JOHANNESBURG

HOMEMAKERS MAGAZINE

December Issue

We can finally celebrate the festive season with our dedicated readers. We want to take a moment to thank every reader for making our digital magazine grow from strength to strength. Our readership has increased, and our website visits have reached all-time highs this year, proving to us that we are on the right track!

Our December issue is here to inspire you as you close off a busy year with your family and friends. The holidays are a great opportunity to get stuck in projects you could not finish earlier in the year.

This month we explore small towns and creative things to try over the holidays. Get stuck in your December gardening routine and learn how to get off the grid gradually. Read this and so much more in this month’s issue.

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INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS

We Love For Home Inspiration

This local interior company is part of the

HOMEMAKERS Expo family. They have an online store that specialises in custom made furniture. We love them for creating, modern one-of-a-kind pieces for South African homes and

businesses.

We adore their steel bed collection and well

crafted ottoman and sideboards

which regularly feature on theirInstagram feed.

We share a few of our favourite

Instagram accounts

Where do you turn to for

inspiration when it comes to your home and lifestyle?

Pinterest has always been a great tool for inspiration and a clever way to plan your ideas on special boards to help you organise your inspirations.

For fast access and new images uploaded every second, we are sure that just like us, you turn to Instagram for quick access to the people and stuff you love.

Another South African favourite that we absolutely adore. Motama has for years excelled in creating beautiful kitchens, but also design beautiful bathrooms, bedrooms, wine cellars and gorgeous restaurants and offices.

Their Instagram feed is regularly updated sharing some of their most beautiful creations to date.

We love their functional

kitchens the most.

Jonathan Adler has a knack for putting

geometrics together in an interesting

way. His Instagram is unique for one

specific thing, the art. Adler got his start as a potter before his line was picked up by

Barneys in 1993, and now he creates

everything from furniture to lighting fitures.

You’ll find unique vases, table accents,

and statues in almost every picture.

Cool colour palettes and lots of interesting finds

along the way. His Instagram feed is filled with

cosy spaces and interesting setups. Dabito is the

founder and creative director of Old Brand New,

which specialises in art, design, and branding.

A combination of classic and cool, Kelly’s

portfolio ranges from exquisite homes to

corporate spaces. She is creative, stylish

and a timeless decorator who shares tons of inspiration on her Instagram account.

Her aesthetic is abstract and interesting.

Provocative and multi-layered.

“I’m a mom of two boys, a wife and entrepreneur. I am also an award-winning landscape designer, indoor plant stylist, and organic gardening educator.”

We spoke to Joy Phala about her work

and how she finds balance in life.

Who is Joy Phala?

Joy’s company, Organic Kitchen Gardens (OKG) started as a vegetable garden installation company helping homeowners create stylised outdoor spaces and gardens that don’t just look amazing but also provide them with a harvest of organic food.

“We do what the kids call edible landscaping. Mixing traditional landscape design with sustainable food production.”

Before OKG she worked as a management consultant specialising in change management and business process re-engineering. She stepped away from this when her first child was born.

“I had post-natal depression but didn’t realize it. I just knew that I felt so much better when I was in the garden or making a meal with what I had grown from our small apartment container garden.”

She started sharing her experience of growing food and eating garden-to-table even with limited space, on social media and was flooded with requests from people who wanted to do the same.

“That’s how Organic Kitchen Garden was born.”

Realising that she could blend sustainable food production with creating beautiful outdoor spaces, Joy decided to study landscape design full time and include design as well as organic food production in her service offering.

Joy is passionate about all her work, but some projects stand out.

“The Mpakanyane and Mei Memorial Garden at the Bethesda Methodist Church in Houghton are one of those projects of the heart.”

This particular project was a commission to honour the impact that a life well lived had on individual family members but also on multitudes of individuals that came across ANC stalwart Mmule Mpakanyane.

It’s a formal English inspired rose garden and is near completion.

Knowing that the work she does has an impact on a deep, meaningful level keeps her motivated.

“I get to change how people live for the better.”

Her clients often thank her for making their gardens a fruitful family space again, and creating a place of peace and togetherness.”

Her garden is no exception. “Walks in my garden are now part of my daily wind-down routine. It is my favourite room in the house I just get to relax and be surrounded by nature.”

She doesn’t skimp on self-care and takes time off for herself regularly. “I’ve been known to just call hubby in the middle of the day and say “I’m sleeping at a nearby hotel tonight, enjoy the boys!”

The biggest lesson she’s learnt so far is that what matters most about your business and your brand is the lasting impression you leave on people. “It’s about what they say when you leave the room.”

does she wind down?

What’s next?

She has big dreams for the future. And has started an online garden club called JOYS GARDEN CLUB. Where she teaches home gardeners how to grow food in their small urban spaces.

“It’s in its infancy but is such a wonderful community of people growing organic food at their own pace and in the comfort of their homes.”

Coffee or Tea?

“Coffee when I have a deadline and I need a legal drug to pull through otherwise anytime is tea time.”

Night Owl or Early bird?

“Early bird, definitely early bird, I’m not at all brilliant after 3 pm.”

Summer or Winter?

“Summer baby!”

Beach vacation or Mountain hike?

“I grew up surrounded by mountains, so I don’t associate them with fun or relaxation. It’s Beach Day any day!”

Roses or Succelents?

“Hmm, this is a tough one, actually now that I think about it none of the above, look they have their place in

the garden but I’m more an indigenous cut flower person and succulents

tend to take over.”

Rosemary or Basil?

“Ok, this is just an unfair question, how do you ask a woman to choose between rosemary and basil? I mean how. But if I have to, I’ll go with fresh basil simply because I can cheat on the rosemary and get it dry.”

Fruit trees or Flowers?

“Both!”

Energy independence is the dream for many South African households, but can it be done incrementally, and without the massive cash injection, most solar conversions require?

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter warned South Africans in January of 2020 that Loadshedding was going to be a reality for us, for at least 18 months, probably more…

In the early 2000’s Eskom had an overall power station generating capacity of over 90%. Last year, it was measured at just 64%. This could be in part due to the age of many of Eskom’s power stations and a lack of routine maintenance over the past decades.

In a conversation with Professor Anton Eberhard, director of the Power Futures Lab at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, De Ruyter gave some insight on the way forward.

“We are working hard to get the energy availability factor above 70%, but given the age of the fleet, it would be unrealistic to expect a sustained performance above 75%.”

But how do you do this? And can you do it one solar panel at a time?

Some things to consider as you plan your escape from the grid:

• What type of home do you have? (Old and energy-hungry or new and energy efficient?)
• Who shares your house with you? Just you and a goldfish or you, your partner 6 kids, 5 dogs and a fish tank full of expensive tropical fish who need constant oxygen and water filters?
• How much electricity do you currently use? (Remember to take seasonal heating and cooling into account.)
• Do you want to be completely off the grid, or simply less reliant on Eskom, to weather the inevitable Loadshedding forecast better?

Based on this it would seem that the big man himself has given us our marching orders!

In South Africa, solar, gas, and battery systems are our main options for residential alternatives. (We’re not sure what the regulations are on backyard wind turbines, but it’s safe to say the neighbours will complain.)

Gas and solar are good options for

water heating. A conventional geyser uses approximately 60% of your

household’s electricity, so switching to an alternative makes sense as the first step towards energy independence.

With its abundant

sunshine, even in winter, South Africa is

well-positioned for solar energy as a residential alternative.

What options

do I have?

Solar

(What, why and how?)

A solar panel is made up of Photovoltaic Cells that generate direct current from sun rays. With an inverter, this is converted to alternating current, which is what your house runs on.

What is a

Solar Panel?

Look into getting a solar geyser as a start. You will save on the cost of electricity or gas and will be able to take warm showers when the rest of the country is suffering from Loadshedding chills.

Installation of a full solar geyser with a solar panel

and geyser tank costs anywhere between

R14 800 and R27 200, depending on the size

of the geyser.

Gas Geysers are cheaper than solar options, but

factor in that you would be buying gas.

Full installation of a gas water heating system ranges between R9800 and R16 500 depending on the water

flow rate you chose.

Can I

do it myself?

(DIY or Get A Guy?)

Probably not. Installing a well-structured and safe solar-powered system isn’t easy.

To get the most out of your solar power system you are going to need a professional to assess and install a correctly sized and specified system, based on the needs of your house.

For a breakdown of the costs

scan the QR code

This is usually the go-to option for businesses that want to remain open during Loadshedding. However – the cost of a high-end battery

system that generates enough power to keep the lights (and everything else) on for a large house can be prohibitively high at around R 50 000.

A relatively small battery set up, that can

generate 1 000 W continuously (1,2kWh) can

be more affordable at approximately R15 000.With this, you should be able to charge a few devices, run the television and have one or two lights on.

There are roughly around 400 dog breeds in the world. We all have our pick, and some breeds are way more popular than others. In South Africa, there are many breeds available and the scarcer, the pricier.

Dog owners have over hundreds of years bred dogs to assist them and make life more convenient. This ultimately means that dogs had to become domesticated to live with their human pack members. Some literature says that the first domesticated wolf was over 15, 000 years ago in the Middle East.

One thing is for sure. Our furry four-pawed friends have come a long way with us and so we have established certain breeds to be better suited to specific environments than others.

For example, you won’t find a dainty Yorkshire Terrier in the army. You may find an Alsatian, Pitbull or even the famous Bulldog, Sergeant Stubby in the Army.

Sergeant Stubby was a Bulldog who was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and was assigned to the 26th Division in World War I. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front for the United States.

Pairing breeds with environments where they can flourish is key to a dog’s overall health and happiness. We look at a few rules to follow when you are choosing a breed, and why you must make sure your breed suits your lifestyle and family.

A few case examples. A young couple in a small complex with a small garden decides to get an Alsatian. They are never home; they never take the dog for a walk and who knows where the poor guy sleeps? This is a classic example of setting a breed up for failure.

The dog barks and howls all day, becoming a menace to the neighbours. Not only that, but the poor unsocialised dog has also become aggressive, making him dangerous.

This is an irresponsible owner’s fault.

Second example, a Sighthound rescue group pairs a Whippet (essentially a hunting dog) with a family on a farm with ducks and chickens running around all day. The Whippet was BRED to catch them. Now the family is complaining because the whippet is killing the birds...

These are logical examples to an extent, but there is so much more to take into consideration.

Someone looking for a companion who cannot do lots of exercise may consider a small dog who loves to snuggle all day. It is also important not to judge a breed by their bad reputation either. Most dogs with bad reputations were put in situations that possibly made them that way.

The experts fromMuttMixx chime in. “It can be helpful to think of your dog’s breed in the same way that you think of your human family. Genetics influences behaviour, but so does the environment. Furthermore, individuals within a breed will each receive slightly different genetic packages, even if certain genetic markers remain constant within that breed”.

Think of it this way: you and your siblings are not carbon copies, and neither are dogs. Your family probably has a few commonalities, but judging your new dog based on your previous dog is every bit as unfair as your kindergarten teacher judging you based on your older brother’s behaviour in her class last year.

There are many types of dogs, and it is very important to make sure you get the right breed for your lifestyle. Active people should consider active dogs who are known for their endurance. A dog’s temperament, size and maintenance should also be taken into consideration.

We highly recommend watching Animal Planet’s Dog’s 101 to have a full understanding of the breed you may want to get.

A dog also lives a very long life. Make sure you and your family are ready for a life-long commitment. Please also note that ALL dogs need daily exercise - just like you and me! Not exercising your pooch leads to health problems that will break the bank.

Family Favourites who Love Big Gardens:

Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Vizla and Irish Setter

Active Dogs for Very Active Families:

Border Collie, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Shepherd

Small Toy Dogs Who Love Snuggles:

Pomeranian, Pekinese, Bichon Frise, Pug

The Lazy Bunch:

Great Dane, Greyhound, Basset Hound, Chow-Chow

Give your dog the life they deserve!

It’s a fun activity,

and even the clumsiest

three-year-old should be

able to sort the paper squares

and fold down one or two lines.

It’s an inexpensive and relaxing

art form, with no sticky mess (Yay for no clean-up) and you only need a couple of squares of paper, a flat surface, and your hands.

When you’ve folded a flock of cranes you can string them together for festive garlands, use them to

decorate a holiday table as table scatters or even stick them onto gifts as special decorations.

with your kids this

festive season

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper. Yes, it is as simple as that.

The Japanese word “origami” itself is a compound of two smaller Japanese words: “ori”, meaning to fold, and “kami”, meaning paper.

The story of Sadako Sasaki

The Secret of the Paper Crane

Paper cranes are the most popular form of origami and hold a poignant meaning in Japan. According to Japanese tradition, folding a thousand paper cranes gives a

person a chance to make a special wish come true.

The crane has always been a strong symbol of success and good fortune, so when you fold an origami crane, you can make your heart’s desire come true.

Sadako Sasaki was two years old

when the atomic bomb exploded

in her hometown of Hiroshima in 1945.

She was diagnosed with Leukaemia and believed that if she could fold 1000 paper cranes she might recover and be healthy

again.

Origami comes in many different shapes and styles, but they all have some basic things in common:

• Origami never uses glue. Only normal thickness paper squares. (15cm x 15cm)
• Stiff cardboard won’t work but you can use wrapping paper or newspaper, however. Any paper will do, as long as you can easily fold it and it will hold a crease or fold. Cellophane or plastic wrapping paper and tissue paper won’t work.
• Once you’ve cut your paper into 15cm x 15cm squares, no more cutting is allowed (No scissors! Yay for kids’ safety!)
• No further decorations are needed as the folded paper artwork is the star of the show.

Unfortunately for Sadako her wish did not come true, and she died at the age of 12, surrounded by her family, and 1300 paper cranes. She inspired her classmates who raised money for a children’s monument in honour of Sadako.

Since 1958, thousands have visited the statue of Sadako in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Sadako’s figure lifts a large paper crane overhead. Inscribed at the foot of Sadako’s statue is a plaque that reads, “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.

The story of Sadako Sasaki, the young girl who lived through the bombing of Hiroshima, and eventually died from leukaemia, is just one of many stories from Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. Yet, it still resonates with many people today. “This is our cry. This is our prayer.

Peace in the world.”

Children from around the world still fold cranes in honour of Sadako and send them to the mayor of Hiroshima to be strung up at the Children’s Monument in Hiroshima.

To send a thousand paper cranes to the Children’s Monument in Hiroshima’s Peace Park, string them together in garlands of 100 cranes

and mail them to the Office of the Mayor, City of Hiroshima,

6-34 Kokutaiji Machi,

1 Chome Naka-Ku,

Hiroshima 730 Japan.

December has arrived and with it has brought the official beginning of Summer.

We all know what that means. Long sunny days, lounging at the pool or beach, holidays and our favourite festivities.

However, this does not mean our gardens hit the pause button while we are galivanting around town.

There are still tasks we need to do to keep them in tip-top shape.

If you’re managing to get away on holiday for a couple of weeks this December there are a few things to keep in mind.

The top of the list is keeping up with garden maintenance if you can because let’s face it, crime is at an all-time high this time of year when we let our hair down for a change and when your garden looks like a scene out of ‘Jurassic Park’, it is a dead giveaway that you’re not around.

So, if your garden maintenance contractor is working through December and you have a very accommodating neighbour or family member to let them in, then this is a good idea to keep things neat and tidy and the appearance that your home is not abandoned whilst you are vacationing.

Another thing to keep in mind is watering your garden so that you don’t return to a barren wasteland when you get back either.

Set your automatic irrigation system to water 2 - 3 times a week for at least 10 - 15 minutes for deep water penetration, either at night or very early morning, so your plants manage our very hot summer days.

If you have a rain sensor that is a great bonus so that you don’t waste water and money when you don’t need to. If you don’t have an automatic system, them applying a healthy layer of compost and/or mulch will help mitigate water loss by keeping the soil cooler and moist for longer periods after rain.

This is a good idea whether you have an irrigation system or not and your garden will love you for it.

If you’re staying home or working through December then this is a great time to be around and enjoy your garden.

You’ll also have the opportunity to get your crops in your vegetable and herb garden going if you’re home because there is nothing like serving a dish with ingredients that come from right outside the kitchen door. Since it is early summer consider growing tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, eggplants (aubergine), cucumbers, berries, chives, parsley, coriander, rocket, dill, peppers, melons, corn, basil, thyme, origanum, mint and summer squash to name but a few of the most common.

And there you have it! A few of the things you can do during December to keep your home garden looking great whether you are spending it at home or away.

Besides the obvious reasons of being able to enjoy the outdoors, having a braai and socialising, rather, we are entering the height of the growing season and you must take advantage of it. Fill in gaps in your garden with new plants or even some summer annuals and perennials like New Guinea Sun Patiens, Cosmos, Ageratum, Achillea, Echinacea, Erigeron, Felicia, Salvias, Scabiosa, Limonium perezii and Gauras for the sunny spots. For spots with a little bit of shade use Foxgloves, Pansies, Salvia coccinea, Plectranthus species and varieties, Aquilegia, Arum lilies and Alchemilla.

These are just a few, so run down to your nurseries and speak to someone knowledgeable to help you fill those empty areas.

Each coupon advertiser is responsible for the promotion as indicated on each relevant coupon.

HOMEMAKERS is merely the advertising platform and cannot be held responsible for any coupon drive.

Beach holidays and yummy snacks are synonymous in my mind. My mom used to make the best sandwiches wrapped in sand proof clingwrap to enjoy on the beach whilst hiding from the sun under the umbrella. This was followed by cold drinks and homemade biscuits! My poor dad had to lug the big cooler box to and from the beach without us kids even realising or appreciating this effort!

But then I met my husband, and he could not figure out how to enjoy a meal in a sandy mess. I have thus concluded that there are two types of beachgoers...those who take food to the beach and those who don’t!

Whichever option you prefer, we have some suggestions for the beach eaters and those who return hungry from the beach and want to dig into the fridge afterwards.

It is not a good idea to go to the beach with your tub of butter, rolls and sausages to build onsite – no! But how do you keep the picky eaters happy with what’s been packed in the cooler box?

You can pack the different hot dogs in separate zip-seal bags or containers marked with “mustard” or “butter”. Or build the basis of the sandwiches at home with a plain roll and sausage and pack a squeeze bottle of butter, tomato sauce and mustard separately.

Jar salads are great for the beach! Simply pack them at home and enjoy a healthy, effortlessly meal in style on the beach.

A super easy and yummy beach snack is small triangle watermelon cuts packed away in a sealed container. These are easy to eat on the beach and the peels go back into the container.

Each person gets their own water bottle. Use steel or a thick plastic bottle with a flap-over cap, to keep the mouthpiece sand-free, preferably no single use bottles to keep beach litter to a minimum.

Returning home from the beach, especially with a bunch of “hangry” kids, can be challenging. Plan for the chaos by preparing a yummy treat the day before. First Choice shares one of their best beach treat recipes that can easily be prepared in just 30 minutes, put it in the freezer and enjoy the next day.

• Difficulty level: EASY

• Prepping time: 30 minutes

• Freezing time: overnight

• Serves 10

The Val hotel is the poster child for what can happen to a building when it is loved and what a loved building can mean to a community.

Bought at auction in 1994, just a couple of weeks after the election, the

run-down building has been lovingly renovated by Rita Britz and her husband.

“We were married at the small church in Val, in 1982. So, when we heard the hotel was being auctioned off in 1994, we decided to go and have a look.” The auction was not well attended and before they knew it, they suddenly owned a hotel. They spent 8 months renovating, and the Val Hotel opened its doors on 27 August 1995, with a grand total of 4 bedrooms available.

There isn’t much to do in Val than wander around and check out the geese. But that’s the point. 90 Minutes from Joburg. The quiet drive through the Mpumalanga Highveld to get there is part of the allure. This is the perfect Saturday road-trip destination.

Not long after opening the hotel, they extended into the building next door, opening a restaurant and bar with a stoep and a reading room. During the frosty Highveld winters, there is a constant fire burning in the old-fashioned fireplace. Reading and relaxing are strictly prescribed. If you’re an overnight guest, take note that there are no televisions in the bedrooms, (by design) and Rita goes as far as “politely suggesting” that you leave your cell phone in your room.

In summer the doors of the covered stoep are open to the sultry air and you stand a good chance of being treated to a majestic Highveld thunderstorm, with spectacular cloud formations and lightning displays that would make Thor jealous.

The restaurant offers delicious local food, with the Steak-and-Egg being a realcrowd-pleaser.

At the bar on a Friday evening, you can meet locals and discuss anything from crop rotation and growing Soya to the merits of a good whisky and what to do when you see a ghost.

As Rita says: “Don’t worry! Even the ghosts have good vibes. It’s all about positive energy here!”

It takes a special vision to do justice to a historic building:

• Update the plumbing but leave the scratched floorboards.
• Build a stoep but plan your outdoor seating around the existing trees.
• Install new glass but leave the old wooden window frames.
• Rita has this vision, and this is the magic of Val – It is respectfully renovated, not simply renewed. That might just be why it is so successful. With a tiny Anglican church just across the yard from the restaurant and an old railway station across the street, which Rita and her husband rent from Transnet and use as a backpacker’s lodge for the hotel, the Val Hotel has once again become the lifeline of an extended farming community that might otherwise have disintegrated.

Book in advance?

Give them a call and let them know you are coming – if the sun looks particularly good that morning, they might just choose to lock up and go for a stroll with the geese if they are not expecting guests. Bookings are essential for overnight stays and Sunday

Lunch.

Vegetarian options?

Yes – they do a good veggie burger.

Facts about Val:

Val is the smallest town in South Africa

that has its own Postcode and

has a total population of 8. Yes. 8.

Driving time: The little hamlet of Val is about 50 minutes from Heidelberg.

It is only 160km (90mins) from OR Thambo International Airport. Val is close to Greylingstad and Standerton

in the Mpumalanga Highveld.

The Val Hotel and restaurant

is closed Mondays.

In a time when small towns are simply giving up, backs broken by the unforgiving yolk of urbanization and corruption, Val should be an example of what can happen when someone cares and invests their time in a community.

Val Road Trip Cheat Sheet

Hidden Gem or Superstar attraction?

Hidden Gem

Pet friendly?

Yes

Kid-friendly?

Extremely! Look out for the white geese who nest across from the restaurant at the train station. Last time I was there they had 4 perfectly fluffy yellow ducklings.

Pricey?

Nope.

Cannot find what you are looking for?

Try searching our list of suppliers right here!