Sheep, the Enablers of Life

Not only have these gentle animals won over our hearts, they provide an essential role in the maintenance of our natural environment. These incredibly smart animals are not only an joy to work with but are also the real teachers when it comes to sustainable land management.

Let us take you on a tour in the world of our sheep.

Vlekkie with lamb

What is a sheep?

The sheep is the oldest domesticated animal in the world . All of the sheep breeds that we have in this world are descendants of 4 different wild prototype ancestors: the Mouflon, the Urial, the Argali and the Bighorn. All of these have slight different characteristics and some of these are still reflected in our herd. The length and width of the tail varies in our herd, representing a lineage back to the original ancestors.
Before fossil fuels, sheep were central to society because of its tenfold purpose: meat, fat, blood, wool, milk, skin, gut, horn , bone and manure. It provided food, clothing, housing, heating and light, all manner of domestic implements, soil fertility and parchment.

Rumi, Yana and Amber

For at least 2150 years, sheep have been used to manage the landscape of infinity farm while providing the basic necessities of the local inhabitants. Today's environment of infinity farm is very similar to the environment our ancestors would have enjoyed.

Sheep are incredibly intelligent (contrary to public perception) and have far better environmental knowledge than humans will ever have. It is, after all, their food environment that they are managing. And it is done with the utmost care so that the biodiversity isn't harmed.

Free range and really free

Why don't you come and walk in this beautifully managed landscape and roam with the sheep over the land. If this African wild landscape scares you (it shouldn't) and you prefer to sit on the stoep of our cottage with a glass of wine, the sheep surely will come and greet you at the fence.