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The Steinberg’s from 1989
Nico: -
Nico and Ané started the farm on a shoestring in 1989. At that time the
region was known for cattle, sheep, maize and dry bean production. For about
10 years Nico tried his hand at these activities, with marginal
successes. He then started to look into the cultivated berry market and
decided to do it the organic way – both unheard of at that time in that
area. It was not easy. The learning curve was steep and the school fees
high. Nico comes from an industrial engineering background, is also a
spotter pilot for the FFA during the bushfire season, but his first
love remains organic farming. (Read more in the ORGANIC FARMING SECTION
about Nico’s farming methods.)
The Family:-
The Steinberg family has three children Wilhelm (born in 1987), Helene
(born in 1988) and Jana (born in 1990). The fourth child is Zellie, the
Bouvier. (Read more about them in the NEWS LETTER SECTION.)
Ané: -
Ané’s background is that of a domestic science teacher. Being a very
creative person, she comes up with new ideas every day. In 1990 Ané
started to renovate the old sandstone farmhouse, without knowing that
in 10 years time she would again make some changes to convert it into a
guesthouse. She bought an old sandstone building (for R1 000!) in
Chrissiesmeer . This was the ruins of the old Simmer and Jack shop on
the Carolina Road. Heavily pregnant with her youngest child, she and
the farm labourers took six weeks to take down the building and
transport the sandstone blocks by tractor and trailer back to the farm.
They got an architect, Johan Jordaan to assist with the
building plans. That was the best money they have ever spent. Since
guesthouses were not popular at the time, they did not give it a
thought. They just designed a beautiful big farmhouse for themselves
and started building on a cash basis. Finding a stone mason when
needed, also posed a challenge. It took five years to finish their
undertaking, and only then did they move into the house, during
December 1995.
With her children starting school, Ané just sold all the
lambs from her feedlot and began to wonder what she was going to do
next. Guest houses were becoming popular and she believed there is a
future in tourism. It all began with lots of passion, enthusiasm
and a bag of cement!
With the help of the Mpumalanga Tourism Association and
Professor. Leon Hugo of the Department of Eco-Tourism at the University
of Pretoria she opened up her guest house in October 1997. (Read more
about each cottage and room in the GUEST HOUSE SECTION.)
In 1997 she started the Matotoland Eco-tourism
Association in Chrissiesmeer. (See more about this dynamic association
at www.chrissiesmeer.co.za.)
She inspired many people in Chrissiesmeer to start tourism driven
businesses, and along with her own guest house, she won the Mpumalanga
Business Woman of the Year Award in 1999.
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