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Porcupine Hills is situated on
1,000 acres of which a fraction has been developed
for agricultural use. The rolling hills and mountains
of the farm are covered with a rich diversity
of indigenous vegetation, including Fynbos and
Renosterbos. Fynbos includes shrubs such as heaths,
ericas, proteas and leafless reedy plants such
as restios. The non-fynbos vegetation occurring
on the farm is the Renosterveld. Botanists from
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are currently doing
research on the Renosterveld on the farm as there
is major concern to protect the remaining Renosterveld
in the Cape. Much of this vegetation has been
turned to farmland and very little remains.
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The farm has a
large olive grove and the first fruit was harvested
in 2004. Four varieties of olives were planted:
frantoio, lecciano, coratino, and FS17. The result
is a lovely and piquant oil that has received myriad
praise in South Africa and abroad. Olive farming
is a relatively young industry in South Africa,
but the climate has proven to be ideal and the cultivation
of both table olives and oil olives is gaining notoriety
throughout the international market. 2008
saw the olive production reach 900 litres of oil
and the first 500kg of table olives produced.
Over the years more olives have
been planted and to date there are roughly 3000
trees.
Plans are to increase this number steadily over
the next few years. |
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Porcupine hills has a small vegetable
and herb production, including Artichokes, leeks,
parsley and seasonal produce depending on the time
of year. |
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