Not long after the business was started in 2005, they released their first compost lines. Owner and Director, Eric Willemse Snr, explains, “Compost is actually a soil fertiliser, not a plant fertiliser. It creates more nutrients in the soil to eventually release the potential of the soil.”
Co-owner and Director Eric Willemse Jr adds that, “When the soil is healthier, you use much less fertiliser. On an economic scale, it’s much better for the farmer who then spends less money to purchase fertiliser. You heal the soil, by simply using compost.”
Eric Willemse Snr expands on the nature of the industry. “It’s a seasonal business, so three to four months of the year, business is great but when you go into winter months nobody is planting. Then you need to sustain your business, people and equipment until the end of the winter season when it picks up again.”
When the Willemse’s got the chance to buy Tuingenoot, a place they had spent much time at on weekends, they didn’t think twice.