NGK workshop

Members of the NGK ministry spent four days at Fynbos on their annual planning workshop.  
Diana and Johan commented that ~ We really enjoyed having them and their pictures will show why” The workshop was preceded by a weekend joined by the wives and children and  they all had much fun braaing, playing rugby and volley ball, cycling and walking.` All in all’  said Diana The farm was used just as it should be.”

Comments from the participants were

It was a wonderful time of solitude work and rest

Wow, we really enjoyed our stay on your farm! Thank you for your hospitality and the freedom we had to enjoy the farm. The wine tasting also was a highlight – thank you Johan.

We all agreed that we want to spend our next weekend at Fynbos Estate again – hopefully you will be able to accommodate us.

Farm workers attend a Cape Nature Conservation Course at Fynbos

The Cape Nature Stewardship Programme establishes contract biodiversity sites and nature reserves on privately owned wild land. Not only is Fynbos one such site, but the five day conservation course run by Louis Jordaan was held here on  Fynbos with reps from each of the farms involved.  It was fantastic to feel the excited energy growing as Louis explained ecology, showed students how to identify animal spoor and plant species, and took them on, excursions up the mountain. Since most of the participants were farm workers, the experience of being guests in the farm house was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us.

For more on the stewardship programme visit  www.capenature.co.za. And for those interested in guided trail in the Klein Karroo by the very knowledgeable Louis, he can be contacted through his website www.minwater.co.za

Some of the comments received were:

'Lovely farm and great hospitality. I really enjoyed staying and working here for the week' Louis Jordaan facilitator

'Alles was goed. lekker Kos en Akkomodasie’   Participant

'The way it is very good was' Participant

Dragonridge at Swartland Country Market

Saturday, 8th October promises to be a really great day out at Kirstenbosch.
Come and savour traditional Swartland produce, cuisine and crafts and don't
forget about the exceptional wine! The entire Santam Swartland Wine and Olive
Route will be there including Dragonridge.

FYNBOS plays its part in reducing BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS

Charlene Janion from the centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University, has been collecting soil samples on the farm as part of a 3 year ongoing project. They are researching small invertebrates called Collembola or springtails which are tiny (1 - 2mm) and occur in leaf litter and in soil. These strange beasts are important for nutrient recycling yet little is known about the species present in South Africa.

For more information  visit http://www.sun.ac.za/cib

Collembola

The farm is full of surprises

One never knows quite what will happen at the farm and who will turn up.  A few days ago when I arrived for my Wednesday morning  at the farm, I found a new face smiling at me from the breakfast table. This was Rembrandt, a young  Dutch man, who had pitched up the day before wanting to break his motor bike journey to Namibia with a couple of days in a quiet spot.  When asked what he could offer in return for  a few days of  bed and board, he had said he was a tree feller. And it just so happened that Johan and Diana were in need of someone handy with a chain saw to cut down the mountain aliens. These had sprouted after the fire and were now abundant with yellow flowers just waiting to send noxious seeds far and wide. So Rembrandt stayed a day or two and did some much valued work before going on his way refreshed well fed and happy.

Rembrandt

Party season in full swing

Relaxing on the stoep

Party season is in full swing at Fynbos, over the next weeks we're going to
be hosting a variety of them. We are always thrilled when we get great feedback
after a celebration, such as this lovely email from Claire:  

Hi Diana,

  

And for the weekend, it was amazing - thanks to both you & Johan for the wonderful hospitality and awesome lunch on Saturday.

I believe one of the group (Kristin) has already contacted you about a group of us coming back in December - that is how much we love the house.

All the best and see you (hopefully) later in the year

Regards

Claire

Fynbos encapsulated

We recently asked friends and visitors to try and describe what it is about Fynbos that they love and

what they thought made the place special or unusual. We have received a few different answers, this

for me was closest to encapsulating what Fynbos means to me . . .

I am sure you have got all sorts of appropriate replies but I have so struggled to find the essence of what I feel about Fynbos.

Fynbos isn’t just a place but it’s a whole collection of animae or spirits – of people of plants of animals of spaces of mountains of moon and stars – that work together to provide a connection to what’s important but also to what’s fun and light.

It always feels like I’ve come home when I come to Fynbos. That’s the bottom line. I think so often about it as a place to be.

Im afraid that’s the best I can do…

Beautiful Illustration

We received a lovely illustration from Terry Milne, an illustrator from Oxford who visited us earlier this year,when I saw it I knew it had to go on the blog.

Illustration of garden and farmhouse by Terry Milne

Western Province Executive Committee for Junior Squash has an adventure up the mountain

7 members of the committee and their spouses spent  this last  weekend at the farm to celebrate a  year of their work and to say thank you to committee members and their partners. They tasted wine, went to Riebeek for dinner, had an adventure up the mountain trying to get a stuck bakkie out of the mud, and enjoyed the famous Fynbos Farm Breakfast. Some of the comments received were:

Thank you for wonderful hospitality. Sorry about the bakkie, but this is one time that we won’t forget. We all had a blast. Breakfast was great . All the very best for the future. Cynthia White

Baheya Davidson, Secretary and treasurer  wrote. Thank you for the most awesome weekend for the executive The adventure in the mountain with the bakkie was something unique and memorable.. Breakfast was superb, Thanks for everything

The Ghigliones

We recently had guests from Canada who sent us this

wonderful e-mail. . .

We are back home in Toronto now! We were totally

thrilled to have met you both! We loved your place!

oh... and the wine! Your wonderful Fynbos House was

exactly what we needed! The first evenings dinner with

you was the perfect introductory to our vacation within

'the vacation'. We have been 'on the go'  for a few weeks

before we arrived at your doorstep. We were a  family of

five, but this was the first time we had been alone on

our own little adventure. It was nice to discover ourselves

again.  The morning hike to the mountain top was a great

way to end our visit with you. We enjoyed your company

and the entire area. The Dragonridge Wines were amazing!

And what a gem Fynbos Estate is! I am so glad that our

family found Fynbos through a series of serendipitous events.

Swartland Country Market 8 October 2011

This is going to be a wonderful event, a chance to meet and interact with the people of the Swartland.
Drink a little wine, taste some olives and take home some local arts and crafts.
Stone Cottages, Kirstenbosch, 8 October 2011.

Food, fun, friends and family at the Fynbos Open Day 2011

Join us for lunch and an afternoon filled with delicious food, wonderful wine and relaxed

conversation . . .

Johan will be cooking up a storm with a feast. Mediterranean meets Malmesbury is the theme

Chicken cooked with lemon and olives served with couscous, roast vegetables and salad, freshly baked olive and rosemary bread and to finish, homemade apple crumble and cream. Lots of lovely
wine, preserves, plants, cheeses, olive oil and crafts to take home, and there is entertainment for the kids.

Date: Saturday, 22 October, 2011.

Time: 12:30 for 13:00

Entrance: R190/adult, kids under 12 R50. Includes lunch, a glass of wine and tastings.

Where: Fynbos Estate, Joubertskloof, Paardeberg. An hour from Cape Town.

Bring: Yourself, something to put the shopping in, some cash and swimwear if you want to swim.
Please note: Vegetarian options are available

Contact: 022-487 1153 info@fynbosestate.co.za www.fynbosestate.co.za