Jenny Robinson

I have lived most of my life on a farm and grew up on Benvie Farm as a child. I am the fourth generation to be looking after a property that is 770 hectares with commercial timber, a small sawmill, and a wonderful 30-hectare garden planted by my great-grandfather John Geekie after he bought the farm in 1883.

I had never been involved in running a timber farm before taking over Benvie. When my father died 25 years ago, I was the only one of three sisters who could come back to the farm and continue the family heritage. Once I got here, I also decided to open a small sawmill (a facility where logs are cut into lumber) to mill and add value to the saw log timbers which have been nurtured for many years on the farm. With the help of many people and supportive staff, I have been able to achieve what I started out to do in 1997.

I love what I do as well as the freedom of working outdoors, enjoying the bird life around me, and seeing the rewards of hard work taking shape. I get out of bed with the first call of the fish eagle that nests in the garden and have all day to be involved in something I cherish. I am lucky that Benvie Garden attracts wonderful people who have all added quality to my life. That this garden still inspires and offers a place of peace to one’s soul is very rewarding.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNT ABOUT OWNING YOUR BUSINESS?

Key lessons I have learnt being part of Benvie is that I believe in working as a team with my staff and careful daily planning when running the farm through various seasons, which helps me achieve my goals.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

My challenge has been being responsible for the preservation of the farm. Being a female has not been a problem for me, as women can achieve whatever they want to by being positive in their choice of life. We have one chance to go out and do what we are passionate about, so I feel it is not worth hesitating if one gets the opportunity.

Indigo Fields Farmhouse and Spa is a unique holistic offering of a spa retreat for our guests whilst they enjoy all the luxuries of a boutique farm stay. My husband, Paul, and I have loved establishing a family business together, having enjoyed the support of three generations.

We packed up our home in Johannesburg and moved to the Midlands at the end of 2003 with a dream to earn a living from a farm. It wasn’t long before Paul’s parents and my mom joined us, so we extended our offering to include an art gallery and a small coffee shop. We opened our doors to the “Midlands Meanderers” with optimism, but our enthusiasm wasn’t enough. We needed to create a place to attract guests throughout the week. So, we began the African Day Spa. We realised we had something quite special and added to our accommodation so that we could offer the all-inclusive holistic experience: spa treatments, accommodation and meals.

The challenges we face as women are precisely those that come from the joy of being women - being partners, wives, caregivers and moms, torn between business and personal responsibilities, and finding time to do each role well and not compromise yourself in the process! I was blessed to have both grannies to help out in the business and with our children. Now, Kate, my daughter, has me to hustle around my grandkids when needed.

I absolutely love the farm, the business, and working together with family. It has impacted so positively on so many lives, not just our own. We have an incredibly loyal staff that has pulled out all the stops. It’s not always easy and we continue to learn and grow, sometimes making many mistakes along the way.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNT ABOUT OWNING YOUR BUSINESS?

It’s not all about you! When you have a ‘staff-intensive business’, it’s all about the team. They carry the vision, the ethos and your dream into the guest experience. We struggled to uphold the “hospitality” norm - staying open seven days a week and during big holidays and school holidays. The best decision we made was to close on Sundays and Mondays, over Easter and Christmas, and for some of the school holidays. Women have something valuable to bring to the table. Our awareness and compassion towards others are needed to complement the hard-core rules of running a profit-driven business.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

Don’t be scared to challenge the norm. It's only when you are prepared to break out of the box that you will create that uniqueness that becomes your degree of difference, leverage, or trademark. Engage all the help you can get, especially your family. They have your back, will work as hard as you or even harder, and will be there when you need to step back.

Auria Senior Living’s latest development, Coral Cove, is a 21-hectare continuing-care retirement community, situated on the magnificent KZN North Coast within the safety, security and serenity of Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate.

2 & 3 BEDROOM GARDEN VILLAS FROM R3,6m 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM R1,69m

SALES ENQUIRIES: 087 537 0539 | coralcove@auria.co.za | www.auria.co.za

A Corner Café to Chill