Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 2

10 months have past, since I planted my blueberries from the nursery in 20 liter black bags.

I planted 5 plants of each variety in:

50% Compost

20% Perlite

20% Woodchips

10% Sphagnum moss

I planted 4 plants of each variety in:

30% Compost

30% Perlite

30% Woodchips

10% Sphagnum moss

Finally, I added one teaspoon of Aluminium Sulphate to keep the soil Ph between 4.5 and 5.5.

It is too early to draw any conclusions on the viability of a blueberry project in the Port Elizabeth region. It is impossible to see which varieties will do better in our climate, as none of the plants are bearing fruit.

So far, I have come across a concern. Blueberries are very thirty. 

I have to water my plants every second day or they show leaf loss.

This makes me wonder if a water needy project like this will ever be a good idea for a water scarce country.

Dixi seems to be most affected by the drought, with Misty being a close runner up. The other varieties are all very similar in water neediness.  

Happy New Year to all blueberry enthusiasts. May 2016 bring lots of growth and many berries. 

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 1

I love walking through orchards. They are beautiful. An orchard seems to be a place where a heart finds rest. I know very few people who don't love the beautiful rolling hills with vineyards, or the pleasing sweet smell of an orange orchard in full bloom.

From a business point of view, orchading poses exciting opportunities. The economics of most orchards are really good. The farmers I have met all admit that returns on orchading in South Africa have been incredible in the past couple of years.

My personal involvement in the orchard industry, focuses mainly on the pollination of several crops. I run a highly specialized bee pollination business. www.urbanbeekeeper.co.za

 

I long to be more involved in orchading, but it is nearly impossible due to the high costs of purchasing an orchard. A second option, is to plant a new orchard, knowing a return will take years. On citrus, nothing under 3 years, but on macadamia nuts it might take up to 7 years to break even. Plus, setting up an orchard from scratch is still pricey.

I also understand that farming is not a hobby, but a highly challenging skilled job. Training and experience are vital.

After looking at many different options, I decided to run a trial blueberry 'orchard'. I got my hands on 7 different varieties of blueberries.

1. Sharpblue

2. Dixi

3. Powderblue

4. Misty

5. Centurion

6. Brightwell

7. Chandler

In my next Blueberry blog I will look at some of the challenges and opportunities I see for blueberries in South Africa.

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The story of our heart

We study degrees. Get engaged. Get married. Go to school. Find a religion. Have children. Buy a car. Open bank accounts. Invest money. Buy houses. Get jobs. Change jobs.

I have done many things in my life. Not good nor bad. Not right nor wrong. I just did them. Lately I wonder out loud why I do what I do.

I have done a lot because it was the cultural, had religious approval or met my family's expectations. I supposedly 'pleased' them (them we refer to when we are not too sure who). The truth however is that none of those 'them's' are pleased. They are all on their own life journey.

I realize that finding freedom has to start with finding the 'I' within me. Who am I? What do I want in life? What do I want from life?

This might all sound very selfish. It might be selfish, but life is too short to only go through the motions without stopping from time to time to questions the why's and what's in life.

The fear of change and the comfort of what I have hold me back.

I am trying to slow down to hear the story that is unfolding in my heart. What is the unfolding story in your heart?

Our hearts are not evil of deceitful. Our hearts are the place where we connect more and deeper with the meaning of life - YWH.

Our stories should not be about meeting other people's expectations, but they need to be about us being us. It needs to be about playing - (we should play more) - fulfilling our part in the bigger story of the universe. It doesn't have to be grande for the world, but it needs to be deep and real for our hearts. It needs to unlock passions and bring life.

My story in search of freedom is only just starting.

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Where do you start fundraising?

Finding investors for you next world changing idea is not easy. Yes we have all heard the story of the guy doing a fundraising round in Silicon Valley and getting 50 Million dollars in 1 session That story leaves out the hard work that was put in the fundraising project in the years beforehand.

We never hear the stories of the businesses which failed to raise any money - because you guessed it right: They failed. Nobody likes a failing story.

So where do you start?

Firstly: Put your own neck on the line. Don't expect other people to invest in your business if you are not willing to put everything in it.

I don't like this. I like having a safety net. But the truth is that if you are not willing to put everything in you clearly aren't too sure this is going to work.

Secondly: 3 F's - Family, friends and fools

You should go and ask your family and friends for money. Most of your friends and family will love your startup idea. Until you ask them for money. You will clearly see if they still think it's such a great idea.

Beware however with loaning money from friends and family. Make sure if your business fails you find a way to pay the money back. There is nothing worse than going to the next Christmas meal and feel nothing but dislike.

These investments will probably be smallish, but they hopefully get you going.

Thirdly: Angels

Angels are people who have extra cash and are looking to invest in businesses. Angels are investing their own money so they can be very hands on. Often angels bring more than just money to the table - contact, experience... Before you go and approach a angel group know what they are about. Don't go with a oil drilling project to an angel group which specialize in green energy investments. You will look like a fool.

Angels might invest substantial amount. Anything from 250000$ to 1.5mil. $.

Fourthly: Venture capital

These guys will probably only come in at a later stage and come in with large amounts of money. They use other people's money.

Funding can be anything from 1mil $ to 10's of Millions.

My one word of advice: Remember to be wise in bringing other people's money on board. Most people want something back. Make sure you get a good deal and you give your investors a good deal.

Also follow you gut.

Good luck in growing your baby.

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What is a fair salary?

I started two businesses in the past seven months. I employ seven people. These people depend on my businesses to feed their families. In African terms this means that 70 people depend approximately on my businesses. A big responsibility.

Deciding on a salary has been a real challenge. My social side wants to pay as much as possible, but my entrepreneurial side wants to pay as lot less to keep costs down.

Is paying the minimum wage enough? Legally it is, but is paying the minimum wage right?

I pay my staff R200 per day which is about 60% over the minimum wage. I want to pay them more, but the cash flow of the business doesn't allow this atm (or maybe these are just excuses?!?!). I make sure my staff can do one day a week overtime so they can bring their total earnings to just over R5000 a month.

A good friend of mine posted a link to http://living-wage.co.za/ - twitter: @code4sa

These guys build a basic calculator to work out how much we should pay our domestic workers in South Africa.

I followed their guideline by giving my staff R5000 per month in possible earnings. I don't know if this enough.

I find this an interesting topic and something to think about for everyone who employs somebody. I don't have the answers just more questions.

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Square One

July first is less than a week away. Halfway 2015

Hard to believe.

My main New Year's resolution was to look better after myself. It hasn't really worked out the way I intended it to go.

I started anti-depressants just before the turn of the New Year. I needed to take the edge a bit of my border case living. I needed to find some peace and space in my head. I wanted to create a place where I could start dealing with some of the challenges in my life rather than fight the symptoms. 

It worked for a couple of months. Afterwards, my weeks seemed to become very monotonous. I don't function in the grey. I need colour.

I need passion in my life.

In April I slowly weaned myself off the antidepressants. One quarter a week.

It worked. I coped well for a couple of weeks. 

I thought. 

Often the people around us see our depression quicker than we do. While I was on Meds I didn't want to make the changes I need to make to find peace between my emotions, thinking and living. I thought people would not believe me. The problem with not making the necessary changes is that I ended up living with all the same ingredients still in my bowl of life.

The result: I turned in another depressive cupcake.

I haven't been kind to myself. I still believe I need to fight my own fights all the time. I still see antidepressants as something for the weak and needy. I feel ashamed that I am starting meds again.

I am running two startups in a notoriously difficult country to get anything done. I live in the midst of rocky and shaky relationships. I live in a country which isn't home. I have no family near...

I need to give myself a break. Do you need to give yourself a break?

Half way in the year I am back at square one. Back in a place I don't want to be.

Try to enjoy the journey and worry less about the outcome.

What's next? Changes - slowly and non impulsive.

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'Failing'

Last week I wrote a blog about trying to live for a month on the South African minimum wage.

I failed. I lasted for about 24 hours.

I thought this would not be too hard.

I have completed some challenges:

I did abstain from chocolate for a whole year during 2014.

I finished my degree correspondence.

I lost 30kg's in 6 months.

I spend nights sleeping on the streets with the homeless.

Polony...

I did not realize how hard it would be to cut all pleasure out of eating. With living on the minimum wage there is very little space for the little extra's - in food and in life.

Living on the minimum wage is hard. Cheap food sucks. I started my budget living with a typical workers meal: White bread and polony. I nearly vomited. I would rather eat care tyres than ever have to eat cheap polony again. It was horrible!!!

I might have another attempt at this challenge, but I will need to change my living circumstances.

Two lessons for me - maybe for you: 
1. It's okay to fail.

2. Do not eat polony!!! Ever!!!

No risks, no rewards. 

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Living the minimum wage life

South Africa, my country is second on the gap between rich and poor list in the world.

I employ six staff. I pay them salaries. So I looked into minimum salaries as proscribed in the South African law.

They are low, very low.

You might be pleased to know that I pay my staff substantially more than the minimum wage, but I am sure there are many people who just earn the minimum.

I like a challenge...

The Challenge: Live for a month on the minimum wage which is R2600 - $216 in the agricultural sector which is where my main job is.

Some parameters:

- I don't have to pay rent so I will give my rental money - which I worked out by taking the average rent my staff pay - to a charity

- I have a company car which I need for work. I cannot run my company without transport. I will pay my bus fee to and from work to charity

- I will do this experiment all by myself. My kids will not be affected by this. School fees, food and other things for them will be provided as normal.

- I will keep a record of all my expenses so I can track all my spending.

Why

- Can I do it? We all need challenges in life. (Tweet This)

- I want to know how the other side shop, live, think about money...

The result

I don't know.

I don't expect to really understand poverty, but I will hopefully get an insight.

I trust that I will learn some things.

What's in it for you?

Some updates from the other side of the beautiful Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Most likely some stories about being hungry and annoyed at being poor. Maybe some deep, but probably more shallow thoughts on life and it's 'meaning'.

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My South African startup

Six months ago I joined the legion of people who gave up on a salaried job to start following their own business dreams. Today I am taking some time to reflect on the past six months.

It's been hard, it's been fun, it's been stressful... It has been an emotional rollercoaster, but above all it has been rewarding. I am not saying this is the road for everyone, but if you are sitting on the fence my advice is to jump and have a go at doing your own business thing.

Apparently most people only realize what they want from life AND are willing to make the changes necessary when they hit 40. I am glad I have started making those changes earlier. Here are some tips for my fellow ( South African) entrepreneurs.

Save money while you can. In South Africa there is limited funding available for start-ups. I opened a bank account with one of the 4 big banks in SA. They loved me. Well that was till I asked them for money to start my business. They are not willing to loan any money to start-ups in their first year of trading?!?! It doesn't matter if you have a great business plan and years of experience in the sector you are starting. It doesn't even matter if you have signed off take agreements. Banks in South Africa are lame!

I am however sure that when - if - I am successful in the future they will all want my business... Oh well...

So either find friends, family or angel investors to join your cause.

My advice is to go to SEDA. They will help you a little bit with advertising and a business plan if you need one. SEDA, like most government agencies, will take time - patience is needed. So if you are thinking about ever doing your own business forget fancy cars and a big house. Instead start saving money wherever and whenever you can.

So my second tip is: Invest in people! While I was working in my previous job I always did my utmost best to be kind and friendly to clients and suppliers. This has paid off in good working relationships for my start-up, but also so much more.

- One of my suppliers is giving me everything at cost so I can save money. He is also lending me his equipment so I don't have to buy all the machinery right now.

- I helped a friend who needed a space to start his business. In exchange he has decided to partner with me in this business. So one start-up has turned into two.

- The biggest client I got during my previous job decided to rather join me than stay with my previous work.

- A friend introduced me to one of his friends who might be able to help me finance part of my growth.

Thank you for reading this. I hope to write another update in 6 months time celebrating one year in business.

Till then: Enjoy your business adventures!

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Welcome to my street

On Friday evening, I decided to go and spend time volunteering at a soup kitchen in Port Elizabeth. It is called the City Feed, run by a charity called 'Love Story'.

I have realised that I love being with the homeless. Every time I want to go I still find it a struggle to go out - I blogged about this before in My Couch.

I parked my vehicle. Got out of it and started striding towards the group of homeless people and the charity crew. I parked a level below the market square where the soup kitchen happens. So I had to climb up a couple of stairs to join the group. While I was climbing the stairs I lost all my confidence to be there. I felt terribly out of place. It felt awkward. I started contemplating going home. Climbing in my couch seemed such a tempting idea. I felt a sudden longing to fill my mind with more brainless TV.

While I was contemplating this conundrum a guy walked up to me and asked me how I was doing. The guy was homeless. I think he saw me as a new homeless brother who needed some care. He made me feel welcome in his 'house' - the streets. He did what I normally do. He asked me a whole lot of questions. He engaged with me and put me at ease.

We ended up having a very honest conversation. We talked about his drug addiction, our struggles in life, heart breaks, prison, dreams and hopes...

This homeless guy made me feel welcome.

I went to the soup kitchen planning to 'heal' and 'help' people, but I was the one who was 'helped out' by this unlikely homeless stranger who made time for me and cared enough to start a conversation with me.

When do you feel special? When last did you make someone feel special?

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