go! Platteland

The slow life is the good life: go! Platteland celebrates the rural lifestyle and the entrepreneurial spirit of people whose hearts are in the platteland – whether they grew up in the countryside or are already based there, are contemplating making the move or simply hankering after the rural life. Platteland offers articles that focus on entrepreneurs, DIY projects, animals, gardening, food, towns and people. It is both practical and inspiring – as much of a visual feast as it is a celebration of great writing.

The ‘Platteland’ home industry

go! Platteland

Chitchat

News & diary • Sunshine, blooms, festivals, sweet temptations… These are just some of the ways to welcome spring.

The clivias are blooming

Real Cape brandy is tops

Quick-and-easy curries

The proof is in the fire

It’s a dog’s life

Dates to diarise*

Time to read • Close the chilly chapter on winter with a selection of new books.

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Let’s go to town • The products featured here were made by entrepreneurs from Bedford, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, De Rust, George, Grahamstown, Greyton, McGregor, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Pretoria, Riviersonderend, Ruigtevlei, Sedgefield, Stanford, Van Wyksdorp, Vredendal and Wolseley.

Tulips for Africa! • The tulips you see in Woolworths aren’t grown in a distant, cold country and then flown to the dry southernmost tip of Africa. The bulbs arrive in South Africa by ship and are then hydroponically cultivated year-round outside Rawsonville in the heart of the (boiling hot) Boland.

The journey of a tulip bulb

Tulips by numbers

Faith, hope & Van Wyksvlei United • Good news is in short supply in Van Wyksvlei. Job opportunities are scarce, and residents live largely at the mercy of nature, their continued good health and the odd cellphone signal. And then the local rugby team gave the community something to cheer about.

Koringberg ‘Absolutely nothing’ – or absolutely everything? • In October, the sleepy Swartland town of Koringberg and its NG church turn 100 years old. Although this rural spot just over an hour from Cape Town has never been a destination, professionals and retirees have been flocking here over the past few years – not only to stay over but also to work, and hopefully become better people too.

Meet the people

Our cover stars! • The Platteland head office in Koringberg works something like a home industry, and many friends and residents have acted as models on the cover of the magazine.

The Loxton Show Many happy returns • The Loxton Show is renowned and notorious for three things: The Loxton July horse races, the heat of the Karoo and plenty of dust. This is why, at the end of the show, people always say they won’t be back. Yet somehow everyone returns the following December.

The rise of the fur baby • The relationship between human and domesticated animal dates back thousands of years but has changed quite profoundly over the past 50 years in particular. Annelise Erasmus wonders how and why the focus shifted from owning pets to parenting them.

Let’s go to the garden! • Spring is here – and with it, a tangible fresh energy in humans, animals and the veld. Stroll through the lavender fields at Canettevallei farm, learn the names of the birds in your garden, celebrate Garden Day and make bookmarks decorated with spring flowers.

Floral bookmarks for spring • Is there anything better than enjoying a beautiful spring day under a blossom-covered tree and reading a good book? Here’s how to make your own bookmarks, which can also be used as gift tags.

Home ground advantage • All year round, the garden at the Native Roots Shelter for homeless people in Plettenberg Bay is overflowing with...