Indholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2015 i go! Platteland

Two years ago, when we started to ponder and plan Platteland, we were unsure of a number of things. Basically, we had 130 blank pages to fill. Where do we start? Where would the stories come from, and what if we run out of stories within a year? Would we have enough time? Would anyone buy the magazine? Would the coffee machine last? One thing we had no doubt about is that it had to be a 130page package of the best possible journalism, something not only the writers and photographers would have a hand in but also our talented art director, Monique Mouissie. Even more clearcut was our mission: to give the platteland a voice and to show readers what’s special about it. How to devise and make and…

I was intrigued to read the article “Down memory lane” (Platteland #6) and equally intrigued by the entrepreneurial use of the disused section of line. Having enjoyed cycling on “Green Ways” in Britain and their equivalent in Spain and France, I would love to see our disused rail tracks converted for use by hikers, horse-riders and especially cyclists. References to the conversion of defunct railway buildings also struck a chord, since we encountered this on the Vies Verdes from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Girona in Spain. City folk could be attracted to sections of disused railways around Louterwater Station in the Langkloof, the old line to Franschhoek, as well as the line through Colchester to Bushman’s River (Eastern Cape), which winds through pristine bush-covered dunes. Another disused railroad heads…

Our farm is 83km west of Malthahöhe, 100km from Solitaire to the northwest and 100km from Sesriem in the southwest. Good medical care is 350km away in Windhoek, the children go to school 240km from the farm, as it’s the closest place offering boarding facilities, and our nearest neighbours are 30km away. This is the real platteland, where the farmers move the animals and their wives transport feed, fuel and children. You have to know how to change a flat tyre and you need to plan well, because if you forget anything it has to wait until the next weekly trip to town. But I wouldn’t change it for anything, except maybe a small place on South Africa’s West Coast. Friends come braai and stay over. You breathe in the…

Platteland is my favourite magazine and the best of its kind in the country, so imagine my shock and horror to find the article portraying genetically modified organisms in a positive light. The worst part was that the writer claimed there is no scientific proof that GMOs are harmful. Maybe that was the case in 2012, when the industry, and more specifically Monsanto, had succeeded in muzzling scientists that had proof with threats of job losses and complete loss of reputation and credibility if they spoke out. Now, thank goodness, the scientists are speaking out, including those who have worked for Monsanto. Test results are no longer hidden; there is proof everywhere – scientific proof, that is. Even the World Health Organization has recently conceded that glyphosate in Roundup (which…

As an antiGMO activist, I read your GMO article with interest and was even open to learning something new. The article may be full of facts, but because it is written by a “plant geneticist”, it only offers the proGMO perspective. I also query some of the facts, like how GMOs have improved the life of farmers in India. There have been many news articles about the suicides of Indian farmers related to the failure of, and debt created by, GMOs. Your magazine is usually well researched, but this time you did not give both sides of the story.…

In the 1960s we lived in Strydenburg, where my father was an auto mechanic. Next door was a café where the boarding-school children ate ice cream and drank cooldrink on Wednesdays, and you could buy almost anything at the shop across the road, where the oom behind the counter served you. I also remember how my friend and I would often steal fruit… In 2011 my husband and I toured the country and visited countless small towns, including Strydenburg and neighbouring Hopetown. The decline and neglect in Strydenburg you referred to in the editors’ letter in Platteland #6 is incredibly sad because I remember it as a neat town where everyone cared about everyone else. The only thing that impressed us on our last visit was the filling station on…

Almonds may put the grain-free into your baking and the milk into your dairy-free smoothie, but the global demand for these nuts (which botanists in fact classify as seeds) is reportedly sucking California dry. The US state produces 82% of the world’s almonds, which are currently the little darlings of several trendy diets. The resultant demand – particularly from the Asian and US markets, although South Africa also imports a considerable share – means many Californian farmers are planting more almond trees. Even large financial companies are buying farmland and replacing vegetable crops with almonds and other nuts. The downside is that almond trees are very thirsty – it apparently takes 3,78 litres of water to produce one almond. Since California is experiencing a devastating drought, farmers are sinking wells…

From time to time, we receive peculiar items at the Platteland office. For weeks we stared suspiciously at the box containing 20 Biotone glass ampoules delivered with the promise of “higher energy and libido levels and better concentration”. You break the sharp glass ends on both ends and mix the concoction of caffeine-rich kola-nut extract, phosphorus and manganese in a little water. If you’re reading this, it means we succeeded in getting the Winter 2015 issue of Platteland to the printer on little sleep and lots of Biotone (and plain old coffee). A box of 20 costs from R125 at Clicks, Dis-Chem and other pharmacies. Contact biotone.co.za…

Fingerpointing. It’s a uniquely human trait applied with relish by the righteously indignant when they believe they or something they care about have been maligned, mismanaged or treated unfairly. Finger pointers love government incompetence, which, often justifiably, gives those fingers plenty of exercise – but curiously the pointer seems incapable of turning that finger back on himself. Take the issue of water. Ours is a chronically waterstressed country. It’s the 30th driest country in the world and, thanks to rising temperatures wrought by climate change, it’s getting drier. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria says over the past 100 years the global temperature has risen by 0,9˚C but in the interior of southern Africa it has gone up by 2˚C. This is potentially catastrophic for food production.…

Nesta Matlebjane Tourism assistant, Kamogelo Tourism Centre “I’m originally from Polokwane but have lived in Hoedspruit for seven years. I was travelling with my sister when we got lost… and then I stopped here. I’m crazy about the area; it’s a great place to have a home or holiday home.” Tiaan Bezuidenhout Shop assistant, Buco “No one who lives here ever wants to move. And when they move, they come back. The only thing I don’t like is the city people who get up to their tricks here.” Ria Engelbrecht Assistant, Moekie se Kombuis “Hoedspruit is getting stupidly big. And the town is actually too small to have such large shops. Many people still drive to Tzaneen and Phalaborwa to make big purchases.” Mark Blair Doctor “Life is very limited…

How far from the major centres? 160km from Nelspruit, 425km from Pretoria and 460km from Johannesburg. Flights land daily from Joburg and every day except Saturdays from Cape Town. Facilities Everything one needs: good supermarkets (Pick n Pay and Spar), a large hardware store (Buco), a good butchery, grocery store and various petrol stations, as well as a variety of fastfood outlets. Nearest hospitals Rob Ferreira Hospital in Tzaneen (120km) and Nelspruit Mediclinic (160km) Municipality Moruleng Municipality, one of five municipalities that fall under the Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo. Moruleng manages Hoedspruit, Balloon, Bismark, Calais, Enable, Finale, Lorraine, Madeira, Metz, Ofcolaco, The Willows, Turkey and Worcester. The offices are in Hoedspruit. Retirement resort Zandhaven <image> zandhaven.co.za Schools Drakensig Primary (at Air Force Base Hoedspruit), Southern Cross School (in Raptor’s…

Duncanville in Vereeniging is all factories, and industries stretch far as the eye can see: Sasolburg to the south, Meyerton to the north, Vanderbijlpark in the west and Drie Riviere in the east. Here, in the industrial heart of South Africa, you smell mostly machine and smoke, iron and steel, brick and lime, tiles and pipes. At least, that’s until you enter the offices of Coffee Excellence and Yellow Star in Telford Street one Thursday morning. The aroma of coffee is in the air. Good coffee, as the name promises. Henriette Marx, a native of Bethlehem, has just drawn her mug of coffee closer and she inhales the vapours of fine Arabica so deeply that her eyes close and, for a moment, she is involuntarily taken back to her grandfather’s…

PLACES TO EAT LADY GREY Anny’s Café has a fireplace for winter and a wooden deck under the trees for summer. And a bar that stays open till late. 051 603 0066 or 082 495 6626 Blue Pepper restaurant is only open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but Elize Cloete will help out on any other day if you book for dinner. Neat accommodation will soon be on offer next to the restaurant. 084 584 7036 The Grey Lady makes a good T-bone with chips. This is meat country; don’t bother with toasted sandwiches. 051 603 0458 or 082 714 1746 BARKLY EAST Die Dorpstal is where you can get pap and sauce with a lovely piece of boerewors for breakfast. 082 441 6279 The African Pot makes traditional dishes…

Apples and pears Apples and pears are either spur or tip bearers. Telling these apart is critical, because it determines how they should be pruned. Most apples and pears are spur-bearing. Spurs are very short, stubby branches where the tree flowers and sets fruit on older wood. Spur bearers have a compact, neat appearance. Tip-bearers are relatively uncommon and produce very few spurs. Fruit buds are found at the tips of unpruned two-yearold shoots. The general appearance of the tree is more untidy than spur bearers and the branches look sparse. Partial tip bearers produce fruit on the tips of the previous year’s shoots and also on some spurs. For tip and partial tip bearers, shortening the shoot tips will reduce the yield, so pruning should be less vigorous. The…

Brighten up with aloes When winter is at its worst, cheerful aloes light up your world with their boisterous shades of orange, red and yellow. Leo Thamm, who owns Sunbird Aloes in Randburg, shares his knowledge about and love for these winter stars. What prompted you to start an aloe nursery? “I was an avid birdwatcher from a very young age and remember the aloe corner in my father’s garden always teeming with birds. When we had to move closer to school in 1964, we could only take the aloes with us. We planted them in our new garden and they flowered in our first winter there. Then I began to cycle everywhere on my bicycle and collect aloes. At first I only wanted to collect pure species, but the…

Flowers may be the main attraction along the West Coast in spring – and with good reason – but let’s not forget the wealth of other natural treasures to be discovered along with the blooms. Whether you opt to drive, bike, walk or kayak, there’s a feast for your eyes, fresh air for your lungs and solace for your soul. Bloomin’ marvellous If a picture were worth a thousand words, the West Coast in spring would fill several libraries with its endless vistas of psychedelic flowers. Most of us think of August and September as the flower season, yet vast carpets of flowers can often be seen in July already – and sometimes there are blooms well into October. Like much of life, it depends on the rains. VIEWING TIPS…

The potato ladybird (Epilachna dregei) is by far the most common and devastating potato pest. There are other pests and problems, of course, but they’re minor and usually only develop if you plant uncertified seed potatoes from a supermarket packet. Potato ladybugs (below left) also attack other crops like Swiss chard and beetroot. A gardener’s excitement at seeing what appear to be ladybirds protecting their precious harvest is short-lived once they see how fast these critters can wreck a crop. They overwinter on koppies and then descend on your crop just after the first spring rains, quickly reducing the healthy leaves to a ragged mess. Adults mate and lay yellow eggs (centre) on the underside of the leaves, and soon the hungry hairy aliens (right) hatch en masse and start…

Avocados really should be your best friend if you value good food and good health. Incorporating an avo into a meal is a great way to boost your daily intake of monounsaturated fats and essential nutrients such as potassium, folic acid and vitamin C – and the good news is that, even though avos are rich and creamy, they’re proven to be heart-healthy and very effective fighters against “bad” LDL cholesterol. Even people who follow a low-carb lifestyle can enjoy them without feeling guilty. Why don’t you try one of these quick, healthy recipes? BREAKFAST Add an avo to your power smoothie: purée 1 avo, 1 banana and 1 cup of plain yoghurt, and serve with a sprinkling of turmeric. LUNCH Serve avo hummus with carrots and celery sticks or…

In season, says Gary Goldman, aka The Mushroom Guru, he goes foraging every day. “I’m in the forest before the sun rises, and on weekdays I have it pretty much to myself. But on weekends there are other mushroom hunters. And without fail I hear Greek, Italian, French, German, Polish… Europeans are taking our mushrooms and I’m on a mission to educate South Africans about wild mushrooms so they don’t miss out on all the free food available to them.” Gary, a Capetonian, knows his wild mushrooms and can identify any mushroom you show him, and his partner at Mushroom Guru, Craig Fourie, specialises in growing mushrooms and teaching others how to do the same. The two sides of the business couldn’t be more different: foraging is musty, grimy and…

We asked Gary Goldman to pick five of his favourite edible mushrooms and five poisonous ones our readers really should know about. He thought each list should be quite a lot longer (he’s foraged 23 edible species in the Western Cape alone) and reiterated that no mushroom should ever be consumed unless you are 100% confident you’ve identified it correctly. He also insisted we include Latin names, as common names vary from region to region. EDIBLE POISONOUS PANTHER (Amanita pantherina, tiersampioen) DEATH CAP (Amanita phalloides, duiwelsbrood or slangkos) PORCINI (Boletus edulis, eetbare boleet) PINE RING (Lactarius deliciosus, oranje melkswam) FLY AGARIC (Amanita muscaria, vlieëgifswam) YELLOW-STAINING MUSHROOM (Agaricus xanthodermus, geelvleksampioen) POPLAR BOLETUS (Leccinum duriusculum, populierboleet) BAY BOLETUS (Xerocomus badius, bruin boleet) WOOD BLEWIT (Lepista nuda, pers ridderswam) FALSE PARASOL (Chlorophyllum molybdites,…

GOURMET MUSHROOM ACADEMY As a young boy, Dr Adriaan Smit (above) enjoyed kicking puffballs, fascinated by the clouds of spores. One thing led to another and before he knew it he had a PhD in microbiology. In 2001 he organised South Africa’s first gourmet and medicinal mushroom conference, and since then the industry and his involvement in it have, well, mushroomed. His Gourmet Mushroom Academy is the only company in the world providing mushroom training on a weekly basis, as well as e-learning courses. Although it also offers basic foraging and cultivation courses, its main focus is on small entrepreneurs or commercial mushroom farmers who want to make money out of mushrooms. Where? Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London Cost R3 300 (entrepreneurial course) and R9 000…

WEEKNIGHT WINNER Super-creamy mushroom risotto Serves 4 (as main course) or 6-8 (as side dish) Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes The secret to a really smooth risotto lies in adding a creamy sauce to the cooking stock. You need • 1 x 200ml Ina Paarman’s Ready to Serve Mushroom Sauce • 4 cups (1 litre) boiling water • 4 x 25g sachets Ina Paarman’s Concentrated Liquid Real Chicken Stock • 2 T (30ml) butter • 2 T (30ml) olive oil • 1 medium onion, finely chopped • 1 cup (250ml) arborio rice (or short-grain rice) • ½ cup (125ml) dry white wine • 1 x 250g punnet sliced mushrooms (portabellinis are best) • 2 t (10ml) Ina Paarman’s Garlic Pepper Seasoning FOR THE TOPPING • 2 t…

NAMAQUALAND’S WILDFLOWERS As a base from which to explore Namaqualand and do some 4x4 driving during the wildflower season in this charming region, there aren’t many places more perfect than the luxurious Namaqua Flowers Beach Camp. This is a temporary tented camp set up on the beach in the Namaqua National Park. In the morning, coffee and rusks are served at your tent, and brunch is served in the communal dining tent. Sit down to high tea served late afternoon, then enjoy sundowners while the fires are lit in preparation for a romantic dinner under the stars. WHEN? Valid from 14 August to 13 September 2015 PRICE R1 850pp per night sharing (R2 775 for a single tent) PRICE INCLUDES • Accommodation in a dome tent with a private bathroom.…

Write to us and tell us about your move to, or your longing for, the platteland; the characters in your town; the festivals and bazaars; things that bother you; your garden and animals… Send an email to letters@goplatteland.co.za or write to Platteland Chitchat, PO Box 740, Cape Town 8000. We give preference to letters of fewer than 300 words. Please remember to include your first name, surname and – importantly – your town. Platteland reserves the right to edit and shorten letters. Gary and Isabel de Beer won this Severin Bread Maker with a capacity of 3,5 litres and 12 settings for baking to your heart’s content – from whole-wheat bread and rolls to pizza and cake. It even allows you to select the desired thickness of the crust. Get…

In my mind, a magazine is something you page through to look at pretty pictures and read the odd article that might catch your eye when you have a few moments to spare. In my busy world there aren’t many, so I have piles of unread magazines, some of them still in their plastic wrappers! That was before I opened my first Platteland. I love everything about the magazine, so much so that I read it like a book, from cover to cover, every article, every letter, every tip, every recipe! Thank you for taking me to places I’ve never thought to go and for introducing me to the most wonderfully creative and inspiring people.…

As the owner of a self-catering business, it was with interest that I started reading your article on selfcatering accommodation (Platteland #5). But I soon realised it must have been written by a city girl looking for the luxuries of urban life (and with no knowledge of the realities of the platteland). Two-ply toilet paper? Many places only have septic tanks and two-ply is a no-no! Fresh milk in the fridge? We don’t even have fresh milk available in town! Flowers in a pretty vase? We do have beautiful vases, but unfortunately no flowers except in spring, when they cover the fields and mountains. Big, luxurious bath towels? We don’t have enough water to be able to supply running water in the taps all the time. What we can offer…

I enjoy Platteland and having subjects to stimulate the Irish fighting blood in me is probably a healthy thing. Dr Leon van Eck appears to be proGM planting, but I have several important questions to ask him: • He states that the “yields and profits” of farmers who use GM seeds are greater than those using the ordinary seed. But are these crops – be they maize, potatoes or beans – sterile or can they produce viable seed or tubers so that small subsistence farmers can keep a portion of their crop back in order to plant the following year? Or are these farmers in eternal bondage to the everincreasing prices of GM seed merchants? • How do these crops affect the health and status of bees that are already…

I saw your photo of Bagdad Café on the R27 between Vanrhynsdorp and Nieuwoudtville (page 11 in Platteland #6). The owners are Louise McGregor and her husband, who manage a local guesthouse where I stayed in December. You can contact Louise on 027 218 1336. I came across a second-hand Afrikaans issue of Platteland at a St Luke’s Hospice shop. Our home language is English but the evocative Afrikaans and the stories about interesting people and places made my wife and me hanker after a place in the countryside, even if dilapidated, which we can make liveable. We’ll definitely look out for Platteland at our local chain store! Ismail Losper, BOTHASIG…

WESTERN CAPE FynArts Festival, Hermanus 5-16 June This cross between a festival and winter school focuses on visual arts, music, literature, food and wine. Contact hermanusfynarts.co.za fynarts@hermanus.co.za Citrus Festival, Patensie 13 June Gamtoos Tourism offers a full day of entertainment that includes a mountain-bike race, night run, junior boereworsbraai competition, food and beer tent, fresh-produce market and agricultural exhibition. Cost R40pp (learners R10) Contact baviaans.net WESTERN CAPE Church bazaars, Vanrhynsdorp 13 June, 25 July & 5 September The Vanrhynsdorp Dutch Reformed Church organises more than one bazaar during the year: Stompieskraal and Diepvlei (13 June), Urionskraal (25 July) and Grootdrift (5 September). Time 10:00 Contact 027 219 1027 WESTERN CAPE Winter in Calitzdorp Festival 13 June - 19 July Several fabulous foodand-wine gatherings are planned in the town and at…

Guide to the Aloes of South Africa by Ben-Erik van Wyk and Gideon F Smith This full-colour guide contains more than 400 photos to assist laypeople and scientists alike in identifying all 155 South African aloe species in the wild and in the garden. Growing advice, traditional uses and a good index are bonuses. R350 Briza 012 329 3896 briza.co.za WIN 1: SMS Aloes Cooking with Gas by Jean Nel Local sales of gas braais rose by 40% in 2013, so it’s no wonder that the caterer, official Weber trainer and author of the bestselling Braai the Beloved Country is sharing this collection of tips and recipes to help you prepare anything from steak to smoked salmon on your gas braai. R175 Jacana 011 628 3200 jacana.co.za WIN 2: SMS…

PAM GOLDING Engela van Staden 015 793 2712 or 082 565 3611 engela.vanstaden@pamgolding.co.za pamgolding.co.za R1,5 million Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate is in the heart of Hoedspruit but, once inside, you feel as if you’re in the bush. Various options are available, starting at R220 000 for a 5 000m² plot. RE/MAX Annie van den Berg 015 793 0108 or 082 643 3776 annievandenberg@remax.net remaxwildlifeproperties.co.za R895 000 This two-bedroom house in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate has a pool and the price includes all the furniture. JORDAN PROPERTIES Patrick Jordan 015 793 0471 or 072 698 0515 patrick@jordanprops.co.za jordanprops.co.za R1,3 million-R1,8 milion Leadwood Big Game Estate consists of 94 plots of one hectare each. The views of the northern Drakensberg and the Blyde River Canyon are magnficent.…

“Mahlolwa!” someone calls over the radio. This Shangaan word creates a sense of urgency that makes us jump just a little higher onto the Land Rover game-viewing vehicle. We shoot past a kudu, don’t bother much with the grazing impala… and then, we’re at the dam: wild dogs! A healthy pack of seven or so. How unusual: Tongues lolling. Quiet whimpers. Rubbing the chin on the ground. Pricking their ears. Licking their lips. Running. Clever tactics to reach the waterbuck opposite the water. This is Motswari. You stay in one of 15 luxurious suite huts. An early-morning game drive. Then breakfast. Afternoon nap. Then high tea – Motswari speak for a lovely buffet lunch on the stoep. Dinner. Sleep. Listen to the branches creaking while Aunty Elly silently moves around,…

1 Fail forward “I have experienced what John C Maxwell wrote about in his book called Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones: the way you respond to your faults and mistakes plays a large role in how successful you are,” says Dries. 2 Always be honest – with yourself and with your clients. “Dishonesty and empty promises drive people away,” warns Henriette. 3 Do everything with passion – “Or rather leave it – that’s what the corporate world has taught me,” says Henriette. 4 Make a decision “Continuous indecision is bad for business. I believe it’s better to make a bad decision, make peace with it and learn from it than it is to sit on the fence,” says Dries. 5 Enjoy your work “You must enjoy arriving at…

Efekto Kumulus WG or Efekto Lime Sulphur The best time to spray a rosebush against scale and fungal disease is immediately after you’ve removed all infected wood, when the tree is completely leafless. Deciduous fruit trees that have been pruned already and are in their rest period can also be sprayed with lime sulphur. Prices Kumulus WG R45 for 250g; Lime Sulphur R40 for 500ml Efekto Oleum To eradicate scale, aphids, red spider mite and bud mite on softcitrus trees, evergreen ornamentals and hedges once they have been pruned, mix this mineral oil with water and spray the stems and leaves thoroughly during a cool time of the day. Fruit trees must be resting, and citrus can only be sprayed when the fruit are as large as walnuts, up to…

“…when the southeaster takes a break and the first rains wash away the dust of summer. Then I know new life will start emerging in my West Coast garden! My fever tree has shed its delicate leaves and the green stems are bright against the blue sky. The arum lilies are about to bloom and will soon reward me with cut flowers for my house. Lachenalia bulbs surprise me again when their heads appear above ground, their bright orange-yellow flames driving away the bite in the air. While the sunbirds flit joyfully between the aloe flowers, I want to wrap myself in the blanket of white daisies growing on our pavement.” – Ilana Eksteen, Vredenburg “Don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It’s quiet but the roots are…

There is controversy around planting potatoes (or any veggies) in tyres. The proponents consider it a good green practice and say there’s nothing wrong with it. The opponents believe tyres contain petrochemicals that leach into the soil and, with potatoes being storage organs, these chemicals are said to be absorbed from the soil. You’ll need to make up your own mind about this hot potato, but one thing’s for sure: potatoes do indeed do very well in tyres. The typical set-up is stacked three to five tyres high, with two seed potatoes in the first tyre. As the plant grows, more tyres are stacked on top and filled with a 50/50 compost-soil mix. Water regularly for an optimal harvest.…

Zigi says... Chances are you’ll have all the materials you need for this project in your garage or shed. If you don’t have a piece of garden netting, it’s inexpensive and you’ll find it at any store that sells gardening supplies. Difficulty Cost of materials + R300 Time needed 30-60 minutes Get ready SHOPPING LIST • 1 pine plank, 1,8m long and 22mm x 144mm • 1 pine plank, 1,8m long and 22mm x 96mm • 2 pine dowels, 1,8m long and 16mm in diameter • 1 pine dowel, 900mm long and 20mm in diameter • 1m plastic garden netting* • 4 wood screws of 8mm x 35mm • small nails • wood glue • cable ties TOOLS • measuring tape • pencil • saw • clamps • fret saw…

Scientifically speaking, fungi are more different to plants than they are to animals, and are defined as “organisms that live by decomposing and absorbing the organic material in which they grow”. This covers athlete’s foot, mould, mildew and yeast – all a far cry from a porcini risotto. Mushrooms are the “fruit” of certain species of fungi, whereas the “roots” are the mycelium – an incredibly fine branch-like structure that grows in soil, leaf litter and decomposing trees. There are hundreds of thousands of fungi (or maybe even millions) but only a fraction of the fungi in the world produce mushrooms. Of these mushrooms, the vast majority aren’t great to eat. The rest can be divided into three categories: delicious, poisonous and deadly. Mushrooms have been around a lot longer…

Etosha, Damaraland, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Windhoek The combination of vast landscapes largely untouched by man and a relatively tiny population makes Namibia the ultimate destination for discovery and soul-searching. Here you find wide horizons, endless stretches of golden desert dunes, surreal rock formations and rocky plains. It is also home to a wealth of birds and other wildlife, many of them rare, and exquisite plant species found nowhere else in the world. And don’t forget about the countless unique sights and scenes, from the charm of the capital, Windhoek, to the wild extremes of the Etosha National Park, a huge oasis in the midst of a semidesert that offers one of the most extraordinary game-viewing experiences on earth. Then there’s the lush Caprivi Strip, a staggering network of rivers, forests, swamps…

On 1 January this year we moved from one side of Africa (Nelspruit in the lush, green tropical Lowveld) to the other (the red-brown dunes of the Namibian Kalahari). We didn’t know a soul on this little Google Earth point called Stampriet, but were welcomed like family and made to feel at home in a community where it seems we’ve always belonged. We’ve learnt to greet everyone warmly by hand every day, every time – from the doctor to the neighbour to the grocer. We’ve exchanged 100mm of rain per night for 4mm, wood owls for barn owls, impala for springbuck and, well, porcupines remain porcupines. We stop to watch the blood-red sunrises and sunsets every day, and have discovered that nothing is so urgent that it can’t wait for…

I read Platteland with interest and thought you might appreciate some of my experiences on a smallholding. In the 1980s I suddenly had this yen to live off the land. I started looking in the KZN Midlands but settled for 80 acres in the Bulura area outside East London. It cost only R16 000. When I met my husband, Fanie, he suggested we go live there. We knew nothing about farming. As soon as we’d settled in, we bought two cows and two calves. One of the cows needed to be milked that evening. “How hard can it be to milk a cow?” we figured. In the end Fanie had to phone a neighbour. I suppose we were the laughing stock of the community, but later these people became our…

I’m a loyal Platteland buyer, but I was severely disappointed by the article “Genetic Modification... Are We Getting Ahead of Ourselves?” (Platteland #6). It only gives one side of the story and also makes several untrue statements: • There still has not been any research into the longterm effects of GM plants on humans (only shortterm studies have been conducted on mice and rats) and several scientists have pointed out the potential dangers. • GM crops are not essential to sustainable food production – a much greater problem is the logistics related to the distribution of food. • Dr Van Eck maintains the “mixing of genes, which humans have been doing for centuries, is a form of genetic modification”. What he is in fact referring to is plant breeding. Genetic…

It was with interest that I read the article by Dr Leon van Eck. He states that, since the implementation of GMO seed, the use of pesticides has decreased. Yes, because the companies who produce these products put the pesticide inside the seed. Dr Van Eck did not inform consumers of this. So when you consume products with GMOs, you are also ingesting Roundup and Agent Orange. While GMO products have been developed to feed the masses, I would rather buy organic products. I believe all labels should state whether an item contains any form of GMO products.…

The good people of Kasselshoop Cheese outside Stilbaai clearly have not rested on their laurels since they were featured in last year’s Spring issue of Platteland. Visitors to the SA Cheese Festival at Sandringham near Stellenbosch named Kasselshoop Cheddar Melts – four types of white grated Cheddar in 200g packets – the most innovative product at the festival. Congratulations! The SA Cheese Festival returns to Sandringham from 30 April to 2 May 2016.…

WESTERN CAPE Shiraz Showcase, Cape Town 18 June Taste South Africa’s best shiraz and shiraz blends, and meet the people who produce them. Where? CTICC Time 18:00-21:00 Cost R120pp (which includes a tasting glass and brochure) at webtickets.co.za Contact shirazsa.co.za ShirazSouthAfrica NORTHERN CAPE Wildsfees, Victoria West 26 & 27 June Venison in all its guises, as well as a wine tasting, mountain-bike race, field run and walk, potjiekos competition, racing pigeons, stalls, clean air and Karoo hospitality… Where? Showgrounds Time 09:00 till late Cost R90-R110pp (kids R30-R60) Contact 072 243 3597 Vicweswildsfees FREE STATE Platteland Preview Festival, Smithfield 26-28 June This town along the N6, halfway between Gauteng and Grahamstown, invites a few artists on their way to the Grahamstown Arts Festival to stop in for their final technical rehearsal…

Mike Scott calmly talks about the land that no longer belongs to him, discussing the 18 farms he manages, of which he owns only two. “I have farmed in Hoedspruit since 1989. Even back then I could see the result of land claims. Land restitution has largely been a failure in South Africa. But now I’m involved in one of the most successful land restitution projects in the country, which is being used as a blueprint for at least four other projects. “We decided to form an alliance with the claimants but weren’t interested in the red tape. So we went with the claimants to the Land Claims Commissioner, where we signed an official agreement to manage the land together. Once the state had paid us for the land, an…

WANDER AND SHOP • Appelblaar Farm Stall Kobus Muller’s spot offers all the regular farm-stall goodies: fresh fruit (delicious mangoes), vegetables, preserves, homemade biscuits. And there’s a lovely nursery next door. Stop at the six large apple-leaf trees on the left when you’re coming from Hoedspruit. Where? On the R527 (the Lydenburg road), 19km from Hoedspruit. Contact 082 608 2033 appelblaar orders@gmail.com Appelblaar Padstal • Books ’n Peaces You’ll find this shop stocking second-hand books, gifts and beauty products tucked away behind the Kamogelo Centre. (“Books and Bygones” reads the sign above the door.) If you like a book hanging on the Christmas tree at the door you may take it. It’s free. Where? Shop 14, Kamogelo Centre Contact 084 746 3649 (Pegi) • Le-Bamba For the best and biggest…

WAXY AND FLOURY Most potatoes available in South Africa fall into this middle-of-the-road category, and can be cooked using any method. Best for anything – many chefs prefer this in-between type for gnocchi because it’s easy to work with. WAXY These spuds can be identified by their pure white flesh. They have a high moisture content, don’t contain much starch and retain their shape when cooked. Best for potato salads and making delicious white slap chips that would be the envy of any fish-andchip shop. Forget about crisp potato wedges or mash. FLOURY Floury varieties have a high starch content, contain little moisture and fall apart when boiled – perfect for mashed potatoes (but take care not to stir your mash too much or you’ll be left with a potful…

LIGHT DINNER Chicken patties Serves 4 Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 10 minutes Tired of fishcakes? Try this delicately flavoured alternative. You could also freeze the uncooked patties and bake them in the oven without having to defrost them first. You need • 200g chicken, deboned • 200g potato (approximately 2 large ones) • 1 onion, grated or finely chopped • 3 garlic cloves, finely grated • 1 egg • 1 teaspoon (5ml) whole mustard seeds • 1 teaspoon (5ml) whole cumin seeds • 2 teaspoons (10ml) ground turmeric • a pinch of ground cinnamon • a pinch of chilli powder • salt to taste • ½ cup (125ml) rice flour or cake flour • 3 tablespoons (45ml) sesame seeds • oil, for frying This is how Steam or…

Celia Guillaume lives far from everyone and everything. Head north from Polokwane, through Louis Trichardt with its beautiful church steeples thrown up into the sky like joyful arms, before you begin winding up the Soutpansberg along the Witvlag Road. The world starts to smell more and more like forest, sawmill, resin and mist. There are fewer vehicles and the surroundings turn ever greener. This has been Celia’s world for more than 40 years. The people here simply call it The Mountain, and Celia The Mountain Woman. The one who lives alone in the house on the farm Geluk. The one who doesn’t come down to the town without good reason. “I’m like a mole, remaining in my own little tunnels under the ground where I know all the passages and…

Never eat a wild mushroom until you’re absolutely certain of its species. Most books advise getting an expert to identify all of your mushrooms, but – as a recent poisoning case in Cape Town proves – not all mushroom “experts” are created equal. Rather take loads of photos of your mystery mushroom (from above, below and side-on, and at different stages of development, if possible) and email info@mushroomguru.co.za with as much information about it as possible (where you found it, when you found it, its size). Gary and Craig respond to emails like this every day, because they know the mushroom revolution they dream of will only be possible if South Africans learn more about wild mushrooms.…

Craig Fourie became fascinated with mushroom cultivation after a mind-broadening encounter with the “magic” variety 21 years ago. Back then, you couldn’t just google stuff, and as a 20something he spent far too much time in the libraries of Port Elizabeth, teaching himself to grow mushrooms. He learnt by trial and error. And error. And then some more error. Craig spent the next two decades honing his craft, but it was only in 2013 he chose to make a living from gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. He then designed and built the Mushroom Guru website and launched three workshops with Gary Goldman. Some might describe Craig’s lab technique (when in doubt, disinfect again) as “anal”, but when it comes to mushroom cultivation this is most definitely a compliment. Once you’ve mastered…

Long before scientists gave mushrooms their names, in a time when people still ventured into the forest to gather firewood early in the morning, the fruiting bodies of certain fungi that broke through the forest floor overnight were known as toadstools. They had an almost supernatural air of mystery: some could cause humans to drop dead; others were so sought-after that foragers were secretive about exactly where they’d found their harvests. Edible mushrooms are at their most delicious when prepared simply. Think of ordinary brown mushrooms, sliced and panfried in butter. A grinding of black pepper and a pinch of salt are the only extras you need before serving them on warm toast. Yes, mushrooms form a wonderfully flavourful base for countless everyday dishes – finely chopped and slowly fried…