In 2007 Ash and I discovered a derelict farm on the edge of Wakkerstroom with a magnificent view of mountains and veld surrounding the town.  When I say derelict that is what it was. The cows and goats used to shelter in the house at night because all the doors where gone, windows broken and bathrooms gutted.

We, like most new comers to Wakkerstroom, started planting trees, gardens and an orchard.  We of course, didn’t listen to what we were told by the community who had lived here for years and most of what was planted died after our first freezing and windy winter. We soon realised that we had to change our views on what to plant. What grew, grew and what died, died.

In 2007 Ash read an article in the Farmers Weekly about the new venture started by Donna Hornby in the midlands. She was growing and inoculating oak trees with the spore of the Perigord black Truffle.  This sparked his interest. We had the right climate and needed to prepare the soil.  We decided to plant out a hectare of 400 trees. We had our soil analysed and as a result we had to truck in 70 tons of Calcitic lime and plough it into the hectare to create the correct ph. and soil conditions to plant the trees. We were among 7 others who also started a ‘Truffiere’, a first for South Africa so there was no one with previous experience of growing Truffles in South Africa.  We lost quite a few along the way and replaced some of them. In 2010 we bought a Springer Spaniel to train as our first Truffle dog – far too early. She is now 14 and has been an excellent Truffle hunter. Sadly, we think this was her last season.

After about five years we noted that Brule’s were appearing around the trees.  A Brule normally forms when truffles are present.  It was very exciting to see evidence that the truffles were indeed there.   Farmers usually start looking after 6-8 years.  We decided to wait and after 10 years our farm labourer told us that he had seen our Coonhound eating big `round’ things amongst the oaks and he thinks it is those ‘things’ we are growing under the ground.  We ran up to the orchard and there they were.  So, six years ago we started harvesting for the first time. We have found some very large truffles, the biggest being 820grams.  Of course, the restaurants prefer the smaller ones that can be grated over the food in front of their patrons with great flourish.  We just love them grated on scrambled egg.

There are many things to love about our little town but the one thing that really appeals to me is that we all live happily, integrated with our neighbours of different backgrounds, living in their traditional quaint huts, some in beautiful big houses, some small, some with gardens and others with practical mielie patches and fenced off areas for their stock.  I love the houses painted bright pink, yellow, orange or purple. I don’t think there is another town in SA that is quite so diverse and interesting.

I hope that we have given the community lots to laugh about watching us as we learn to be ‘farmers’, sometimes probably shaking their heads in despair as they observed us making lots of mistakes but also maybe admiring us a little for our successes. Our unique town has taught us to broaden our views and accept our caring and supportive community for all its differences.
A very special place to live in.

The Wakkerstroom Truffle season is 3 months and from June to August.
Visitors are welcome to contact us to arrange a visit.