The recent fire in the Somerset West area that destroyed ten homes and parts of the Helderberg Nature Reserve has put the spotlight on controlled fires once again. The fire broke out at about 08:00 on Saturday 16 April 2011. It was first believed that the fire started in the Helderberg Nature Reserve, but the City of Cape Town's fire department confirmed that a controlled … [Read more...]
Pioneering recycling Part 1: Against all odds
No matter where I travel across the country, I inevitably find folk lamenting their desperate desire to have their household waste recycled. Either there's an almost uniform waste guilt permeating South Africans, or perhaps talking recycling is the average person's default recourse when they find themselves in the company of a serious greeny. That's when I realise again how … [Read more...]
Vredenhof organic farm
I first heard about Vredenhof from someone who'd had a heart attack and who was nourished back to health on their vegetables. His story inspired me to go and visit. Vredenhof Organic Estate is a 27 hectare fruit and vegetable farm situated between Somerset West and Stellenbosch. It is a world in itself once you've passed through the gates. The owners, Trevor Blench and his … [Read more...]
