Jirah Academy - Plant Production - Training Farm

14/10/2026

14/10/2026

Yesterday, our learners had the privilege of gaining invaluable practical knowledge from Bill Berry, whose decades of experience in the agricultural industry, particularly cotton and avocado farming, provided a wealth of insight.

We explored the propagation of Kei-apple (Dovyalis caffra), a formidable indigenous South African shrub renowned for its dense, thorny growth. Beyond its value as a hardy, drought-tolerant plant, Kei-apple makes an exceptional living security hedge for farms, offering a natural barrier against intruders, livestock control, wind protection, and habitat for biodiversity, a sustainable, multifunctional alternative & complement to conventional fencing.

We also learned how to accelerate it's seed germination using an easy to make but effective incubator, gaining practical insight into the propagation process from seed to seedling.

We are on a learning journey and this is only the beginning. Stay tuned as we share our progress and updates! 🌱🌿

10/10/2026

📍 Jirah Academy team/learners are at the Royal Show in Howick!

Stop by our stand located in the Educational Hub tent to meet the team and our learners. Ask questions to get to know more about Jirah Academy and enjoy all that the show has to offer throughout this weekend.

We are at the show till Sunday, don't miss out!

23/09/2026

We want to congratulate our group 2 learners for completing Plant Production Learnership Level 2 at the end of June 2026. They have recently received Certificates from AgriSETA. Well done guys 🫡👏🎉🥈

23/09/2026

“Come the spring with all its splendour, all its birds, and all its blossoms!”

20/08/2026

Preparing for Spring:
Jann Bosch assisted by teaching our learners how to prune fruit trees during the winter season now that spring is around the corner.

14/08/2026

First winter harvest of coriander to be sold to Spicebox shop.

31/07/2026

We are happy to see some of our fruit trees bearing fruits 🍊 including our strawberry patch🍓

Fruit trees take time to mature, usually starting to bear fruit anywhere from 1 to 7 years after planting depending on the species.

Time Until First Harvest
Citrus and Fig: 1 to 2 years
Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot: 2 to 4 years
Apple and Pear: 2 to 6 years
Sweet Cherry: 4 to 7 years

28/07/2026

Who knew two forgotten wooden pallets could transform into a thriving, multi-story garden ecosystem? By combining a handyman skills with modern ecological agriculture, we’re proving that recycling isn't just good for the planet, it's empowering, and creative. There’s nothing quite like building something with your own hands that puts fresh, organic food right on your table🌱🥬⚡