Homemade preserves, chutney, atchar, pickles, biscuits, fresh produce and other nice goodies! Some background…
In 2020, in the midst of Covid, I became a grandmother for the first time. August (Gus) was my inspiration to start a little home-based venture called Granny DeBee’s. I knitted like I had never knitted before, making Gus mountains of animals and toys. I baked, and made jams, pickles and
chutneys. My biscotti became a firm favourite locally and at various farm stalls during my many trips up and down to Cape Town — a wonderful way to help cover travel expenses! As we all know, the only constant in life is change. Since 2025, Granny DeBee’s produce and crafts have fallen under the umbrella of The Other Side Farm, where our family lives and grows together. After the upheaval of Covid, my long-standing business Ingwe Adventures (founded in 2004) became operational again in 2021. While I remain passionate about team-building and outdoor education, I felt a strong pull back to writing. To date, I have ghostwritten 24 books across various genres, and this is where I now choose to spend more of my time. Ingwe Adventures is currently in what I fondly call a “slow sale” to one of my facilitators — someone who is a perfect fit. This allows me to move into a more advisory role and focus on what truly feels like my path. It also gives my husband and me the flexibility to spend three months each year in the UK working at music festivals — something we enjoy and a great way to fund our travels together. Our two sons now live on The Other Side Farm with their families, and we are blessed with four granddaughters. Having three generations living on the land together feels incredibly special. Off-grid living and sustainability are deeply ingrained in our family life. Growing our own food, watching our trees mature year by year, saving water, harnessing solar power and living simply brings a fulfilment that’s hard to put into words. Everyone on the farm has played a part in building their homes, sharing spaces along the way (sometimes challenging!), but always with a shared goal — and lots of love 😊
Our carport, once a shelter for the leaking caravan we lived in during our build in 2019, has since been converted into a cosy tiny home called the Nana Flat. It’s perfect for couples or two friends wanting to experience life in The Crags. You can find it on Airbnb as The Nana Flat at The Other Side Farm, or get in touch directly. We also rent out our two-bedroom family home when we travel — ideal for nature lovers and animal enthusiasts (2 dogs, 2 cats and chickens included!). The Other Side Farm is our little piece of paradise, and we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to visit, stay, or buy some of our organically grown produce, homemade jams, pickles, chutneys and freshly baked goodies. My mantra: be kind to one another and find something to smile about every day.
