Demeter PGS SA
Participatory Guarantee System Southern Africa
BDAASA is committed to cultivating co-operation amongst biodynamic farmers and the community.
One of the initiatives to achieve this goal is the implementation of a Participatory Guarantee System.
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are locally focused quality assurance systems where producers evaluate each other. The system is based on the active participation of stakeholders and is built on a foundation of trust, social networking and knowledge exchange.
Because BDAASA holds the Demeter standards as its benchmark for biodynamic agriculture, the BDAASA PGS programme is aligned with BFDI (Biodynamic Federation Demeter International) who will accredit the PGS SA and allow the use of the International Demeter trademark for local sale of PGS certified produce.
HOW TO JOIN THE DEMETER PGS SA.
Farmers interested in joining Demeter PGS SA should contact the BDAASA (info@bdaasa.org.za) for an application interview and, by agreement, will be allocated to an existing Demeter PGS SA Farm Unit, or if a group does not exist in the area of the farm, be assisted to establish a Demeter PGS Farm Unit.
For more details please contact info@bdaasa.org.za
Demeter PGS SA stakeholders
Brunia Farm
Under the direction of Brett and Wade, the Sander family have transformed the 417ha farm near Stanford into a mixed farming operation, following organic and biodynamic practices, with 17 Ha of vineyards, 6 Ha under figs, 5 Ha of seasonal vegetables, and a small herd of cattle.
Haute Espoir Farm
The Armstrong family of Haute Espoir are custodians of a 23 hectare property, of which 8 hectares are planted with vineyards. The remainder of the land is dedicated to fynbos restoration, a riverine ecosystem, olive groves and a vegetable and herb garden. Farm manager & wine maker Gwen is working with the Demeter PGS wine group to transition the farm to Biodynamics
Living Farms
Mark Stephens is a consultant viticulturist. Mark encourages conventional farmers to move to more sustainable and biodynamic methods
Bloublommetjieskloof Farm
Bloublommetjieskloof Farm, a 38ha mixed farm, situated in Wellington, Western Cape, has
been farmed biodynamically for almost 60 years and is third party Demeter Certified since 2005.
Claire Wilson
Claire is passionate about biodynamics and has included her home garden in the Demeter PGS KZN group
Roseway Market Garden
Jenn Bailey manages the large (1hectare) vegetable garden at the Roseway Waldorf School in Alverstone, KZN. Jenn is a final year student of the Biodynamic Apprenticeship course.
Urban Grow
Urban Grow, a market garden which was started in 2021, is based at the Centre for Creative Education in Plumstead, Cape Town.
Jason and Alex are transitioning to biodynamic farming with the help of their Demeter PGS SA group
Brocha Farm
Rozy Gunn has a totally organic and biodynamic approach to the 9ha of Brocha property, which lies along the coolest wine region of the Cape South Coast, Elgin. Brocha vineyards are surrounded by the Unesco certified Kogelberg Biosphere
Hughes Family Farm
Billy Hughes, owner of Nativo Wines, has his vineyards in the Swartland
region and is certified to both EU and NOP standards. Billy has joined to Demeter PGS wine group with the view to Demeter certification
Reyneke Farm
Uitzicht farm in Stellenbosch, Demeter certified since 2005, produces the biodynamic grapes for Reyneke Wines. Managed by Ishaan the farm is a valuable asset to the Demeter PGS wine group as a true model for biodynamic viticulture.
Breaking Ground Organics
Annalize, owner of Breaking Ground Organics is a proud supplier of certified organic seeds and seedlings, based in Hout Bay, Cape Town.
Addition of Biodynamic principles has put this operation on the path to Demeter PGS certification.
Swee Farm
Alix Clark, from Swee Farm in Dal Josephat Paarl, has a small farm where she grows mangos and litchis. Alix has been using only biodynamic methods since the family bought the farm in 2005 and is a valuable source of knowledge at the Demeter PGS farm visits .
Frater Family Farm
Gerard Frater, a graduate of the Biodynamic Apprenticeship Training Course, uses biodynamic farming methods on his family farm in Paarl, where a range of herbs, vegetables and grapes along with honey are produced for the local market.
Wuppertal Original Rooibos Cooperative
Barend Salomo is head of a group of small-scale rooibos farmers from Wupperthal in the Cederberg, Western Cape. Already third party Demeter certified, the Wupperthal Rooibos farmers are deepening their understanding of biodynamics by participating in the Demeter PGS farm visits
De Healing Farm
De Healing Farm in Franschoek, formerly conventionally farmed, is converting to organic and biodynamic by farm manager Mynhardt, a first year Biodynamic Apprentice. The owners of De Healing want the farm certified Demeter, a process that begins with the help of the Demeter PGS groups.
Klein Constantia Farm
Craig Harris from Klein Constantia, manages the historic 146 hectare wine estate in Cape Town. Craig strives to work the farm in an environmentally responsible way, adopting organic and biodynamic practices.
Vaalvlei Farm
Vaalvlei farm, 9km north-east of Stanford, Western Cape, is owned and worked
by Alex and Tabby. This is a mixed working farm with vineyards,
vegetables, goats and springbuck. They are working organically, moving to Biodynamics with the help of their Demeter PGS group
Camissa Moon
Camissa Moon, a small microgreens operation based in Muizenberg, Cape Town is owner-managed by Liam Williams (a second year student of the Biodynamic Apprenticeship Course) . With the help of the Demeter PGS farmers , Liam is aiming to upgrade his operation to comply with Demeter standards.
Fruit of the Forest
Based on Bloublommetjieskloof Demeter Farm in Wellington, Kim Schutt is pioneering a pilot Biodynamic food forest project on a half acre north facing slope on the farm, in the process of setting up a tree nursery. Kim is in her second year of the Biodynamic Apprenticeship Training Course.
Tougar Farm
Karen Mack grows cut flowers on her beautiful mixed farm just outside Pietermaritzburg KZN. Karen has been using biodynamic methods for more than 20 years and is sharing her knowledge in the Demeter PGS KZN group
