A sustainable lifestyle on a small, off-the-grid farm

After spending seven years in Zithulele and three in Cebe in rural Eastern Cape, Karen and Roger Galloway bought Heartwood Homestead, a small farm close to East London. Here, they practise regenerative agriculture and use their resources to benefit others through an internship programme.

- Wouter Kriel

FAST FACTS

Roger and Karen Galloway spent 10 years in the former Transkei, where they came across many people working 2ha plots.

The Galloways are experimenting with what can be done on a 4ha mixed-farming operation using ultra-high-density strip grazing.

Through their internship programme, they want to be part of the solution to some of South Africa’s problems.

“When Roger and I lived in Zithulele and Cebe, I worked as a physiotherapist in the public health sector, and Roger, a graphic designer, worked in the NGO sector doing development work,” recalls Karen Galloway. Karen and her husband Roger own Heartwood Homestead near East London, where they practise regenerative agriculture. But it was while working in Zithulele and Cebe that the couple witnessed the challenges faced by rural people, many of whom work on 2ha allotments to supplement their income.

“In that sense, Heartwood Homestead is our experiment in self-sustained and off-grid living,” explains Karen.

Heartwood is a 20ha property, with 4ha of arable land, which overlooks the Gonubie River. When the Galloways bought it in 2019, there was no infrastructure, and Roger managed the construction of their house, the guest house and the workshop. “I enjoy carpentry. It’s one of those things that started as an interest, then it became a hobby, and now it’s a business,” says Roger.

OFF-GRID LIVING

The farm is completely off-grid for water, electricity, and sewerage. The Galloways store up to 80 000m³ of rainwater and use solar power.

When it came to deciding on a power source, the couple carried out a cost comparison.