Whether you're visiting for the day or staying overnight, there’s plenty to enjoy at Random Harvest. Our farm is a welcoming space where both adults and children can relax, explore, and experience a taste of real countryside life.
These simple yet engaging activities offer the perfect opportunity to connect with nature, slow down, and make special memories as a family.
In addition to our farm activities, guests are welcome to explore the indigenous grassland restoration area on the property. This section of veld has been carefully rehabilitated and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about Highveld biodiversity in a relaxed, natural setting.
Standing in the veld grasses, tucked away at the bottom of Random Harvest, it is hard to believe that this was once a dense stand of alien invader trees, Black and Silver Wattle.
All around one, the sounds of nature buzz and hum, and on close inspection the diversity of herbaceous Highveld indigenous plants is staggering.
Restoring the grassland area of Random Harvest with minimal intervention has been an exciting journey.
We have watched as the highly invasive Black and Silver Wattle (Acacia mearnsii and A. dealbata) were removed making way for grazing, and now for the past 13 years or so, the grassland plants have been allowed to recolonize without planting, except for some suitable trees.
The naturally occurring grasses and grassland flowering plants have created habitat for a wide variety of birds (Pin-tailed Whydah, a number of Cisticola species, Cape Longclaw (previously Orange-throated Longclaw), Spotted Thick-knee (previously Spotted Dikkop), African Stonechat, and the African Wattled Lapwing. The latter breeds in the grasslands at Random Harvest. The Zitting Cisticola, Marsh Owl and the Black- crowned Night-Heron have been seen near the dam).
Small mammals (Scrub hare, Slender Mongoose, Spotted Genet and Hedgehogs), Terrapins, and the rare and threatened Giant Bullfrog have also made this area part of their home.
Carol Knoll, former editor of Footprint magazine has captured this diversity beautifully in her article “Restoration of an Indigenous Grassland at Random Harvest Nursery"
The following is an excerpt from her writing:
“Random Harvest is best known for its indigenous plant nursery which grows and sources a wide selection of South African indigenous ornamental plants for both the wholesale and retail trades... , but it is still a working farm with a dairy herd, poultry, vegetable garden and beehives.
There are guest cottages available so that the farming experience, unknown to so many city dwellers, can be enjoyed; along with walking and bird watching, as the 21ha property has a bird list of 146 species.
Nursery-woman Linda De Luca has become a great ‘grassland enthusiast’ over the years and now her love for grasslands knows no bounds.
About 25 years ago, she and her mother (who is the farmer) decided to remove a dense invasion of Black and Silver Wattle (Acacia mearnsii and A. dealbata) from an area of disturbed grassland on the farm.
They were determined to rid the area of this forest of invasive wattles and encourage the grass to re-establish itself, initially for grazing purposes.
About 12 years ago her interest in grassland deepened and she became intent on restoring the site, which had never been ploughed, to as close to climax status as possible... with minimal intervention."
Whether you're here to enjoy the simplicity of farm life with your children, take a peaceful walk through our grasslands, or learn more about indigenous biodiversity, Random Harvest offers an experience rooted in nature, care, and quiet discovery. We welcome you to visit, explore, and make yourself at home in this special corner of the countryside.
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