Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2016 i Home

I always wonder: if one had to guess what things cost, how many times would you get it right? I guess a mother (or a father if he’s the cook in the house) knows exactly what a loaf of bread costs, or a two-litre bottle of milk. A gardening enthusiast will surely be able to tell you, more or less, the price of a bag of potting soil. And if you’re a seasoned renovator, you’ll know for sure how much a bag of cement is, or a brick... But write a list of 10 common household products on a piece of paper and ask 10 people to guess what that bottle of dishwashing liquid, or a packet of sugar, or the dogs’ food costs and somewhere someone’s eye (likely the…

Watch this space! BUSINESS Malcolm Bowling Art WHO Malcolm Bowling WHERE Hermanus HIS WORK Artist and photographer Malcolm Bowling has been captivated by birds for years. “I strive to capture the birds’ posture, character and temperament. For me, the attentive stillness required to observe a bird going about its business should be enough to instil some humility into humanity.” Malcolm’s art works are available in the original line drawings or, uniquely, as digitally-coloured prints. He presently has a studio and gallery in Hermanus where he also exhibits beautiful wooden sculptures by Boniface Chikwenhere and ceramics by Richard Pullen, who won the Ceramics Eastern Cape 2015 Award for Excellence. Find him at 8 Warrington Place, 4 Harbour Road, Hermanus or visit malcolmbowling.com. Fabric We love ArtVraat Designs’ new range, still in…

Get in line Vogue scatter cushion R150, Coricraft Vroom vroom! Table lamp (19580) R440, The Lighting Warehouse Say it with flowers Ceramic vase R40, MRP Home Cover up Cotton throw R160, MRP Home Shine bright Gold Rays mirror R900, MRP Home Lighten up Classic pendant (450mm diameter) R2 350, IS Creatif Make an impression Optimist rug (160 x 230cm) R5 940, U&G Fabrics Tick tock Clock (22cm tall) R119, Rochester Furnishers (selected stores) Salut! Rose gold-dipped wine glass R69, @home Dinner is served Charger plate R129, @home Bean there, done that Artie-On-Paisley bowl R199, Ceramic Factory Pretty pair Espresso cups in Dijon R350 (set of two), Le Creuset Sweet! Honey pot and dipper in Dijon R350, Le Creuset In shape Geometric vase (medium) R299, Ceramic Factory Comfort is king Lodge…

One can’t help but feel nostalgic when entering Zelda Bezuidenhout’s home with its collection of vintage electric mixers – all beautifully displayed on bright red shelves above the windows and doors in the kitchen. “I’m not sure how it came about that I started collecting cake mixers,” laughs Zelda. “I just adore the retro design of those machines. It makes me think of women with impossibly thin waists and stiffened petticoats, teased hair and brightly-coloured headbands.” It’s not just the cake mixers that are reminiscent of yesteryear. There’s also a retro milkshake-maker, a beautiful old American radio and many playful signs that are evidence of a household that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The Bezuidenhouts moved to a security estate near the Cradle of Humankind about five years ago. These…

When Lisa Spaarwater and her husband Michael Muller moved from Cape Town to Swellendam in 2014, their sons, Mich (8) and Christiaan (6), had to leave behind “the coolest bedroom ever”. Once they were settled in their new home, Lisa, owner of Lemon & Lilac Paint Techniques, had no choice but to roll up her sleeves and convert the former dining room, now a bedroom for the boys, into a space that was just as awesome. She decided on a focal wall with a triangle design. It was hard work but the end result is a fun, geometric effect. The wall is 4m wide and almost 3m high. “I painted for about two days. But just as I was beginning to think it was taking way too long, it all…

Michélle van Breda and the SARIE team will host you in their beautiful colour-inspired lounge. PLUS you can grab a delicious bite to eat at the SARIE KOS food truck. Suzy Brokensha and the FAIRLADY team welcome you to their energy-efficient, electricity-free lounge. Be sure not to miss the FAIRLADY food truck’s tantalising tapas! Visit Dudu Mvimbi and the TRUE LOVE team in their sophisticated monochrome minimalist lounge, then pop along to the TRUE LOVE food truck for a light lunch. Terena le Roux and the creative Idees|Ideas team invite you to visit their rose-inspired lounge. While there, indulge in a delectable (and creative!) sweet treat from their food truck. Kay Karriem and the Kuier team bring Cape Town to Johannesburg with their West Coast lounge. Plus you can enjoy…

Cut 9mm MDF board as follows: • one 210 x 182mm piece (handle panel) • two 110 x 85mm pieces (partitions) • two 110 x 182mm pieces (sides) • two 110 x 180mm pieces (front and back) • one 200 x 180mm piece (base) Use Alcolin Professional Wood Glue to stick the long sides of the two partitions an equal distance apart on one side of the handle. Now glue the front piece on top, followed by the sides and the back. Glue the entire frame to the base.…

Liza Watermeyer, Retail and Display Coordinator for Tile Africa, shares a few tips on how to transform your space into the perfect romantic refuge. Colour is key Choosing the right tiles will go a long way in creating a dreamy or decadent look in the bathroom. Here, stylish black and white works wonders in creating a vintage romantic atmosphere. Perfect for bubbles In a romantic bathroom setting, the bath should ideally be freestanding – preferably in the centre of the room, if you have the space. A slipper bath with claw feet will provide a charming focal point, or you could install an oval bath with steps leading up to it for displaying beautiful storm lanterns or candles. A rejuvenating shower For the ultimate experience, install an extra-large shower rose…

Root of the problem Kobus Greyvenstein of Mossel Bay writes The roots of my palm tree have lifted the paving stones and concrete next to my house. I removed some of the pavers, loosened the soil and chopped off a lot of the roots. I want to lay paving in the same spot; what can I spray on the roots so they won’t grow again? I’ve heard that used motor oil or coarse salt works; any advice? JJ replies Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can spray on the roots to prevent them from re-growing. Rather bury a piece of corrugated iron vertically in the soil to stop the roots. You will need to replace it every few years. To dye for Faiyaz Vally writes I’m looking for a blue orchid similar…

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.– Claude Monet Plant guide Botanical name Dahlia hybrids Common name Dahlia Full sun Needs lots of water Perennial Good cut flower Many of us will remember that neighbour from our childhood who’d show off their dahlias every year. Well, these gorgeous flowers are making a comeback. Dahlias come in so many different colours, shapes and sizes that there’s sure to be one that steals your heart. This summer-flowering plant likes full sun and blooms from midsummer right through to autumn. Cut off dead flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. Dahlia flowers can be as big as a dinner plate or just 3cm in diameter, depending on which ones you plant. They grow from tubers that go dormant in winter, resprouting every…

Raquel Lewis from Doornpoort, north of Pretoria, says she saves about R3 000 a month and uses borehole water for her large 1 650m² garden, swimming pool and her home’s floating foundation designed by geo-technical engineers. The floating foundation needs water to keep the clay soil under the house saturated. Raquel had the borehole drilled 13 years ago and was lucky to find the first water vein at 17m and the second at 24m. Back then she paid R5 000 for the pump and R5 000 for the drilling and casing. The borehole pumps between 3 000–4 000L per hour. “Since filling up the pool (about 30 000L for a 6 x 4m pool) we no longer get a certain type of algae. I even pump drinking water from the…

Garden mint (Mentha spicata) Refreshing mint stimulates appetite and aids digestion. How to grow All mint has the same basic requirements: rich, moist soil and partial sun. Most mints are creeping and will spread quickly. Should they suffer from rust, cut back the plant to ground level. Different types Garden mint and spearmint (Mentha spicata) are the most popular. There is also apple mint, basil mint, chocolate mint, mint julep, eau de cologne mint (with a citrus flavour), ginger mint, pineapple mint, and peppermint, as well as groundcovers that repel insects, like pennyroyal and slender mint. Tip of the month If plants start getting straggly, just plant some of the rooted runners and you’ll soon have vigorous new plants. Did you know? If allowed to flower, mint attracts…

This way, you cut costs by designing your own kitchen with top quality units at reasonable prices! Ever tried designing your own kitchen, just to come unstuck with tricky measurements and odd corners? Now it’s easier than ever with the Milestone Kitchens downloadable kitchen planner. Find it under downloads on their homepage and get going! Step 1 First open the plan and plot the walls, windows and doors of your kitchen on the grid that’s supplied to match the layout of your existing kitchen. Each square represents 200 x 200mm. You can do this digitally or print out the plan and paste everything into position. Tip Note the position of power and plumbing points. Step 2 From the paste board, either cut and paste or copy and drag the units…

Peppermint Crisp caramel and ganache fridge tart Makes 1 x 22cm tart Preparation time: 1 hour Baking time: 1 hour Oven temperature: 180°C CRUST LAYERS • 560g (4 x 250ml) cake flour• 10ml baking powder• 5ml salt• 200g (250ml) sugar• 250g butter• 3 eggs, beaten FILLING • 500ml cream• 2 tins cooked condensed milk• 1 x 250g tub mascarpone• 200g good quality mint-flavoured dark chocolate, finely chopped• 3 Peppermint Crisps, grated or finely chopped• extra cream for serving Preparation Preheat the oven to 180°C. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Add the sugar and mix. Rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingers and add the eggs. Mix to form a soft dough. Divide the dough into seven equal portions (use your scale to weigh it) and place it in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.…

In February, the hottest month of summer, we celebrate love. There’ll be plenty of red roses, chocolates, champagne, seductive lingerie – those flimsy pieces of fabric that all women must wear – strawberries and oysters and all that we associate with love. But love is not just the red-hot, erotic passion of two lovers. Love comes, as the poet said, in a thousand guises. And love can never be prescribed. I’d like to tell you two stories. Neither has anything to do with the erotic love between two people, but then again... maybe it does? A young artist friend told me the story of his grandparents. His grandfather was an Irishman who joined the Allied Forces during the Second World War. He was seriously wounded in one of the bloodiest…

WINNING LETTER In all its former glory Janice Peachey of Cape Town writes We renovated a really ugly old semi in Observatory over a period of two years and used second-hand materials to reintroduce some of the original features, such as the bay windows which came from a demolition site in Tamboerskloof. My husband did all the work himself – hence the two-year turnaround instead of what was supposed to be a quick in and out! We decided to bypass the middleman and sold the house (furnished with mainly Gumtree finds) to a young gynae within hours of posting on the Private Property site – for just less than our asking price! What a prize – and what a competition! Sharon McNally and Charles Raubenheimer of Cape Town write Dear…

1 Bunny chow Bunnies are popular pets but most people aren’t aware that 10 to 20% of their diet should consist of greens. Plant up their own ready supply of basil, rocket, mint and celery in a collection of terracotta pots. But beware: these plants should be kept out of your rabbits’ reach or they’ll devour them in no time. Simply pick fresh leaves every now and then to supplement their diet. Did you know? Rabbits cannot consume iceberg lettuce and should only eat carrots or fruit a few times a week, not every day. Their staple food is oat hay and ordinary grass, supplemented with rabbit pellets. There’s no reason not to follow your heart. – Steve Jobs 2 Branch out Warm accent colours add impact to Noa Haarhoff’s…

#1 {Renovators of the Year} Terence and Noelene Botha See their house on page 18. #2 {Runners-up} Charles Raubenheimer and Sharon McNally Take a look at their home on page 30. #3 {Third place} Arno and Elzaan de Wit Turn to page 36 to view their bathroom. Also in the Top 5 Anton and Julie Oosthuizen Check out their renovation in our March 2016 issue! Also in the Top 5 Oostewald Bekker and Yolanda Cilliers See their project in our April 2016 issue! The winners took home vouchers worth R30 000 from our proud sponsor Pennypinchers Timbercity…

What an inspiration. Where there’s will, there’s a way! – Johan Spies of Pennypinchers Timbercity The Bothas showed great courage and character in taking on such a project. A heartwarming success story! – Andrew Maritz, art director at Home This shows what can happen when you dream big and believe in yourself. – Henk Lourens of Pennypinchers Timbercity This renovation shows exactly what you can achieve when you have a dream and a vision – beauty rises from the ashes. – Deon de Goede, DIY expert at Home The Bothas’ journey is the ultimate personification of the Fix it with Flair competition. – Wicus Pretorius, editor of Home…

Lecia’s business, Dewaalart, manufactures vinyl stickers and wall art, among others. She first painted the bath with Dulux Tile Primer and then with Dulux enamel in Night Jewels 1. “I then measured every tile on the side of the bath, cut the vinyl (in the colour Copper) to size and applied it onto each tile. The self-adhesive vinyl works very well on smooth surfaces such as tiles. And it’s not necessary to apply varnish on top.” Stag head, copper candle vessels and lantern from @home; copper bowl and plumber’s pipe candleholder stylist’s own “We’ve been living in among beautiful trees in Hout Bay since 2005. Our 30-year-old house is spacious, open and sunny, and over the years we’ve systematically renovated it, one room at a time – except for the…

PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 5/10 Skill level 5/10 Time needed ± 2 days Do it yourself for about R1 650: bricks R600, sand R550, stone R260, cement R240 (for a large fire pit, 1.8m in diameter) Project notes • Once you have determined the size of your fire pit, get a building materials store such as Pennypinchers to do a cost calculation for you so that you know how much material you will need. • If you don’t want to mix the mortar or concrete yourself, purchase a pre-mix such as Ready Mix and just add water according to the instructions on the package. • Avoid river stones for building – they crack easily. • You can add a bonding liquid (try Dulux or Plascon Bonding Liquid) to the cement…

Why not stencil your floor after painting it? Our paint specialist, Marlene Kruger, says stencilling is a great idea, but warns that it’s time-consuming. Follow these simple steps: Step 1 Choose a colour lighter or darker than your floor so that the pattern stands out. Step 2 Hold the stencil in place with masking tape and then use a sponge roller to apply the paint to the stencil, working from the centre of the floor outwards. Make sure your roller is dry before you start and don’t dilute the paint: the drier the roller and the less paint, the better – otherwise the lines will smudge. Step 3 Repeat until the floor is covered then seal with three layers of colourless sealant. • Ever considered a self-adhesive vinyl sticker? See…

Sweet dreams Anabela de la Costa of Benoni writes My daughter’s bedroom has a very high-pitched ceiling and I don’t know how to hang a decorative mosquito net in this space without it looking lost and silly. Should I remove the light fixture? Laura Matzner of Muto Interior Design in Menlo Park replies This room has lovely features. To solve the issue of scale and proportion, paint the ceiling a darker colour – this will immediately make the room feel cosier. Grey is a good choice and I suggest City Fog from Plascon. Keep the cornices white to add detail and try a peppermint green (Plascon Shutter Green) on the walls for a fresh contemporary feel. Replace the existing pendant with three trendy carbon filament light bulbs; space them evenly…

Readers’ happy snaps All heart Lady and Troy sleep sweetly. – Sinomi Fourie, Pierre van Ryneveld The get-along gang Rescue pup Lexi (left) loves the new members of the family, Ben and Neeqah. – Anja de Kock, Vredenburg Tender loving care Soxx keeps a close eye on Ginkgo so that he doesn’t scratch! – Glenda Baatjes, Malmesbury A literary giant Great Dane Marmaduke loves to snuggle up at storytime. – Sandra Nell, Hermanus Can’t. Stay. Awake Ramsey and TinTin are pooped after playtime. – Carmie le Roux, Plettenberg Bay Cuddle buddies Johnny the Beagador – a beagle and labrador cross – and his teddy are inseparable! – Marlese Bezuidenhout, Port Elizabeth WIN! Each pet owner whose pic is featured here wins a large super-strong K9 Camper for dogs or a…

Each of the crossbeams is set in a joint that Piet and a helper from PG Handyman sawed in the support beams beneath them. Bluegum latte form the ceiling of the pergola. They might not be waterproof, but the garden furniture is water-, wind-and weather-resistant. “We were more intent on creating shade than providing protection against rain,” says Piet. “Luckily, the angle at which the sun shines means we get excellent shade under the pergola.” The supporting beams rest in a recess made by cutting the central plank of each pillar shorter; a great way to make a joint in a jiffy. The six pillars of the pergola each consist of three 10cm-wide treated pine planks bolted together. The pillars rest on U-brackets which have been set in concrete so…

Gardening tips for February • Make a small sowing of sweet peas from the middle of the month. Soak seed overnight and plant in an open sunny position in well-composted soil. • Divide overcrowded clumps of bearded irises and replant in freshly composted soil. The rhizome of bearded iris should be planted at soil level for it to flower well. • Remove weeds before they have a chance to seed. Pour boiling water over weeds that are growing between paving stones or bricks. • Shorten leggy growth on shrubs and climbers, but make sure that the remaining stems have sufficient foliage to avoid sunburn. • Give citrus trees an application of 3:1:5 (26) to encourage fruiting and add a bucket or two of recycled grey water from your shower or…

Plum and cherry brownies Using juicy plums means the brownies will require a longer baking time, but the combination of sweet and sour makes it worth the wait. Makes 9 squares Preparation time: 25 minutes Baking time: 1 hour • 125g good quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped• 125g butter• 2 eggs• 180g (225ml) light brown sugar• 110g (195ml) self-raising flour, sifted• 5ml rosewater• 12 fresh cherries, pitted• 9 small plum halves• 100g white chocolate, chopped and melted 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a 20 x 20cm pan with baking paper. 2 Melt the chocolate and butter and let it cool slightly. Beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy; add the flour, cooled chocolate, rose water and cherries and fold through until just mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared tin. 3 Dip the…

ON THE BOX He wants a state-of-the-art sound system; she wants a top-of-the-range kitchen. He wants a home cinema; she wants a nursery. Mad About the House (starts 24 February on the Home channel, 176 on DStv) settles these classic domestic arguments once and for all by giving a couple, whose home is desperately in need of attention, a big cash injection. But there’s a catch: only one of them will be allowed to mastermind the makeover… Calling all homemakers! 25–28 February: Ticketpro Dome, Jo’burg Make your way to Homemakers Expo 2010 and be inspired by the latest trends with more than 350 exhibitors under one roof. Make sure to stop at the Interactive Wall, Builders DIY Theatre and the Get It Done Demo Arena and when you need to…

1 Cut seven equal squares (ours are 6 x 6cm) from old sheet music and fold each in half to form a triangle. Make sure the printed side of the paper is facing outwards. 2 With the longest side of the triangle towards you, fold the left and right points of the triangle up to the top point to form a square. 3 Lift the two triangular side flaps by placing a finger in each ‘cone’, then fold them flat. 4 Tuck in the tops of these two small side triangles. Fold in the sides. 5 Glue the outer edges of the two small flaps and press together until the glue dries. (Use a fast-setting glue like Alcolin Super Glue.) This forms the first petal of your flower. Repeat with…

1 {Winners} Terence and Noelene Botha with their children, Jake (6) and Jamie (11) Their entry CATEGORY Entire house WHERE Milkwood Park, Noordhoek SIZE 158m2 ORIENTATION North When you ask Terence and Noelene Botha about their leap-of-faith renovation, a story of true grit unfolds. Because in just seven weeks this innovative couple and their kids made the impossible, well, possible. “Oh, I cried,” Noelene recalls. “Two days before we had to move in there were no ceilings, no beds and no cupboards. When I told a friend ‘Yesterday, I cried once’, Terence commented: ‘Yes. Once, for the whole day!’” These days, Terence, a rep for Bean There Coffee, and Noelene, a public relations specialist, laugh with joy and pride when they tell the story of their dramatic renovation – and…

Every time I step into our loft, I am in awe. I just cannot believe that Charles did all this work, and I see it as a true labour of love. – Sharon 2 {Runners-up} Sharon McNally and Charles Raubenheimer Their entry CATEGORY Loft WHERE Rosebank, Cape Town SIZE 51m2 ORIENTATION North-west When you look at Charles Raubenheimer’s hands, you just know: there’s nothing this man cannot fix or make. His are real DIY hands. And his life partner, Sharon McNally, couldn’t agree more as she proudly shows the Home team how Charles, a millwright, singlehandedly transformed their home’s once wonky roof into a loft apartment that could generate an income. Not that building a loft was the plan when they bought the house in 2005. “One day in 2009,…

Colour for cupboards A big fan of colour, Haidee has tackled various projects in her home using Annie Sloan paint; luckily, it can be used on melamine so the kitchen cupboards were easily transformed in Aubusson Blue. The existing cupboard doors were given a sleek new look with trims and new brass doorknobs, while the cupboard doors above the hob were removed to create open shelving for a light and airy feel. The edges were painted in Annie Sloan’s Duck Egg Blue and a splash of English Yellow creates an element of fun. Tip If you’d like to add a trim to corner cupboards, make the necessary calculations before cutting to ensure the doors open properly. Floored! Painting a tiled kitchen floor is generally not recommended, nor is it a…

Kickstart your creativity with South Africa’s leading women’s magazines! We’ll be at Gallagher Estate for three days, brimming with inspiring women, hilarious celebrities, masterclasses on everything from banting to building (with lots of baking in between!), pop-up shopping, the chance to win some really great prizes and, following one of the biggest international trends right now, our own amazing food trucks. 12 leading food & décor editors 9 magazine editors for you to meet in person! 11 top celebrities Anele Mdoda Bobby van Jaarsveld Karlien van Jaarsveld Cass Abrahams Marc Lottering Pete Goffe-Wood Rebecca Malope Shaleen Surtie-Richards Suzelle DIY Tracey Lange Vuyo Dabula 2 mega stages of décor & food WHAT’S ON OUR HOME & FOOD MEGA STAGES Your ticket will give you all-access to two mega stages, with expert…

The paint on wooden door frames can be safely removed, even if it is lead-based, but it’s best to vacate your home for 24 hours. Strip paint safely Esmaré Bester of Malmesbury writes We live in an old farmhouse and the door frames and wooden ceilings still have some of the original paint on them. I want to have them stripped but I’ve heard that bottom coats in old homes may contain lead; is this also applicable to woodwork? How should I go about having them safely cleaned? My son is two years old and I’m pregnant – I don’t want to take any chances! Gladman Maphuma of Trade-Mark replies It is possible to have the lead paint safely removed, but since you’re pregnant and there are small children around,…

Q: On page 63 of your October 2012 issue Jani Goussard says she stocks a variety of resin-based embellishments; are they still available? – Elizabeth Nicolle A: Yes! Jani’s Paint & Décor stores (paintdecordiy.co.za) are based in Durbanville, Brackenfell and Stellenbosch and she distributes countrywide. Q: What colour is the wall featured on page 27 of your June 2014 issue? – Jacqueline Dierx A: According to the interior designer, Marianne Hattingh, it’s Vanilla Mist from Plascon. It’s off-white but appears darker on the image. In fact, Plascon’s Evasive Whiter is a closer match but it’s always best to paint swatches on your own wall before making a decision. Q: Where did Charmaine Botes buy the black-and-white tiles featured on page 6 of your November 2015 issue? I’m struggling to find…

The bigger picture Annelise Nagel of Cape Town writes A friend’s father came in possession of this camera during the Second World War (1939–1945). Souvenirs were often taken from enemies killed in battle and this camera belonged to a deceased German soldier. Is it valuable? Anton Welz of Stephan Welz and Co replies This is a Voigtlander Brilliant box camera. If the body is metal, it was made between 1932 and 1937. If it is Bakelite, it was made after 1937. The company was established in 1756 in Vienna but has been merged and sold over the years and does not exist as Voigtlander any longer. Unfortunately, the camera is not of great value and will only fetch about R300 at auction if it’s in good condition. CIRCA 1930s VALUE…

My favourite season is spring because that’s when my garden is at its best. The azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom and the plants are starting to bud after winter. – Tharina Who lives here? Tharina and Corneels Greyling WHERE Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga I like special nooks and crannies that provide a surprise element in a garden. – Tharina More about Tharina My love of gardening comes from my mothers. I grew up on a farm with a large garden and I was always so impressed that my mother knew all the plant names. When we went to the nursery, she knew exactly what to buy. Now at Mooibank, my mother-in-law is my inspiration; she’s the one who developed this garden from scratch. Tharina Greyling of the farm Mooibank in…

1 Is borehole water safe for human consumption? Most borehole water is safe for human and animal consumption, but a water-quality test is vital before you start drinking it or irrigating vegetables. Contact a chemical laboratory such as The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (csir.co.za), Aquitico (aquitico.co.za) or Waterlab (waterlab.co.za). The test costs about R2 800 and takes about 10–14 days; use a sterilised container or one supplied by the lab. Remember Most deep groundwater entered the earth hundreds or even thousands of years ago, before there were any man-made chemicals. So borehole water isn’t as vulnerable to pollution, contamination and disease as the sources of water that municipalities typically use. 2 What’s the cost? Typical costs for an average home vary from R35 000 to R100 000, depending…

1 Plant a herbal tea garden A tea garden can be created in a sunny corner in the garden, between paving squares, in raised beds, in pots, and even in the shape of a teapot. Most herbs need well-drained soil and sun. As in all edible gardens, no pesticides or herbicides should be used. Make a refreshing hot or iced tea with the leaves of these herbs: • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Aromatic grey-green leaves with spikes of purple flowers. • Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus ‘Aureus’) A low-growing, mounded plant grown as a groundcover or edging with tiny bright green and yellow leaves. • Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) Spreads easily, with flowers that attract bees and lemon-scented leaves. • Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) Woody stems and narrow green leaves with a…

Some people grumble that roses have thorns ; I am grateful that thorns have roses.– Alphonse Karr, A Tour Round My Garden Q: I’ve seen black roses on social media. Where can I find some? There are no real black rose varieties. What you see on Facebook is a Photoshop-manipulated hoax. There are, however, varieties that have a pretty black bud that opens into very dark red roses; as the petals age, they become darker. These varieties are ‘Black Madonna’, ‘Black Pearl’, Black ‘Baccara’, ‘Black Berry’, and ‘Black Magic’. Q: I’ve planted a number of roses in various parts of the garden but after two months the stems turn black and the plant dies. What causes this? When the stems turn black as described, it is an indication of far…

Bolognaise sweet potato Under R95 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: about 40 minutes • 4 rashers of streaky bacon• 15ml oil• 250g mushrooms• 500g mince• 1 tin (410g) chopped tomatoes• 30ml basil pesto• about 125ml finely grated Parmesan cheese• 4 medium sweet potatoes, halved and boiled 1 Chop and fry the bacon and mushrooms in the oil until brown. Add the mince and brown it (break up the meat regularly with a spatula). Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the pesto. 2 Arrange the sweet potato halves in an ovenproof dish and hollow out a tablespoon of flesh from each (mix it with the bolognaise or place it at the bottom of the oven dish). Now fill the sweet potatoes with the…

A good cooked breakfast out is not an easy thing to find. For one, it is the test of the short-order cook: a (deceptively) simple meal has to be delivered to the plate warm and in one go! There are so many things that could go wrong! The very simplicity of the meal is part of the challenge. It could be argued that because breakfast is so simple and so very personal (the way we like our eggs, the way we like our toast, the way we like our bacon…) it is nigh impossible for a stranger to fathom. Things we might overlook at dinner we become terribly particular about at breakfast. We want our croissant perfectly flaky with good jam and good coffee, the hollandaise on the eggs Benedict…

Be my Valentine! Spoil your loved one with Marcel’s Red Velvet Frozen Yoghurt this February; go to marcels.co.za. Spread the love Mediterranean Delicacies has introduced three delicious new flavours to its humus range: Peri Peri, Smoked and Roasted Seed – all available at selected branches of Pick n Pay, Checkers, Spar and Food Lover’s Markets. In the red Weigh it up with Eetrite Kitchen Scales (from R239, Hirsch’s). Go to eetrite.com. A taste of Africa Award-winning food writer and celebrity chef Siba Mtongana has launched her debut cookbook, My Table (R490, only available from Woolworths). It’s a fantastic compendium of recipes inspired by her African roots and international travels. Visit sibamtongana.com. Have a heart The Biscuitry is a baking business in Durban where traditional sweets such as soetkoekies are reinvented…