Going to the butcher has always been a special experience for me. I vividly remember going to the butcher with my mom, I guess I was about five years old. I remember the smell of meat, and the sound of meat being cut or processed. Those of us, who love meat, will know that not all meat is good quality. You get different grades of meat, as well as different specifications of how it should be packed or even cut. Knowing your local butcher plays a big part in that. Growing up in the Northern Cape, meat was always in our house in abundance. I really consider it a blessing growing up in a house where I was privileged to eat meat at least once a day. Butcheries were one of the essential services that were blessed to stay open for the whole of 2020. One of the butcheries that have really been busy during this time, is the family owned Farmgate Butchery, based at the Dulcet Centre in Howick. I asked the owner, Grant Reed a few questions, to understand a little bit more of what they have been going through during this time. Grant and Jane have been married for fourteen years. Together they have two beautiful children. The Reeds started off their journey by travelling and also working corporately. Later they started their own canning business, delivering to restaurants. They soon realised that there was a gap in the market, and decided to go the meat route. Grant has always loved agriculture, as it also runs in the family. The meat and butchery side is also in that sense, linking into his passion. The butchery gives them the opportunity to add value to farm products. Farmgate Butchery was established in October 2018, and the business has been going from strength to strength. Initially, when they moved into the Dulcet Centre premises, there wasn’t a lot going on there. They soon became the anchor business in the centre, which has opened doors for other small businesses to operate from there. What has been your biggest challenge as a business in 2020? ‘There has been a definite element of fear involved. If one of our staff members test positive for covid-19, we will have to close, and follow the protocol involved. We took some huge precautions to try and prevent that. For five months we were doing transport for all our staff. We have also been doing our best, not to pass the virus on to our customers. One of the more constant challenges we have been facing, is load shedding. Being a butchery we are so dependent on electricity.’ What have you been placing your hope in? ‘All our staff are Christian, and we have all been placing our hope in God. We know who to turn to, He is our anchor. There has definitely been moments of trying to do things by ourselves, but we always realise we can't do things in our own strength.' What do you enjoy most about owning and running this business? ‘The components of what I love is multifaceted. Seeing how staff is developed and growing is one of them. Our canning business closed during lockdown, because there was no demand for it. We were then able to train more staff, and give them skills they never had before. Many of the staff did not have the skills to even cut a piece of meat.' 'I also love the aspect of adding value to meat. Surely a roast is a roast, but to be able to add value to it, or to the experience, is what I love. I read a while ago an article about one of the world's renowned butchers. He’s an eighth generation butcher, from Italy. He said that the animal needs to be respected, and that is very true. We have a lot of interaction with interesting people and we learn a lot from them. It allows me to also grow as a person, and be part of the community.' Is there any encouragement you would like to give to other business owners and families out there? ‘Take it day by day. You obviously need a long term view on things, but everything passes. If you are having a bad day, just hang in there, it will get better. There’s always a positive view to things and ways to hold on. I really believe we should also have fun, we seem to have forgotten how to have fun. There’s more to life than just work. This year has been really tough on people.' Life has become busy, and many of us do not always make the time to visit our local butcher. In a way, it has become convenient to pop into your more mainstream grocery store. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but it has been refreshing to me to be reminded of my childhood, by visiting this local butcher. Spending time at this business was a walk down memory lane, and I know most of us are on a journey to be more supportive to local businesses around us. I can with all confidence say that this is a very well run, and fantastic business to support. Going to your butcher must be an experience. Do yourself a favour and pop into Farmgate Butchery. Grant and his team will be more than happy to greet, assist and give advice where needed.
One of the innovative ideas, that have been helping this business flourish even more during this time, is that they offer home deliveries. It has even been convenient for myself, to just put an order in over the phone, and have my meat delivered to my door. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Grant, Jane and their team for allowing me to come in and spend some time with them. I have really been confronted this year with what is important in life, and not to miss opportunities to connect with people. Grant is a humble man, and I'm sure many great things are still to come for this little gem in Howick. Here is your chance, go and support local. Support this business. I speak favour and blessing over Farmgate Butchery. May you guys keep on growing and flourish.
5 Comments
Naomi Bear
8/27/2020 07:21:25
Thanks Michelle! So helpful to know of their delivery option! I will go have a look :).
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Esther Howard-Browne
8/28/2020 10:59:31
Excellent and sincere promotional article Michelle. Thank you ! The Reeds are longtime personal friends of ours and it was gratifying to read this which captures the "essence" of this beautiful family. God be their Strength and Protector as they enjoy His favour on Farmgate Butchery.
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Kathryn Olive
8/31/2020 19:08:13
Well done, Grant, Jane and the Farmgate family. You have done and continue to deliver quality with great service.
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4/16/2023 12:09:38
Do not put your pillows in the wash if they contain feathers, as the machine washing process can cause permanent damage to the feathers.
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4/16/2023 12:12:31
For best results, only wash 2 pillows at a time to avoid overloading the machine.
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I'm a passionate photographer based in the KZN Midlands - enjoying life to the full and spending time with my awesome family and friends... photo credit: www.peartree.co.za
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