Monthly Archives: April 2015
Anyone interested in joining in on a Seed Swopping Saturday – please keep an eye on my facebook page called Art of Craft Interactive Gardening @ Pirates – I aim to do this from the garden at Pirates in Johannesburg, Greenside, one Saturday a month in SPRING (although, I am usually willing to trade many items from the garden when I am seen) in Greenside at The Pirates Sports Club, please send me your contact details. 072 146 9017 or come through.
In last years blog post about seedy Saturday, I posted the following, I still think it relevant for thought…
“I am learning the different perceptions many have about value and what it is based upon. Most of us do things for the financial remuneration for those we do not know. When it comes to doing things with love, we do things for family, friends, partners…. I think if the value system or perception that value is money changes, we can have community and organic non GMO food everyday no matter how much money we have. I see how we put some kind of financial value on people, whereas it is worth about R4000 a month for me to tolerate disrespect of my space or mindset or spirit. It should be a human right to grow food, to be self sustainable, yet in some countries rates and taxes go up because people grow tomatoes on their pavements. Ive also learnt that the human capacity I have far out weighs the human ability I have, which makes it virtually impossible to ever exert all my energy in an exchange that is equal to the value of what combined perceptions have given to the way of life I would like to create … it includes underfloor heating 
It has been a sad crossing over from doing more trading for space than paying a currency for space.
Anyway, the point is that this idea to gather people from the area to meet with people all over Johannesburg who want to eat a variety of organic veg for health and longevity, people who want exposure for their businesses to raise the value of what they do in this world, people who want to assist in rehabilitating the land and river…. I am hoping this will result in getting the composting and the garden complete, eventually having the rugby games and all events at the club flowing into a space of love where exchanges, laughter, growth and sustainability are the results.”
Anyone can come with nothing or come bringing tools, seeds, plants, cuttings to trade and/ or sell.
I can use alot of seed, trees, tools, soil to plant in etc… and Id like to continue my garden at Pirates with a community that is growing with me.
CHECK IN AGAIN FOR MORE updates
A successful example of community involvement
25 April 2015 Learn how to make compost
An hour long practical with a approximately 45 minute educational talk by Eco Synergy Designs. Come get involved with your garden fork or spade.
R150 per person
Contact me via email nntreasure@gmail.com or 072 146 9017 or join on the Facebook Workshop Page
Payment can be made into the following account to secure your space in this awesome and essential workshop:
Banking details: Netanya Naude’ FNB Savings Account, Account number 62093348201, Branch Code 254905
I had alot of fun with paper mache’ doing this piece, which I call Mother Nature.
It was a process of layering several layers of newspaper dipped in a mixture of flour and water, all over a casting of a female bust and torso. I then used the same mix and newspaper to mold the mold onto my canvass, and painted it.
Then I got creative
The finished piece is completely red in the background and still for SALE Contact me for a viewing on 072 146 9017
Ive managed to meet the groundsman at the composting section, who gave me permission to move some rubble and a mound of black soil (bit clayish but great for growing grass, seeing as its covered in grass). This soil is also coming in handy in my efforts to rebuild the slope and prevent it from washing away I am using bottles here too.
It is unfortunate that most of the people who were so excited and wanted to meet and assist when I started were more talk than action. I made it very clear that this was not a community garden, and that it would become one or lead into more veggie orientated planting once my herbal tea and medicinal plants were established. Despite that, many came looking for opportunities to make money or promote their companies using volunteers. Others have left me waiting in vain, not bothering to cancel or confirm and delaying action till I am done with the the task. Also despite, this the bulk of the volunteers who have assisted have not been local or from Greenside at all. What is the problem? Do we want community or not? If a community cannot support and assist one person how on earth will it ever support itself as a community?
I am still busy with my couch, and slope. I am also organizing and planning workshops that will start occurring every two weeks from the 25th April on the premises. The tap and box were installed this past Saturday, which is great, as I no longer have to stress about the tools I hid in the Ivy and under bags being stolen, or the rely on the rains as much.
One beautiful family from Springs area that have gone the extra mile to assist me, not for exposure, money or anything or reason it seems. Simple kindness, beautiful. May they be blessed with much joy and love for a start
My Heart is heavy with the memory it posseses
Lessons of Compassion, Passion
Unconditional Love
All around me possessions that mold me
Though I would not lay down my life for them
But for the memories I would…
My Spirit taught with the strain of easing the burden
Lessons of Endurance, Perseverance
Unconditional Love
All around me energies that form me
Though I would not surrender to them all
But for some release I could…
Where, alone do you dwell??
Within your own Silence
or within the boundaries of this World
Or Both.
I take my Spirit
And I give it to my Heart
It is wild and calm
Heavy and taught
The energy I possess to move me
Upon the awakening of such Love.
I, the Soul, make this Body quiver in dance
To the Rhythm of Unconditional Love…
Things have been stalled, due to being an artist as well – and having to do things for the garden at Pirates in other places. A wonderful man, named, Eugene and his son have built and will install a tap and metal grid box as covering for a hosepipe, rake, spades and hoe – also donated by Eugene and his family. They made the box from scrap metal, making it perfect for the garden. I have been excited about it for about 2 weeks. Here is a preview Many blessings from the Universe in THIS GARDEN.
I started constructing a few bottle half moon shaped beds on the collapsing slope, transplanted a few plants from the hugel across the fields and carried rocks back and forth from all over the property, to stuff into and around the couch frame. Matt and Alistair helped with a load of rocks, and Glen came along for a hour or two carrying rocks too. Thank you to all for the assistance and ongoing support.
I hope to make much progress in the near future, once some plants and taps and things are sorted out
Eco Synergy team Alistair, Matt and Jabs have returned and kick-started the composting of a large section of unkempt garden nearer to the cricket pitch. Really excited for the 25th April when they will be hosting a compost making workshop with an hour long practical and an approximately 45 minute educational talk. The cost is R150 per person. Please book and pay in advance. Take a look at what they have already prepared. Many blessings INDEED
A few years ago, I made this post and signage figured its worth re-sharing
Happy Yappers is a pro life animal sanctuary based approx 30km away from Magaliesburg Village. It has been running over a decade, and the lady taking care of the animals even broke down her own house in order to finance taking care of the animals brought to her by people in the surrounding areas. Unfortunately the sanctuary has gotten a lot of bad publicity in the past few months, and the main organisation that is not pro life in South Africa has taken steps to close it down. Fortunately there are people like me who do care, not only about the animals but also about the people and community there. Do you care too?
I went out and painted numbers on all the runs one day and the word toilet on the long drop box as well, next to the toilet was a big board wasting away and I figured they need a sign. This is how I made a quick sign.
Step 1
Using a acrylic black roof paint (yes roof paint because of its high UV radiation and acid rain resistance) I painted over the surface of the deteriorating piece of wooden board.
Step 2
Using a ruler I measured a straight line and drew it with chalk on the wooden board. I also measured the length and height that the wording would fill up and spaced it accordingly to the size of the template I was using.
Step 3
I made my template by printing up the letters using the font I wanted to use onto already used paper (recycling what would have been wasted) and cut them out. For more permanent templates one can do the same, and then trace the letters onto cardboard and cut them out of the cardboard. I already had done this for different sign. I traced the wording onto the board.
Step 4
Once the wording had been traced onto the wooden board, it was time to start painting YAY 
I used white washable matt acrylic paint (mainly for ceilings and walls, but very good for this purpose as well because of its UV resistant quality).
Step 5
The wording completed, the phone number was next.
Step 6
The next morning I started adding a rainbow in the background (I suppose one should do the background first, but here is a perfect example of how its not always necessary, time did not allow much planning on this one, this was a quick sign.) The rainbow represents the pathway to the other side where animals and owners meet up once both have passed on. We headed out to the sanctuary and I finished the sign there. This is what it ended up looking like.
Step 7
Considering that so many animal lives were at stake at the time we put the sign up in a temporary way, so that volunteers would not miss the entrance and two donkeys – one we call Mr Nosey came to inspect it. He seemed very happy with the added color to his environment.
Happy Yappers relies solely on public funding to take care of the animals and there are well close to 300 as far as I know – donkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, a peacock, a few ducks and chickens too. If you do care kindly follow them on facebook or see below for details as to how to contribute toward the sanctuary in many ways.
If you would like me to revamp old wooden boards and utilise the resources you do have to create sign boards that are both effective and original kindly contact me on 072 146 9017. Check out other posts for more examples of sign work I have hand painted.
Banking Details:
Happy Yappers Animal Sanctuary
Standard Bank Keywest
Acc 021428980
Please email us a proof of any donations so that we can send you a thank you letter gaynorl@vodamail.co.za
Should anyone wish to contribute specifically to the centre’s veterinary bill, please use the words VETERINARY BILL as your reference.
Should anyone wish to arrange a visit or contribute in other ways e.g workmanship or toward the ongoing sterilization campaign kindly contact Gay on 076 385 8021