OUR STORY

De Rustica was founded in 2006 by Rob Still, a mining entrepreneur, who, on turning 50, felt a calling to give back to the country of his birth. Inspired by his landscape-gardening mother and his interest in olive oil, Rob set out on a journey to create a farm that could be an inspiration, and beacon of hope for the local community.

Drawn back to the Swartberg mountains from connections made in his youth, Rob investigated the topography and climatic conditions of the area for suitability to olive trees before settling on the Oudemuragie valley near De Rust. The demise of the Ostrich industry at the time put many of the farmers in the valley out of business. Rob bought his first farm at the bottom of the valley and was soon able to expand the lands of De Rustica 11 kms up the valley.

Today De Rustica covers 3 300 hectares, with 550 hectares under permanent irrigation, of which 135 ha are olive groves producing award-winning world class extra virgin olive oil. Nestled in the foothills of the Swartberg mountains, the name “De Rustica” pays homage to the nearby town of De Rust and the ancient agricultural text “De Re Rustica” or “On Agriculture” published by Roman Senator Columella (Lucius Iunius Moderatus) in CE4. The manuscript served as the bible of agricultural best practice for over 1000 years and a ‘How-To” of growing olives and making Olive Oil.

Rob chose a feather as the logo for De Rustica, as a tribute to the community who worked the valley during the Ostrich farm era.