This is the title of a comprehensive and unusual gardening book and an all-round treasure for the environmentally conscious gardener.
The Green Road is a community based non-profit organisation that runs an organic/biodynamic food supply chain and follows a short-supply-chain approach in the provision of organic and bio-sustainable food products. Due to the growth of the initiative and its anticipated future continued expansion, it now needs to appoint driven and results oriented individuals in Stellenbosch.
A single food seed can be as tiny as a grain of sand. Yet many say the fate of the entire organic industry rests upon our efforts to protect the integrity of these small, but vital agricultural inputs.
The Cape Town Celebrate Life Festival is held from 9-10 June at the River Club, Liesbeek Parkway, Cape Town from 10.00-17.00 both days. There will be interesting speakers, both local and international, an eco-quiz with cool green prizes by our editor, a talk on container food gardening, workshops, concerts, exhibitions and stalls on both days.
Most of us prefer to eat organic fruit and vegetables, but they are not always easy to get hold of. One might find one or two products here and there in a supermarket, but who has the time to schlepp around in order to take care of your family and the earth simultaneously?
Easter weekend it was time to plant winter seedlings. However, I first had to pull up the last of my beautiful tomato harvest. So I found myself with an abundance of tomatoes. I decided to preserve the whole lot, even the green ones.
Pests come in all shapes and sizes. Large pests may include dogs, cats, birds, porcupines, monkeys, baboons, and even children and their sports equipment! Smaller pests include insects such as caterpillars and beetles.
Cuba's successful models of sustainable development — in areas of food, housing and health — are now being widely replicated throughout Latin America.
A supermarket started an earthworm farm at their packing stores in Kraaifontein to dispose of their organic waste in a responsible way. The vermicast was used in their office gardens. But when they wanted to expand their buildings, something had to make way and the worms were chosen.
Most of our readers would most probably love to eat only organic foods? By now we know why it would hugely benefit the earth and our bodies, yet these foods are not always readily available and sometime still end up over-packaged and or over-priced on shop shelves.
The hallmark of a truly sustainable system is its ability to regenerate itself. When it comes to farming, the key to sustainable agriculture is healthy soil, since this is the foundation for present and future growth.
What attracted me to Waterkloof wines, as a horse lover, was that they use horses in their vineyards. I reckoned it was to lower their carbon footprint, but Christiaan Loots, the farm manager, assured me that it was economically motivated.
'It is better to solve a problem at the beginning.' What a simple and lovely way of thinking that we could apply to solving the numerous environmental, social and economic problems we face today.
This month Waverley Hills organic farm near Wolseley, in association with Cape Nature started a community environmental education programme. The aim was to provide children in the local community with a sense of pride and to create a `greener` environment.
The results of the Fairlady Consumer Awards, which were recently announced in the April issue of the magazine, reflect the growing trend of South African consumers' movement towards choosing greener and more sustainable alternatives where possible.
Soylite Moisturising Candles took top honours in the Health & Wellness category; and Healing Earth Marula and Rose Face Serum scored top marks as the Best South African Product overall.
Green terms like sustainable, organic and eco-friendly appear everywhere. At sea in all this greenspeak, how can we tell real claims from false? You may not be familiar with the term 'greenwashing' but you will have experienced it ' misleading marketing about the environmental benefits of a service or product.
As the environment emerged as an issue in the 70s, so going green became big business and companies were eager to be associated with saving the environment. In some cases the company's green image is patently false; in most cases companies are involved in 'random acts of greenness' such as tweaking policies, practices and products; and in some cases companies are truly green and are implementing systemic changes.
Are there still people out there who think the green consumer is odd? Actually, we are no longer standing on the edges of society, nor are we regarded as the new-age fringe. Today, demanding green and ethical products is the strongest driver in consumerism.
Are there still people out there who think the green consumer is odd? Actually, we are no longer standing on the edges of society, nor are we regarded as the new-age fringe. Today demanding green and ethical products is the strongest driver in consumerism. To establish the impact of your shopping on your body, the earth and her creatures, a couple of questions beg answering, such as'
What's inside this product? Read the labels and avoid chemicals ' codes, numbers and abbreviations like MSG as well as preservatives and colourants. Also avoid petrochemical byproducts ' see the complete list of unwanted ingredients elsewhere on this page.
How was it produced ' is it organic or were pesticides involved in the growing process?
How were staff treated in the production process? Now we're looking at the fair trade principle, as well as organic, as staff are protected from working with harmful substances.
Having already covered the planning, preparing and planting of your vegetable garden, this month we look at the vital importance of mulching. If you have never mulched before, now is the time! Read below for five reasons you should start mulching.
In the southern hemisphere, the first of September is officially the beginning of spring. This is the time to be planting the vegetables that will feed you throughout summer and the early stages of autumn.
