Upcoming Country Life Workshops – May Diary
Article from the May 2013 issue of Country Life Magazine.
Boutique Olive Farming, Stellenbosch
This workshop covers a pruning demonstration in a healthy olive grove, propagation and costs of olive cultivars, critical soil conditions required for olive farming, environmentally friendly organic fertilisation in olive cultivation, and pest control in the grove. Experienced and knowledgeable experts will lecture at the workshop, ending with a panel discussion on day one on the organic vs. chemical debate.
A comparative tasting of olives and olive oils, table olive processing, the use of olive oil in the manufacture of cosmetic products and a lecture on the medicinal benefits of olive oil are included in the programme on day two.
Date: 25 and 26 July
Fee: R2 000
Venue: Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Beekeeping for Profit and Pleasure, CapeTown
This three-day workshop is of interest to business entrepeneurs, as well as farmers and beekeepers in residential areas.
Beekeeping can provide a sustainable income as South Africa has a shortage of honey, importing 2 000 tons of honey a year. It’s a practical, hands-on workshop, and the lecture content discusses topics such as the physiology of a hive, re-hiving, honey extraction, etc. Apitherapy (the use of bee products for medicinal purposes), safety aspects of beekeeping in the suburbs and disease control are also dealt with.
Safety clothing is provided, but participants are requested to bring their own gumboots.
Date: 3,4 and 5 October
Fee: R2 000
Venue: Oude Molen Estate, Woodstock, CapeTown
Grand Designs Live 2013, Johannesburg
Be inspired at the fabulous garden and home expo Grand Designs Live, at the Coca Cola Dome. Separate sections of the show will cover all aspects of transforming every room in the home, as well as your garden. There’s also loads of DIY and experts on hand to offer brilliant makeover advice. Stirring up some fun in the kitchen, the Chef’s Theatre brought by Food & Home Entertaining, will show you how to create a world-class kitchen. You can also become a master chef at the Celebrity Chefs Hands-on Workshop. In the Design-Off, celebrities will be pitted against designers to see who can design the best rooms. Garden and Home brings you the Changing of the Gardens with Jan Blok as the landscaper on how to design the perfect garden. Don’t forget the The Grand Gourmet Market that will be laden with deli treats and homegrown goodness, as well as decadent cakes.
011 835 1565, www.granddesignslive.co.za
Date: 24-26 May
Riebeek Valley Olive Festival
Don’t miss this celebration of everything local and lekker in the twin towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West, at the historic Kloovenburg wine and olive estate in the valley. At the festival the olive takes centre stage but there’s much to enjoy in a carnival atmosphere – wine tastings, masses of local produce, art and crafts, plus foodstalls and entertainment. There’s also a guided walk through the farm’s olive groves and a free olive press demonstration.
022 448 1635, info@kloovenburg.com or www.kloovenburg.com.
Date: 4 and 5 May
To book a space at either of these workshops or to request a more detailed programme, contact Carlyn Wallace at carlynw@caxton.co.za, 011 889 0726.
Nuy Valley Harvest Feast
Situated halfway between Worcester and Robertson and renowned for its award-winning wine and olive products, the Nuy Valley is celebrating this annual festival at four Nuy estates – Leipzig Country House, Nuy Winery, Willow Creek Olive Estate and Conradie Family Vineyards.There’s a mountain bike challenge, fun run, live music by local and national artists, loads of wine and olive products, local cuisine, food demonstrations by food fundis such as Masterchef SA contestant, Use Fourie, kids’ entertainment, hiking trails and even an olive pip spitting competition.
084 585 5557 or info@nuyvalleyfeast.co,za, www.nuyvalleyfeast.co.za
Date: 10-12 May
Amarider Ultra-Marathon, Swartland
This is an absolute must-do for endurance mountain bikers – a 160km ultra-marathon with Malmesbury as its start and finish.
There is a shorter option of 80km that starts at the halfway mark.
021 884 4752,
www.amarider.co.za
Date: 25 May
Obikwa May Day Meander, Nelspruit
Take a gentle meander through the superb Lowveld National Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit and enjoy four wine tasting ‘water points’ along the way. The 2.5km route follows the waterfalls, the baobab collection, the African rainforest, and gives you ample chance to see birds, insects, flowers and perhaps some of the mammals.
At the end of the walk there’ll be food stalls, a fully stocked bar, kids’ entertainment and live music. The meander is a fund-raising initiative to purchase wheelchairs for the disabled. With your ticket comes an Obikwa wines goodie bag with everything you might need along the route.
082 494 4279 or lesley@finditpromo.co.za,
Date: 1 May
Donkey Sanctuary Book Fair Weekend, McGregor
Thousands of new and second-hand books will be on sale at bargain prices in the community hall of the village of McGregor in the Western Cape. This is the main fundraising event for the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary – a place of refuge for donkeys rescued from neglect or abuse.
023 625 1908
bookfair@donkeysanctuary.co.za
www.donkeysanctuary.co.za
Date: 25-26 May
Talk on Living Green Roofs in South Africa, Durban
Clive Greenstone talks about some of his rooftop garden green roof projects and some of the challenges surrounding local green roof installations, from types of green roofs, to plants and materials. Proceeds to the Botanical Education Trust and the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust.
031 201 5111, botsoc-kzn @mweb.co.za,
www.botanicalsociety.org.za
Date: 27 May
CelticFEST 2013, Johannesburg
It’s not just anyone with a Scottish, Irish or Welsh heritage who will enjoy this three-day family festival, but everyone who loves mass pipe bands, Highland and Irish dancing, medieval fighting and all things Celtic.
This year it takes place at Modder’s Sports Complex in Modderfontein. The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and the Blarney Brothers will entertain.
info@celticfest.co.za,
www.celticfest.co.za,www.facebook.com/CelticFestsa
Date: 10-12 May
Husqvarna Classic MTB Challenge & Trail Run, Mid-lllovo
Rugged but fun – that’s the Husqvarna Classic Mid-lllovo MTB Challenge & Trail Run that kicks off from the Mid-lllovo Club.
Even the most resilient riders will test their skills on this brilliant single track in varying events that cover rough terrain (and a 60m floating bridge) in two picturesque game reserves – the Gwahumbe and the iNsingizi.
For runners there’s a 14km and 8km trail. D-Day for entries is 16 May.
086 100 7624, info@roag.co.za
www.husqvarnaclassic.co.za
Date: 19 May
The Good Food and Wine Show and the South African Bar Show, Cape Town
What better place for the launch of the Bar Show than alongside one of the country’s foremost gourmet events, at the International Convention Centre.
Gordon Ramsay headlines the food show, which will also feature the usual quality produce, seminars, workshops and demonstrations by top chefs. In tandem, the Bar Show will cover all aspects of spirits, liqueurs, beers and craft beers, and sparkling wines. There’ll be themed exhibits that include Cocktail, Jazz Lounge, Pairing with Food, After Dinner Drinks, Connoisseurs’ Experience, and Lounge and Party Drinks.
www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za
086 130 0343, info@cticc.co.za,
Date: 23-26 May
(Bar Show from 24 May)
Darling Museum Open Day, Darling
Each year the Darling Museum holds an Open Day to celebrate International Museum Day. Local crafters will showcase their talents in quilting, spinning and weaving, butter making, flower pressing, beadwork, and much more, and the produce will be on sale.
Children can make puppets and enjoy storytelling in the Craft Corner, and there’ll be a car boot sale, a tea garden and guided historical tours of the village. Join the Footloose in Darling – A Unique West Coast Walkabout, and stroll the streets, visit homes and take in ‘Art in the Garden’, wine tastings, craft beers, storytelling, live music and the many restaurants.
Museum 022 492 3361, info@darlingtourism.co.za
Footloose 074 556 4032, www.footlooseindarling.co.za
Date: Saturday 25 May
May Day Festival, Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal
Join in the May Day celebrations as St Mary’s Richmond, the oldest consecrated Anglican Church in KZN, turns 160. There’ll be a run/ walk of three distances plus market and food stalls, and a tea garden.
Enjoy maypole dancing, the Cathedral Chamber Choir, a marimba band and Zulu dancing.
033 212 2252 / 072 797 5113,
Date: 1 May
Pronutro Magalies Monster MTB Classic, North West
Test your mountain biking skills when this challenge gets underway at ATKV Buffelspoort holiday resort. Three spectacular routes await: a 20km fun ride, and the more serious 40km or 70km routes.
086 138 3591,
entries@stillwatersports.com
www.magaliesmonster.co.za
Date: 25 May
Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival, Johannesburg
It’s the most exclusive and longest-running wine show in the country.
At Summer Place in Hyde Park, there are 50 hand-picked, iconic Cape wineries on display plus an increasing range of imported wines and accessories.
All wine showcased can be purchased at special show prices.
074 185 0050,
www.julietcullinan.co.za
Date: 14-15 May
Tekkie Tax 2013
Yes, the Tekkie Taxman is after you and there’s no place to hide. But don’t. Come out instead and support a fantastic cause – one of five – and you get to choose which one you support.
For a small donation of R10 to one of the animal, children, community welfare, disability or education organisations, you’ll receive a relevant sticker that you can proudly wear with your tekkies on Tekkie Tax Day.
012 663 8181 or tekkietax@ mweb.co.za
www.tekkietax.co.za
date: 31 May
Fugard and JM Coetzee Festivals Richmond, Karoo
There’s no greater reason to head for the Karoo than the annual JM Coetzee Festival that takes place in Booktown Richmond, the literary heartland of the Karoo.
And this year it gets even better, and includes the Fugard Festival. On the last day, festival-goers can take to the back roads to Nieu-Bethesda, a place Fugard has hymned into South African literature.
081 391 8689 or 082 941 1572
www.richmondnc.co.za/booktown
Date: 23-26 May
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