One hectare of an old horse paddock has been transformed into a thriving food garden where Megan McCarthy and her team grow delicious and nutrient-rich produce using eco-friendly and regenerative techniques.
We invite guests to meander through our serene space to explore our seasonal bounty. Curious about growing your own food at home? Ask one of our friendly gardeners for advice and insights.
The fruits, herbs, salad greens and vegetables grown here is used in our restaurants and sold in our online shop and at Spier Farm Café.
Self-Harvest Saturdays
Harvest your own produce from the food garden every Saturday morning between 09.00 to 11.00. At R150, advanced booking is essential; click here to secure your spot. Comfortable shoes and a hat are recommended.
Grown with goodness
No inorganic pesticides or artificial fertilisers are used in our food garden. Instead, much effort is spent ensuring the soil is healthy so that the plants have a robust immune system to withstand attacks by pests. Worm compost and weekly foliar sprays (a natural form of fertiliser) boost nutrients. Alien vegetation removed from other parts of the farm has been chipped and turned into compost; this has helped ensure the food garden’s soil is now rich with microbial activity.
When it comes to taking care of unwelcome critters, Megan gets help from a paddle of 15 Indian Runner ducks. They roam freely through the garden during the day, snacking on snails and slugs, and sleep in mobile enclosures at night.
In March 2020, we recruited residents of Lynedoch, a nearby disadvantaged community, to ramp up food production at Spier and teach them how to grow their own produce at home. The nurturing of these new growers is one of our Growing for Good initiatives, which empower communities to unleash positive social and environmental change.
The Spier Food Garden is open daily to visitors from 09.00 to sunset.