Page 18 - Farm Worker 84

I was privileged enough to visit the majestic
Lelienfontein Farm a while ago and it took my breath
away. The vineyards look like they are never ending, and
I stood in awe. I was hesitant at first to visit the farm and
was always thinking of excuses not to go, even on the
morning before I had to leave I was thinking of excuses
in my head on why I would be wasting my time to go
all the way to Wellington in the heat to see another farm
trying to convince us of all the good things they do for
their workers.

As soon as we entered the Lelienfontein premises I could
see that this was going to be something special. We were
greeted by Celeste and the family dog, being a dog lover Children enjoying the library.
myself, on the walls of the boardroom hung maps of the
family farm throughout the years. In 2009, a long-time dream was fulfilled when 260
permanent workers of the Bosman farm received 430
hectares of land through the Adama Apolo Workers
Trust. The Trust is named after Adam Appollis, who
worked on the farm, Lelienfontein in the 1950s, and his
family still work and live on the farm. The Bosman and
Appollis families have worked and lived together for 5
generations so it was only fitting that they should share
in the land.

That is not where this partnership ended, in 2012
the partnership grew even stronger, the business was
restructured and the Adama Apolo trust was given 26
percent ownership in the entire business, which includes
the vine nurseries and farming operations.
Proud employees of Bosman Vineyards. Bosman Family Vineyards is also fairtrade accredited,
which means that they are audited annually on their
Lelienfontein forms part of the Bosman Family farming practices to ensure that the farm uses sustainable
Vineyards. The Bosman family has been working the soil and environmentally friendly farming practices and is
of Lelienfontein for over 200 years across 8 generations. also socially responsible.
The family business has evolved over the years and
they are now premium wine producers as well as one
of the most successful vine nurseries in the Southern
Hemisphere. They now supply many estates with over
50 grape varieties.

At the heart of the businesses success are their workers
and the family’s passion for their workers shows as soon
as you enter the property.

As we all know land reform is taking place across the
country and to many it’s an emotional and extremely
scary thought and experience but at Bosman Family Younger children taking a nap.
Vineyards, they welcomed the reformation of their
business with open arms. Along with their social responsibility the farm has
also invested in solar and hydro power projects, to
help reduce their carbon footprint. Wastewater from
the cellar is filtered through an innovative eco-friendly
wetland system, while the use of chemical pesticides and
fertilisers in the vineyards is kept to a minimum.

The farm’s attention to detail and excellence in their
ethical and socially responsible farming practices has
won them the trophy for best Fairtrade wine in at the
International Wine Challenge in 2015 and in 2016 they
won Ethical Company of the Year in the Drinks Business
Green Awards.
Health Care Worker at the Community Centre Clinic. Employees share in the profits of being Fairtrade

18 Die Plaaswerker | The Farm Worker