christopher & eva dry: cloud cottage cheeses

Between the arid and scrubby Klein Karoo and the lush, ancient Knysna  forests winds the 85km Prince Alfred’s Pass: a narrow, historic dirt road with sheer drops and magnificent views, wending its way between Uniondale and Knysna. Pristine fynbos covered mountains ray out in all directions, creating a microclimate quite different from the neighbouring Klein Karoo desert – and very fertile for farming.

At the summit of the pass, dipping down into the valley, Voog se Kraal Farm comes into view: 35 hectares of ploughed grazing amidst 800 hectares of mountains, fynbos, ravines, gurgling streams, waterfalls and rock pools. This is the home of Cloud Cottage Cheeses and the Dry family: a family of exceptional talent in many arenas, who have dedicated the past eight years to serving the health of land, animals, plants and people. “Voog se Kraal” in English means “The Homestead of the Guardian” – in this case the guardian of the pass. In a sense, this can be applied to Eva and Christopher Dry, whose harmonious approach to farming guards against the environmental ravages of many modern farming methods.

Biodynamic methods have been used consistently since the Drys took over this old farm, enriching the pasture on which the five Jersey cows and sixty-strong herd of white Saanen goats graze. Christopher brings his wisdom, idealism and experience from years of organic and biodynamic farming in various parts of South Africa. He strives to bring “real farming” back into practice – in a modern way. To this end, biodynamic compost preparations are stirred and sprayed regularly on the pasture. The pulsating vortex created during preparation stirring, so essential to the life-bringing quality of biodynamic farming, is echoed on clear nights by all the swirling, spiralling stars, unhampered by city brightness. There is no electricity on Voog se Kraal (apart from small wind and water generators) and farm life follows the rhythm of the sun: early to bed, early to rise. Each simple stone and adobe cottage is warmed in the frosty winters by wood fire and candlelight.

Eva and her helpers know each goat and cow by its name, and the animals respond to being called by name, in a set routine, into the milking shed twice a day. Aloe, Mallow, Bumper, Basher, Bolter, Puddle, Muddle, Buchu, Knoffel – meet the fine ladies at the heart of Cloud Cottage Cheeses! And picture Eva Dry, her sense of calm pervading the workspace, always singing as she works. Singing in the milking shed, singing in the vegetable garden (where the plants respond with their almost ridiculous abundance at times), singing on her way around the farmyard, or at kidding time. Music is living at Voog se Kraal.

The four Dry children – Benjamin, Joanna, Gabriel and William – are all accomplished musicians, some of them well known. They follow in the footsteps of both Christopher and Eva. Piano, cello, violin, recorder, song – drift through the farmyard and down the pass. As well as music, various sculpture pieces contribute their flair to the surroundings: Theo and Toby Megaw, two talented South African sculptors, also live and work at Voog se Kraal.

This is a family farm where culture, agri-culture, and a hands-on, personal approach intermingle, resulting not only in wholesome and delicious cheeses, but also in an atmosphere which has led many passers-by to comment on the therapeutic quality of this piece of land. The Drys wish to share this beautiful, health-giving part of the world with others, a spacious guest-house with exquisite views is opening in October 2009. Guests can look forward to: breathtaking nature, delicious farm-fresh food, hikes and rock-pool swims, a unique and varied farm-yard, music/drama variety evenings, maypole dancing, horse-rides, and friendly and interesting hosts.

Apart from goats, cows and horses, the Drys also have a herd of pigs, and are planning to farm bees and chickens and to harvest wild honeybush in the near future. Free range, biodynamic, diverse, cultural – Voog se Kraal is an inspiration to all those who yearn to live out their own ideals.