My World-Class African Suburb?
Is Orange Grove a ‘world class’ African suburb? It most certainly is buzzing with life. While it is a cosmopolitan suburb, attracting a growing number of people, it is steadily deteriorating. Can this trend be reversed? What is a world-class city? Essentially all the world class cities are in the northern hemisphere. They include […]
Livelihoods and Climate Change/COVID19
What do sustainable livelihoods look like? In the drama created by COVID-19 there is a tussle between saving lives and saving livelihoods. Many people across the world have got to the point where saving their livelihoods is how they save their lives. In panic mode they want to save all jobs and all businesses. Regardless […]
The Freedom Charter: Banks, Bayer and Life
I am alert to specific speeches our president makes. The short clip I listened to today, celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Freedom Charter gives me an opportunity to raise three issues that are vital for a vibrant agricultural sector. These are, firstly, the role of the banks in providing access to people ordinarily excluded […]
Sustainability: Five Firewood Trees
A blustery cold front made using the lovely wood burning fireplace in my lounge desirable.The batch of hardwood I bought in 2017 has proved enough for three years. Yet given that trees for firewood are being overharvested by individuals as well as businesses, what five trees would make the firewood industry sustainable? For a little […]
Lockdown Compliance and Generosity
Lockdown Level 5 compliance in South African has been successful. Even people who must be suffering tremendous privations have done their best to comply by staying indoors in cramped conditions, all too often without access to the most basic resources, including food… At this end of the socio-economic scale people are literally facing the choice […]
Post Lockdown: The SMART Economy
I always look forward to hearing President Cyril Ramaphosa address our nation during lockdown. Despite his exhaustion he continues to inspire confidence by his concern for our lives. Saving lives has become his priority and I imagine he must agonize about the economy. He is an ambitious man. As president he certainly wants to leave […]
Edible Seeds: Indoor Winter Greens
Preparing for winter, I planted Brussel sprouts, broccoli and kale into seed trays. As I did so I became aware that I mightn’t have containers to plant them into once they reached the four-six leaf stage. Growing vegetables to their full size is how I normally add value to my vegetable gardening efforts. Yet my […]
UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration
The UN Decade of Ecosystems Restoration starts next year, making me immensely grateful for my wetland water garden. I spent an hour in it yesterday just grounding myself. And dreaming: Is it possible to establish a seasonal wetland conservancy in the suburbs that form part of the Paterson Park seasonal wetland? Can I persuade enough people […]
International Day of Forests 2020
The theme for this year’s International Day of Forests is Forests and Biodiversity. Consider using the weekend of March 21st as days for educating yourself and your loved ones about forests. And for planting trees. Spekboom and Biodiversity Spekboom is the tree of the moment. This is where the money is headed…And the enthusiasm. It is a […]