanted to play soccer with the boys. I was surprisingly reluctant to let her, as I had travelled that same path at her age and know the heartache that comes with being different. But she wasn’t fooled by my subtle coercion, and now stands proudly on the soccer pitch shoulder to shoulder (or shoulder to elbow, she’s tiny) with the boys. Go Elowen! 

Elowen getting stuck in at a soccer tournament.

With Grandma and Joel after a soccer match.

All 3 children are playing hockey for our local hockey club at Morningside Country Club. The girls have picked it up quickly and while Joel is happy to go along, he would rather stand with the stick up his top and with his back to the ball. Maybe he’ll be more inclined next year… 

Amelie, Elowen and Joel at a hockey tournament.

I have also started playing hockey again after a few years out, both with the same club as the children and with a Masters’ team (I qualify as a senior in sport!). The former is quite serious with training and a coach, the latter is more relaxed with drinks of the alcoholic variety consumed before, during and after the games. I’m not a drinker myself but it seems to work as we are on a winning streak!

At Riversands Primary School, which is where I teach twice a week, the children are making huge strides in their understanding of English and with their reading and writing. Little Naledi *, who started out this year with very little spoken English has made great progress. She not only knows the sounds of letters but can blend them together and reads 3 letter words beautifully. Her vocabulary has grown, and we have lots of chats about home and what she is learning. 

With little Naledi

Nkosi* however is harder work. He has a very good command of the English language but is really struggling to be able to blend sounds together. After speaking to my sister, Hannah, who is a Special Educational Needs Coordinator in the UK, I am now armed with some tools to help him and make learning fun. We are progressing, just at a slower rate. I’m sure we will get there.

Practising drawing letters in the sand with Nkosi

The charity which runs the reading and writing program, The Link, have 2 buildings on the school property. And sadly, they have both been broken into this past month, twice. The jacks supporting the portacabin have been stolen, and all the cables out of the second building were taken both times, along with our tea urn. It makes you realise what poverty is up against in this township school. Our buildings are now alarmed so hopefully it won’t happen again.

And talking of breaking in… When it starts getting cold outside here, the ants find a way of getting inside the house and become quite a problem. Like us humans they head straight for the sweets cupboard and start living their best life on the honey or in the sugar. I have found that white vinegar seems to disrupt the party, and so it has become my cleaning product of choice. As it begins to warm up again in September, hopefully they will disappear back outside. Until next year…

I hope you are all enjoying the warm summer days and long evenings. We are evermore aware of the incredible history of this country, the lasting effects on society, and all the wonderful sporting opportunities afforded to us out here. Even if it is chilly by night.

Lots of love, Jess xxx

* The children's names have been changed to protect their identity.

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Life in the Bush-veld with the Cows and the Crocs!

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

It has yet again been a busy month here in South Africa. We have spent time with family and friends and indulged in the countryside and the culture.

We have been fortunate enough to spend a weekend with Laurence's cousins at their trout farm near a place called Dullstroom, about 3 hours north east of Johannesburg. The farm is truly in the bundus. The last shop and indeed building we passed before reaching the farmhouse was about a twenty minute drive away down some dusty tracks. Shortly after turning down one track we came across a doddery old man stumbling along with a stick to steady himself. With light fading fast as it does in Africa, and with no dwellings in sight, we stopped to give this old boy a lift. Little did we realise that his stumbling along was less to do with his age and more to do with his afternoon spent in a shebeen, which is a native African public house. So we had a rather eventful few minutes trying to establish where he was headed. We dropped him off at a cross roads and left him in the capable hands of two young men, who knew our jolly friend, and then we carried on to the farm in the dark.

Our weekend at the farm was spent quad biking, trekking rather adventurously to a huge waterfall, and fishing in the many dams. It was great to see all the little cousins having so much fun together, as were the big ones too!

A quick spin on the quad bike with cousin Shaun and his son Matthew

An early morning fish at one of the dams

With cousin Jo and Elwyn's daughters, Skylar and Kiera

We raced off on the quad bikes deep into the African countryside, the children's adrenaline in full flow and with Elowen wanting to 'win the race'. We then began our trek to a hidden waterfall. With toddlers in tow, we somewhat naively traipsed through bogs, long grass, trees and bushes, over rocks and across streams, up hills and down hills, until we arrived at this amazing cascading waterfall. Amelie rather daringly climbed right to the edge to touch the falling water and we all had a splash in the pool at the bottom, no-one feeling brave enough to jump in for a swim, (I was convinced that it was probably full of crocodiles and snakes!) Joel amazingly walked all the way there and back, on what was a really fun afternoon. Navigating our way round a herd of cows once back on the quad bikes was the final hurdle, and it was home for an evening fish at the dams.

Our trek to the waterfall

We made it to the waterfall!

Cousins on stepping stones at one of the dams 

Elwyn and Joel fishing together

As with everyone in Laurence's life, I have got to know people over the years as we've sneaked a Christmas here or a wedding there, but to get to know family and friends at a slower pace, has been really special. And the weekend at the farm was one such occasion.

Since arriving in Africa, we have had the absolute pleasure of getting to know Shepherd, the gardener who comes to our house once a week. Every Thursday we spend lunch together on the veranda and often delve into African politics, family news or explore each others cultures. Shepherd has loved hearing about the UK and learning about snow or the sea. Likewise I have delighted in learning about the Venda Tribe and hearing Shepherd's story.

Lunchtime with Shepherd

 Shepherd is from the Limpopo Province of South Africa, where the land is covered in grassy plains and clusters of dense trees, known as the bush-veld.  He also lives very close to Kruger National Park which is where all the 'Big Five' animals roam free. Shepherd never went to school but rather amazingly speaks six languages. As a child he would go for days without food, and now works six days a week to make sure that his children eat everyday. He also works with a very weak right arm as he was shot and left for dead a decade ago by someone wanting to steal his mobile phone. Needless to say, Shepherd's life is one of hardship and sacrifice, but incredibly, one of great stories and a wealth of knowledge too. Shepherd has taught me how to ward off lions with fire; and elephants by banging a pan (I guess with their big ears elephants are sensitive to noise!). He has told me how you must throw rocks in the river before you wash or swim, to scare the crocodiles away (I'm never going to try it); and he has sat with me in the garden and shown me how to thatch a roof, and explained how to plant, grow, harvest and store maize.

He has also told us, rather amusingly, how his village have put bells on the cattle and built them a nighttime pen. With all the roofs made of long grass, the cows are living in a sweet shop and if allowed to move silently at night, would indulge in a midnight feast of grass roof undetected until morning. So a late night tinkle of bells is sadly not a herd of reindeer in these parts but a cow escapee from the pen looking for a late night snack.

Shepherd lives most of the year in the township of Diepsloot, which is the area where I teach. The reason he is unable to live in the bush-veld is because his family can no longer sustain themselves off the land alone. With the population ever growing there is a lack of space to grow enough crops; and with the outlawing of hunting big animals due to all the poaching for tusks and horns in the ivory trade, Shepherd has had to look elsewhere to support his family. This is why he has worked his way up to becoming a gardener in the city and why his family now have to shop in the supermarket instead of off the land.

In a world trying to care more about the environment and live in a more efficient and sustained manner, Shepherd is a torch bearer. It is a shame that his tribe can no longer live in the way it once did. Maybe there will be a day when it becomes a way of life once more. Maybe a cow on the loose could one day become the world's biggest problem...

So as Africa is woven into our Willmore story and we experience and learn about the different cultures, it has once again been an adventure and a privilege to be in this wonderful place and to call it home.

Lots of love,

Jess xxx

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