" A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself'. Laura Gilpin As temperatures reach 45 degrees celsius daily at midday (in the shade) all sorts of creative techniques are needed to cool down. For those of us not near to the river a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of naartjie essential oil brings relief. Of course if you are able to the best thing in the world when you are melting is an unrestrained leap in to the cool wate

" Look what I bought in Groot Marico!" shrieked Ouma Koekie Venter, prolific maker of crisp koeksisters, to her friend Jazz Bayley, founder of the newly established Greener Fingers Permaculture project. Ouma Koekie referred to Jazz as her 'space age' friend. "Fresh borrie! I have never seen or tasted it before. Can you grow it for us Jazzie?" Jazz agreed that the turmeric was beautiful and suggested that the ladies dot each other's foreheads with it as a mark of their frien