Innehållsförteckning för Winter 2017 från go! Platteland

It was a beautiful Autumn day in March when we sat down to dinner at Evelyne Olifant and her daughter Juliet’s table in Pienaarsig, the township of Nieu-Bethesda, which is known around those parts as “upper town”. And while we enjoyed Evelyne and Juliet’s boerekos, we of course chatted about everything under the sun. It’s tough to keep going without donations, Evelyne told us, referring to her charity project that feeds 60 needy children – and quite a number of adults – by giving them each a daily plate of food and a lunchbox for school. Then she mentions something we have heard countless times on our roamings around South Africa to produce the past 15 issues of Platteland: “In a real community, people help each other. You can’t wait…

The article “Valley of Grapes and Olives” in the Autumn issue brought back many memories. I was born in Riebeek in 1927. We lived in Fontein Street before there were any street numbers. It was named as such because there were fountains where residents used buckets to collect water daily, as there wasn’t yet a municipal waterdistribution system. My earliest memories, however, are of water being piped in from a fountain in the mountains, which was later supplemented by boreholes. Residents could buy water in multiples of 100 gallons a day – it was delivered consistently, whether necessary or not, and there were no water meters. Oom Willie Kirsten was the water superintendent. His big bike had a canvas bag over the bar in which he kept all his pipe…

Esoteric madness? Has Platteland changed from a useful, entertaining magazine on platteland living into a Gaia-like New Age propaganda magazine? With the nonsense about the dung in a cow horn in your article on biodynamics (Autumn 2017), you have reached a totally unacceptable level of unscientific wishful thinking. (By the way, a cow is not the most fertile animal on earth – a fly or blowfly produces a lot more young ones.) Please stay away from this kind of sorcery and astrology. In the meantime, we’re loving life on the platteland, where I grow indigenous trees without superstitions and evil energy. Johannes de Koning, TSUMEB, NAMIBIA Shocking article! I recently read a short piece in the Autumn issue of Platteland about Angela Tuck’s shop Hello Tuck in Riebeek-Kasteel. I was…

Foodstuff: Reflections & Recipes from a Celebrated Foodie by Tony Jackman The cookbook as a memoir – or is it the memoir as a cookbook? This is journalist, playwright and food writer Tony Jackman’s refreshingly original view on life and the food that goes with it. It features heartaches and joys in his world, alongside a smorgasbord of meaty favourites, spicy poultry stalwarts, some eccentric signature dishes, and desserts with which Tony spoils friends. R320 Human & Rousseau nb.co.za 021 406 3033 WIN 2: SMS Foodstuff Clover South African Food Favourites From bunny chow to marog, smoorsnoek to sweet-and-sour liver, vetkoek to butter chicken, venison pie to isidudu… this recipe book is filled with traditional culturally diverse recipes using Clover products. A percentage of proceeds from sales of the book…

• THE CHURCH A group of local farmers had had enough of spending seven hours trekking to the mother church in Graaff-Reinet (50km away) every Sunday, so in December 1874 they met with the aim of establishing a town – more specifically, their own Dutch Reformed congregation – on the farm Uitkyk. A town council was elected, and in 1875 it handed over a petition on the matter to the Church, but it only received official approval in 1878. The church building was completed in 1905. • THE NAME Some sources say Nieu- Bethesda, which means “place of flowing water”, was one of several names suggested by Rev Charles Murray. Others say the name had already come up during negotiations, probably because of the strong fountain and the Biblical reference…

Distance from the big city Nieu-Bethesda is equidistant from Cape Town (±720km) and Johannesburg (±820km). Bloemfontein is 426km away and Port Elizabeth 277km. Facilities The village has a post office, a small public library and numerous places to eat out and sleep over. But there are no filling stations, banks, ATMs or, except at the Owl House, credit-card facilities. Basic groceries are sold in town, and almost everything else can be found 53km away in Graaff-Reinet. Nearest hospitals, retirement homes and schools There is a primary school in Nieu-Bethesda, and most children go to high school in Graaff-Reinet, which is also where the nearest hospital and retirement home can be found. Nearest Woolies Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Queenstown, which are all about 280km away. Municipality The town forms part of…

• FOR HEAT Weight for weight, all wood contains about the same amount of energy. A similar sized pile of dense, heavy hardwoods like sekelbos will release up to one-and-a-half times or double the heat units of the same volume of softer woods like wattle, and will burn for longer – but they will likely also cost more than twice as much. • FOR CLEANER AIR Pollutant emission differences between types of wood are also negligible compared with the effect of wood moisture and fireplace type. Even pine? Yes, despite its reputation for causing tarry chimney deposits, people living in areas of the US and Europe with forests dominated by pines and conifers burn them routinely without problems. The resins in pine actually burn hot and clean, with dry pine…

We upholstered our chair and gave it a lick of paint. Turn to page 3 for the information. Zigi says... We used SupaWood to build this chair – it is much cheaper than solid wood yet sturdy and smooth. However, it’s quite heavy and, being available in large pieces, difficult to handle. Give yourself a break by asking your wood supplier to cut it according to your measurements. We bought one board of 1,8m x 2,7m at Plaza Board Centre – which has branches in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Gauteng and North West – and they cut it neatly and exactly according to our measurements for less than R50. This is not a difficult project, but give yourself at least two days so you can take your time and concentrate on…

It’s not possible to walk through Trees SA’s nursery and choose a tree in a hurry. There are rows and rows of magnificent trees here, each one as exceptional as the next, boasting a unique crown or leaves or bark. “We have more than 100 varieties,” says owner Dag Willems. “And we don’t only keep the popular species – I love trees far too much to take that approach. I can’t resist a beautiful tree.” Dag was the regional manager of indigenous forests for the Western Cape Department of Forestry until 1999 and then decided to start his own tree-related enterprise. In 2004, he chose to focus on the growing, “rescuing” and transport of large trees. “In those days there was no professional service offering this in South Africa. There…

Tree Aloes of Africa by Ernst van Jaarsveld and Eric Judd Drought-resistant tree aloes are a must in any South African garden. This book, which covers seven larger African tree aloes in their natural habitat, is a collector’s item thanks to Ernst’s thorough research and many years of experience in the veld, as well as Eric’s eye for detail and his paintbrush. R230 Penrock Publications penrock.co.za Aloes in Southern Africa by Gideon F Smith and Braam van Wyk The authors discuss the biology, features and distribution of aloes in nature, and go into detail about 58 species. They cover cultivation, propagation, optimum growing conditions, and how to choose the right species for your garden. R250 Struik Nature penguinrandomhouse.co.za Garden Aloes: Growing and Breeding Cultivars and Hybrids by Gideon F Smith…

Let’s start with the bad news: that perfectly formed, fairly expensive creamy white and yellow-green torpedo-shaped leaf vegetable you may have noticed on supermarket shelves in the city under the name witlof, chicory or (Belgian) endive is available nowhere in the platteland. This despite the fact that Bronaar, the only farm in South Africa to grow endive – on a mere 10ha of land – is located near Op-die-Berg, a Lilliputian settlement on the R303 between Citrusdal and Ceres in the Western Cape. And now for another snippet of not-so-great news: “Growing endive is a drawn-out, complicated and labourintensive process,” says Fanie van der Merwe, managing director at Bronaar. Three years ago, Bronaar spent R7 million building a facility on the farm from where they hope to deliver approximately 5…

Belgian or French endive is difficult to grow (we explain how on page 94), which is the only reason why this vegetable, also called chicory, is foreign territory for many South Africans. Fresh endive is crisp, with a sweet, nutty flavour and a very light bitterness that almost disappears once it’s been cooked. Apart from the significant amounts of fibre, vitamins B1, B6 and B9, as well as potassium and calcium it contains, you’ll find it difficult to think of a more versatile stalwart in the kitchen: fresh or cooked; hot or cold; whole or shredded; in soup, salad, stir-fries; served with rich cheeses, creamy dressings, nuts, fresh berries, citrus fruit… Start experimenting today. VEGETARIAN STARTER OR MAIN Endive tarte Tatin The bitter and sweet flavours are a perfect combination…

By now we know Platteland readers are people who like making plans, making things and learning new skills. Because in the platteland you may have fresh air and sunshine and great people, but not all the conveniences of the city. It’s no surprise that the workshops we held in 2015 and 2016 were so popular. This year we’re doing it again. And it’s two old acquaintances who’ll be showing you the ropes once more. In Hartbeespoort and Paarl, Annelien Pienaar (below left) will be teaching readers how to make mozzarella and feta, as well as labneh, a yoghurt cheese, while at the same time launching her first cookbook, Boerekos met ’n Twist. And in Bloemfontein, Marcelle Botha (below right) takes her bread-making course of last year up a few notches:…

South Africa is known for its diverse scenery, but the Eastern Free State’s beauty is something else: she may not be the girl who takes your breath away, but she’s marriage material. In this sad world in which we live, there’s nothing like platteland peace to help you regain your perspective. My wife and I regularly travel in South Africa and our neighbouring countries, but it’s the Eastern Free State to which we always retum. We usually stay in “our” cottage, Dassiegrot at Meiringskloof, from where we explore the other villages: Clarens with its beautiful mountains and art; Fouriesburg with its five-star hospitality… The Eastern Free State is a dose of vitamins for a weary soul. I want to retire to this part of the country, and inspire my children…

New products to try, new places to visit and a bunch of fun activities for chilly winter days. When Platteland visited Nieu-Bethesda in the Eastern Cape (page 18), we bumped into Gauteng landscape artist Barry Slabbert outside Die Waenhuis, where he was planting a variety of drought-resistant plants in black rubber pots. This collection of pots, sold under the name Van der Vloed & Skaamhaai, is the result of a collaboration between Barry, Cullinan artist and product developer Magda van der Vloed, and her husband, Rufus. Barry, known in his professional capacity and among his friends as James Barry, designed the various shapes, and Magda and Rufus handle the stitching and finishing touches. “I wanted to do something with recyclable goods that get thrown away, like the inner tubes of…

Taste the Kalahari It may not be summer, but Kalahari Craft Beer’s new Gemsbok Lager and Puff Adder Weiss taste just as good with a winter curry as on a hot day in the desert. Visit kalaharicraft.co.za for more information or to find your nearest stockist, or contact Renier Baard on 072 827 0009. The Stables Village Market was born in 2015 when old horse stables in Chartwell, Johannesburg, were transformed into compact stores and food stalls where you can buy a wide variety of things, including food, beverages, artworks, décor and lifestyle items, and health and beauty products. It’s no wonder that city dwellers love it so much – the market’s motto is, after all, pure platteland: “Farm fresh, grass fed, organic”. There are lots of new initiatives on…

R395 000 Fenced plot (1 000m2) with lovely views and an 80-kilolitre reservoir. Martin Haines 078 777 1966 R1,1 million Lovely Karoo house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cottage. Suzette Pienaar 082 412 0156 R220 000 Residential stand (991m2) on the edge of town. Nicky Enslin (Pam Golding) 071 250 4141 R1,1 million Athol Fugard’s former house, with three bedrooms, on two 617 m2 stands. Hester Steynberg 082 698 0029…

It’s mid-December and the heat is vicious. The southwestern Free State takes shallow breaths. The veld is white. The horizon quivers in the haze. And, with the panting of the westerly wind, red-brown clouds of dust swirl in the air. How has a humble farm shop between Bloemfontein and Fauresmith remained standing in this desolate place for more than 100 years? Is it because you could always buy everything but the kitchen sink here? Or because it’s the only shop in quite a large area? Or is it because locals live up to the name of the shop, which translates directly as “support each other”, and lean on each other out of necessity? On the stoep, a group of kids are shouting: “Father Christmas! Father Christmas!” Just when you start…

STEPHNIE VAN ROOYEN Stephnie is the floor manager at Harrie’s Pancakes. She grew up in Hoedspruit, attended high school in Sabie, and has lived in Graskop with her parents since 2007. “I really enjoy being at Harrie’s. It can get hectic when the buses stop here and the restaurant fills up. Communication with overseas tourists can also be difficult. We feel very safe in Graskop, but it sometimes feel like an old-age town. There aren’t many shops or places to party, so we like going to Nelspruit, especially when friends and family visit. “You tend to get blasé about the beauty around you.” NICO SMIT “When my wife and I moved here from the Swartland in 2012, I was worried I wouldn’t like the place,” says Nico. “But I soon…

LEO THAMM’S TRIED-ANDTRUE SUNBIRD HYBRIDS • Early winter Aloe ‘Rias’ is a large aloe with a growth style similar to that of the mountain aloe (Aloe marlothii), but it grows faster and bears many more flowers. • Mid winter Consider Aloe ‘Borealis’ (orange), ‘Charlize’ (coral red), ‘Comet’ (red to cream), ‘Crimson Column’ (blood red) and ‘Eiffel’ (red to white). Aloe ‘Octopus’, with its large bunches of bright yellow flowers and long flowering season, is a striking plant. • Late winter Aloe ‘Omega Rose’ (pink to white) is a large aloe that catches the eye, as well as ‘Lava Flow’ (blood red), ‘Sun King’ (yellow) and ‘Saturn’ (brick red to yellow). • All year round Aloe ‘Ivory Dawn’, ‘Vroegjaar Geel’ and ‘Fireworx’ show sunbirds where to find nectar. GIDEON SMITH’S FAVOURITES…

GAUTENG WITKOPPEN WILDFLOWER NURSERY, NORTH RIDING Witkoppen is one of South Africa’s oldest nurseries and, according to owner Malcolm Hepplewhite, also the oldest nursery to grow and sell plants indigenous to southern Africa. “We stock a wide variety of aloes, and our staff all have excellent knowledge of and a passion for indigenous plants. We believe the environment should benefit from gardening.” The nursery presents its annual Aloe Weekend on 29 and 30 July – a wide variety will be for sale. Where? 363 Valley Road, North Riding, Johannesburg Contact WitkoppenWildflower 011 516 0262 WESTERN CAPE ROOIKLIP, SWELLENDAM At Jaap Viljoen and his son Hannes’s nursery in Swellendam, you will find a show garden and tourist centre where you can admire 150 heritage species and more than 200 hybrid cultivars,…

PHASE 1 • Middle January to middle February Seed is imported from Europe and over a period of a month about 2ha are sown. Endive likes fairly heavy yet well-aerated soil with excellent drainage. At Bronaar, before the endive seed is planted, they first sow mustard, which is later burnt and the biogas released in the process destroys pathogens in the soil. • Middle February to June Only about 35% of the seeds germinate within four to 14 days. (The Belgians may be the experts, but, with their 40% germination figure, they don’t fare much better.) The seedlings then receive 4mm of water per day for five days a week, which is increased to 8mm per day during peak time. Fanie says weed control is the biggest challenge during cultivation,…

THE MENU Starter Sweet-potato bread fingers with baked Camembert Main course • Pork roasted in buttermilk and citrus • Celeriac-and-potato bake • Mushrooms stuffed with kale and nuts Dessert Pear-and-caramel pudding STARTER Sweet-potato bread fingers with baked Camembert These bread fingers have a texture similar to that of scones and are heavenly with butter and olives. Or serve them with soup or pâtés, or as a regular bread with the main course. Serves 6 Preparation time 30 minutes Baking time 20 minutes You need FOR THE BREAD FINGERS • 350g sweet potatoes, unpeeled (± 2 average-sized sweet potatoes) • 125g butter, diced • 200g cake flour • 2 teaspoons (10ml) baking powder • a pinch of paprika • a pinch of red pepper • 160ml buttermilk or yoghurt • 1…

WegSleep is at the forefront of innovation in the local caravan and camping industry and its latest product, offered in partnership with CaraSure, offers real value for money: insurance for your caravan and off-road trailer! Readers can get the insurance product WegSleep SleepSeker at a special rate. The insurance covers caravans, off-road trailers and motorhomes. There are two packages available: SleepSeker Prestige SleepSeker cover SleepSeker contents (worth R30 000) SleepWeg roadside assistance SleepSeker Ekono SleepSeker cover SleepWeg roadside assistance Benefits SleepSeker cover: Comprehensive cover for your vehicle, including accidental damage, malicious damage, storm damage, theft, hijacking and fire. SleepSeker contents: Cover for your valuables worth R30 000 in total is included in the Prestige package. You also have the option to insure the contents of your caravan or trailer for…

Write to us and tell us about your move to the platteland, the characters in your town, festivals and bazaars you love, things that bother you, your garden, animals and clever ideas... Send an email to letters@goplatteland.co.za or post it to Platteland Letters, PO Box 740, Cape Town 8000. We give preference to letters of fewer than 300 words. Remember to include your name and surname and, very importantly, the town where you live. Platteland reserves the right to edit and shorten letters at our discretion.…

TONTELDOOS The diary entry in your Autumn 2017 issue on the Highlands Festival in Tonteldoos on 15 April reminded me of our wonderful Easter-weekend visit to the village – especially our stay at Flintlock Grange. A sunset in Tonteldoos is truly indescribably beautiful, the night sky is lit with bright stars, and the silence and peace are a privilege to experience. Francois and Helen Malherbe of Flintlock Grange are special hosts: they really care about their fellow human beings and about the survival of places like Tonteldoos. They organised a paramedic service, made space available on their farm for parking and even arranged for a priest from Belfast to serve communion at their home. Go there to experience platteland hospitality at its best! Pietro Schmidt, MORNINGHILL KAMPERSRUS Not many people…

For the third year running, Willow Creek in the Nuy Valley is the only South African brand among the “world rankings” of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), and holds the 26th place on the producer list. The Director’s Reserve, an intense blend in which Coratina and Favolosa cultivars dominate, is ranked 73th in the Top 100 EVOOs. This oil is available in 250ml and 500ml bottles at well-known supermarket groups and large delis. Contact willowcreek.co.za info@willow creek.co.za 023 342 5793…

Farming is tough – most of us know this. But what most of us don’t know is the main reason it is so hard to be a farmer. It has little to do with drought or army worms, and everything to do with agricultural markets. We seldom think about these markets when we think about farming, but they are critical. The aim of farming is not to produce something; it is to produce something that you can sell for a price at which you can cover your costs and make a bit of profit. And this is becoming harder and harder to do. If you keep a careful eye on your monthly food bill, you probably think farmers are not doing too badly – after all, food prices have increased…

Somewhere in this once-ordinary flat-roofed house where sculptures and shivers now await you around every corner, on 5 August 1976, Helen Martins swallowed caustic soda. Three days later, she died in agony in the hospital in Graaff-Reinet. She was 78. The “eccentric, mad” woman of flesh and blood no longer wanted to live, but death was in no way the end of her story. Forty years later, Miss Helen survives through her legacy: the now world-renowned Owl House and its garden, which she built with the help of a few men from the local township, Pienaarsig, between 1945 and 1976. Finely crushed coloured glass and otherworldly concrete sculptures transformed it into a private universe where she felt safe. Ironically, this legacy – a physical manifestation of her rebellion against the…

EXPLORE AND SHOP • The Owl House and Camel Yard The famous Owl House and fantasy garden filled with concrete sculptures is the main reason Nieu-Bethesda has escaped the decay found in so many other platteland villages. Apart from Christmas Day, this museum – a national monument – is open every day of the year. Admission tickets are for sale at the visitors’ centre and shop at the Owl House Foundation in Martin Street. Tickets cost R60 per person, or R85 to visit both the Owl House and James Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre. Pay with cash, credit card or SnapScan. Where? River Street Time 09:00-16:45 (Mondays to Sundays); 08:00-17:45 (December school holiday) Contact theowlhouse.co.za The Owl House theowlhouse1@gmail.com 049 841 1733 • James Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre This fascinating centre,…

I once tried internet dating and mostly discovered that everyone loves drinking red wine in front of a wood fire. I’ve lived with wood fires all my life, from old-fashioned open fireplaces while growing up to the modern glassfronted cast-iron stove that now sits in the lounge and keeps our rather draughty house tolerable in winter. Because I’m a botanist, the dancing flames are made even more magical by the idea that I am literally watching sunlight trapped by trees over the years being set free. In South Africa, many factors also make heating with wood a more sustainable choice. We have invasive exotic trees infesting more than 10 million hectares of land. Even changes in indigenous ecosystems are a problem, with southern Africa’s iconic open savannahs experiencing serious bush…

SABIE Bookman’s Corner There are amazing books to be found here! And so many of them. There’s also a wide variety of new and second-hand books in Afrikaans. And at Coffee Etc, the coffee shop that forms part of the bookshop, you can buy toasted sandwiches or a slice of cake with your coffee. Louis Trichardt Street. 013 764 2074 Sabie Brewing Company Not only is there excellent beer available on offer here, but also excellent food. And the atmosphere and service will make it hard to leave. Main Street. sabiebrewery.com 013 764 1005 The Wild Fig Tree A small, cosy restaurant with a surprising menu. Apart from the delicious pizzas, and trout and kudu with all the frills, you’ll also find ostrich- and-crocodile kebabs, as well as croc curry.…

“For the past 44 years I’ve been farming at Verrekyker, our family farm outside Wolseley in the Breede River Valley, and I’ve been gardening for just as long. My mother instilled her love of plants in me and my grandfather was also mad about gardening. “Winter is a wonderful season in our garden: the Japanese maple displays its orange, yellow and red leaves, and early in June the more than 40 species of aloe bring life to the garden. We also eat our fill of avocados from our trees. “Just when it starts to feel as though winter is going on for too long, the clivias I’ve collected over the past 20 years start to flower – there are thousands in the garden. They aren’t the most expensive or grandest,…

COUNTRYWIDE SEEDS FOR AFRICA ONLINE SEED SHOP Seeds for Africa sells more than 2 800 seed varieties, including 60 aloe species. “There is something really special about growing a plant from seed,” says owner Grant Muller. “Many people find this more fulfilling than buying a plant and, of course, it’s much cheaper.” Itis possible to buy several rare aloe seeds here, including the threatened spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla), which Grant says is the most popular. “Collectors love the interesting shape of this aloe.” Not all aloe species (indigenous, exotic and threatened) are always available here – only very fresh seeds are stocked. Contact seedsforafrica.co.za ROOIKLIP ONLINE NURSERY Rooiklip in Swellendam, the largest aloe nursery in the Western Cape, also has an online shop that dispatches aloe plants countrywide. “We wanted…

ERNST VAN JAARSVELD Succulent expert “Mpumalanga has the largest variety of aloes. These include the mountain aloe (Aloe marlothii), yellow aloe (Aloe cryptopoda), Wickens aloe (Aloe wickensii) and cat’s tail aloe (Aloe castanea). And the Eastern Cape landscape is beautiful when the bitter aloe (Aloe ferox), Uitenhage aloe (Aloe africana), tilt-head aloe (Aloe speciosa) and French aloe (Aloe pluridens) flower.” LEO THAMM Sunbird Aloes “A large variety of aloe species flower in winter, and they are fairly well distributed throughout the country, but populations near highways are under great pressure due to illegal collection. To see the best flowers, get off the main roads. There are beautiful bitter aloes (Aloe ferox) near the N2 in the Eastern Cape and along the Garden Route. KwaZulu-Natal has candelabra aloes (Aloe candelabrum) and…

1 Sow the seeds Livingseeds (www.livingseeds.co.za) sells endive seeds, listed on the website as “Chicory Witloof”. Sow the seeds in August or September (or from February to May) – the best temperature for germination is 10-20°C. Sow them three times as deep as their size, either in seed trays or in deep soil that drains well. Don’t enrich the soil too much. The seeds should germinate within four to 10 days. 2 Plant or thin them out The plants should be thinned out or transplanted once any chance of frost has passed. Leave 25-30cm between the plants and 50cm between the rows. Endive will also grow individually in deep pots, and in beds it is a good match with carrot, onion, fennel and tomato. The plants don’t like competition, so…

MEATY MAINS Kettle-braai pork neck with roast vegetables Pork neck is an underrated and very economical cut: cooked correctly, it is beautifully tender. Alternatively, try the recipe using a spatchcock chicken or beef fillet. The roast veggies are a great side to any braai. They keep exceptionally well in the fridge, covered, and taste even better a day later. Serves 6 Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 1 hour You need FOR THE PORK NECK • 1kg boned pork neck • Ina Paarman’s Garlic Pepper Seasoning • olive oil • 250g dried peaches • 1½ cups (375ml) water • a pinch of salt • ½ cinnamon stick • 1 tablespoon (15ml) sugar • Ina Paarman’s Sticky Marinade FOR THE ROAST VEGETABLES • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cubed •…