We started our series of articles about cover crops with an overview of one of the three main plant groups we use at Avondale, cereals. It’s time now to take a look at another plant group which offers us a range of beneficial cover crops, the legumes. A legume is a...
Legumes are a diverse range of plants belonging to the family Fabaceae. Commonly known legumes include alfalfa, clover, lupin, vetch, peas, beans, soy and peanuts. Africa’s classic Acacia thorn trees are also part of this family. As a food source, legumes are...
Johnathan Grieve
As family man… Avondale is a family farm where we appreciate that the health and balance of our living system is inextricably linked to well-being of our families. As a father of two and a husband, as son and brother, my inspiration to achieve a robust, balanced vineyard ecosystem is to ensure that Avondale will support the lives of our future generations.
As artist… A passion for jazz and a love for all forms of art, especially woodwork and sculpture led me into four years of fine art studies – an eclectic education for a budding a farmer, for sure! However, I have found that in so many ways, the patterns, interconnections and openness of the artistic worldview have influenced my understanding of how living systems work.
As farmer… My interest in farming started early when I was a boy growing up on a small-holding outside of Durbanville. I planted and tended my own vegetables which I sold to family and friends. I hardly imagined at that time though that I would one day become a farmer. However, the theme of a healthy balanced life was embedded in our family’s outlook.
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