When modern thinking meets ancient crops, a pioneer in sustainable cultivation emerges.

Regenerative Rooibos at Klip op Mekaar, South Africa

Regenerative agriculture is more than a concept – it's a transformative approach to farming that restores ecosystems, sequesters carbon, and creates resilient food systems. In South Africa’s Cederberg Mountains, Klip op Mekaar exemplifies what regenerative farming can look like in practice. Combining a deep commitment to sustainability and community, this rooibos farm shows how agricultural innovation can harmonize with nature and cultural heritage.
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Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is a leguminous shrub indigenous to the Cederberg region of the Western Cape in South Africa. For centuries, the indigenous Khoisan people harvested rooibos for its medicinal properties, long before it became a global health trend. The plant thrives in the unique climate and acidic, sandy soils of the region – conditions not easily replicated elsewhere. As global demand for caffeine-free herbal teas has grown, so has interest in sustainable rooibos farming.

Enter Klip op Mekaar, a farm whose name equates to “Rock on Rock” in Afrikaans, a nod to the rugged terrain and layered history of the area. Founded in 2007, this 630-hectare cultivated farm is surrounded by 5,300 hectares of pristine wilderness – land the farmers have actively chosen to conserve.

Regenerative Practices in Action

From the very beginning, Klip op Mekaar embraced organic methods. Their transition to regenerative agriculture wasn’t a pivot – it was a natural evolution. Early on, they practiced minimum tillage, disturbing the soil as little as possible to maintain its structure and microbiological life. By 2019, they had adopted no-till farming entirely, significantly reducing erosion and enhancing soil carbon retention.

To revitalize and balance their soils, the farm uses multispecies cover cropping in rotation. These diverse plantings contribute to soil fertility, support pollinators, and suppress pests naturally. This strategy creates a living soil web – an underground ecosystem essential for long-term farm health.

With support from the Yogi Foundation, the farm acquired equipment to produce its own natural, compost-based fertilizers. These rich amendments, teeming with beneficial fungi, are applied every spring, fortifying young rooibos plants against the Cederberg’s harsh, arid conditions.

Scientific Validation and Carbon Sequestration

Over the past decade, Klip op Mekaar has conducted extensive soil sampling, analyzing hundreds of data points from across the property. Independent validation of this data has confirmed a remarkable outcome: the farm has stored approximately 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in its topsoil over just seven years.

This carbon sequestration is no small feat. It contributes directly to global climate mitigation efforts and stands in sharp contrast to conventional agriculture, which often emits carbon through heavy machinery, synthetic inputs, and land degradation.

Moreover, thanks to their solar energy infrastructure, the farm runs largely on renewable power. When emissions are balanced against carbon capture, Klip op Mekaar is proudly carbon negative. They sequester far more carbon than they emit, a benchmark achievement in climate-resilient farming.

Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship

Regeneration at Klip op Mekaar isn’t limited to the cultivated fields. The farm’s stewards actively protect the indigenous flora and fauna of the surrounding wilderness. This region is part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, one of the world's six floral kingdoms and a global biodiversity hotspot. Maintaining habitat for endemic species ensures ecological resilience and honors the natural heritage of the land.

By preserving this wilderness, Klip op Mekaar demonstrates that high-yield agriculture doesn’t have to come at the expense of natural ecosystems. In fact, the two can support one another when regenerative principles are applied.

Economic and Agricultural Impact

Perhaps the most surprising result of all this regenerative investment? A significant increase in rooibos yield. Far from reducing productivity, the farm’s practices have made it more fertile and efficient.

This is a critical point. Too often, sustainability is seen as a trade-off with profitability. Klip op Mekaar proves otherwise. Healthier soils not only store more carbon—they produce stronger, more resilient crops. The benefits ripple outward: improved farmer livelihoods, better tea for consumers, and a healthier planet for all.

Towards A Regenerative Future

Klip op Mekaar is more than a farm; it’s a working model of what regenerative agriculture can achieve. It fights climate change by storing carbon, enhances local ecosystems by protecting native species, and supports a robust agricultural economy through improved yields and reduced input costs.

At The Yogi Foundation, this is why we’re fostering regeneration. We believe that farming should heal the world, not harm it; moreover, that the oft-held dichotomy between conventional productivity and sustainable inefficiency is a false one. Klip op Mekaar’s story shows that environmental stewardship and economic success can, and do, go hand in hand. When dedicated farmers are empowered with resources and knowledge, the results speak for themselves.

This is regeneration in action. And it tastes like a warm, earthy cup of rooibos: sustainably grown, responsibly harvested, and brewed with a better future in mind.

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