The Hive Ecosystems Site
During September and October, the Hive Ecosystems 18,000-acre (7,300ha) farm, near Somerset East in the Eastern Cape, saw much activity. The team has been busy constructing a 2ha nursery with a fully automated solar powered irrigation system installed. The planting of the first cuttings of Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) also commenced.
A special soil mix was prepared and used in the planting trays. The soil mix contains at least 10% inoculated biochar – Inoculation refers to the process of first saturating the biochar with growth medium amelioration products (including 32 natural microorganisms) and then mixing it with manure-based compost, clay soil, and sand mix. Research shows that using inoculated biochar in the soil mix will speed-up the root development of these plants.
Future plans for Hive Ecosystems
Over the next three and a half years, the team will be planting around 7 million spekboom plants on the farm in the Eastern Cape. The goal is to restore the land that has previously been degraded by overgrazing and further down the line sequester carbon from the plants and soil.
Construction of the nursery
Nursery construction phase – putting up the 20% shade cloth.
Nursery construction phase – progress viewed from a distance.
Irrigation system installed and working – Hive Ecosystems nursery.
Completed 2ha Hive Ecosystems nursery on the farm Kalkfontein.
Fully automated nursery with its battery and solar power supply.
Hive Ecosystems is testing 2 types of planting trays with different cavity sizes. With the current stock of trays Hive Ecosystems can plant 1 million plants every 3 months.
Filling the planting tray with special prepared soil mix to enhance root development.
Historic moment: 98 Spekboom cuttings planted into the first planting tray. Filling the planting trays with specially prepared soil mix to enhance root development.
Inoculation of biochar with three growth medium amelioration products.
Planting of cuttings into a planting trays.
For further information please contact:
Japie Buckle, Managing Director, Hive Ecosystems
