Jacklin Organic, Badplaas

ABOUT US
Jacklin Organic are innovators of ECOPOST® compost made from invasive wattle trees (Acacia mearnsii). ECOPOST® puts back what wattle has removed by freeing up water, restoring biodiversity, reducing fire hazard and producing a nutritious soil amendment. ECOPOST is used in Jacklin Organic's organic crop production with great results.

QUALITY PRODUCT
ECOPOST® is recognised by the Department of Water Affairs for its impacts on reducing wattle populations in the environment. ECOPOST® performed well in recent land rehabilitation field trials conducted by the University of Pretoria with the highest amelioration effects. ECOPOST® improves the agricultural production potential of rehabilitated land and has been used successfully on our farm’s certified organic crop production. Jacklin Organic were runners up in the 2008 GSSA Peter Edward Awards for Best Conservation Farming.

WATTLE CLEARING
Wattle grows in dense stands consuming up to 800 litres of water per tree per day. Conventional wattle clearing methods are ineffective and discard slash (side branches, flowers and seeds). Fire causes wattle seeds to germinate and increases wattle re-growth. Slash fires burn hotter than grass fires, scorching the topsoil layer and killing off indigenous plants and seeds. We clear and process whole trees, including slash, which is a valuable biomass. This allows indigenous veld grass species to grow back and wildlife to return. With 10 years of experience in wattle clearing and chipping, Jacklin Organic also hire out chippers to land restoration projects and for biomass wood pulp or solid fuel production.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
As experienced organic farmers, we receive numerous enquiries on how to grow vegetables. People equipped with knowledge are more likely to be successful. Our social responsibility project, the Jacklin Organic Food Security Incubator, teaches food gardening basics on rural radio and was finalist in the 2013 SAB Foundation Innovation Awards

• South Africa
• Swaziland
• Mozambique