Thirty years ago, Robert Redford directed a film adaptation of a semiautobiographical novel by author Norman Maclean about a river, flyfishing and complicated family dynamics. Audiences around the world were captivated by the characters, mesmerised by the river's everchanging moods and moved to tears by the narrator's final words: "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."
We humans are fascinated by oceans, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. You might think it's because our very distant ancestors emerged from the sea hundreds of millions of years ago, or because the trillions of cells in our bodies are composed mainly of two hydrogen atoms linked in a single chemical bond to an oxygen atom. You know, water molecules.
Personally, I find these conjectures something of a stretch. But when someone tells me that living beside a river is "good for the soul", I absolutely get it, which is slightly weird because I don't believe in souls or the afterlife (or the Kardashians, for that matter).
Best of all worlds
Take the case of the Van Zyl family, who enjoy an idyllic waterside lifestyle far from the cacophony and myriad stresses of the city. Pierre and Annalien van Zyl divide their time between a waterfront home at the Vaal Marina and a houseboat moored at the Emerald Resort & Casino on the Vaal River in southern Gauteng.
They never cease to marvel at the passing show: the occasional antelope on the river bank, the flurries of water as a boat passes, even a modest-sized tornado. It's all part of nature's everchanging show, and they love it.
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Esta historia es de la edición Spring 2022 de go! Platteland.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
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The art of small talk
In the city, a glib smile suffices when it comes to interaction with any stranger that crosses her path. Yet a visit to Struisbaai taught Elizabeth Wasserman that small talk is no small matter
From food scraps to compost in a jiffy: We test the iCompost
If turning kitchen waste into compost could be done at the touch of a button, more people would take it up, and much less waste would end up in landfills. That’s what Himkaar Singh, the man behind the innovative iCompost, believes. Platteland was keen to put this innovative appliance to the test
Find wisdom in the forest: It all starts with soil
A tree is an investment in any garden, even though patience is required to pluck the (figurative) fruit. When you plant several trees together to create your own forest, the reward is much greater. They offer shade, they support life… and they improve your soil. We spent time reflecting in our white karee“forest”– and learnt a lot
Ohrigstad's tiny big farmer
Agriculture courses through the veins of the Els family, who have been farming in the Ohrigstad valley in Limpopo since the 1930s. And they are getting younger and younger: Grandfather Jan Els was 36 when he set out, father Dewald 27… and littleWaldo got behind the wheel of massive machines at the age of 6!
The head hen who lays the golden eggs
The Country Chic is a delightful specialty store in the Swartland where small farmer and entrepreneur Suzanne Smit sells the organic free-range chicken eggs and poultry meat she produces – straight from her farm to the shelves of her own store
On mountains and moments
On a trip in the southern Drakensberg, a torrential downpour and a field of prickly thistles got acclaimed photographer Obie Oberholzer thinking about the power of perspective
Ballad of the butter farmer
High up in the Italian Alps, Maria van Zyl learnt to make the tastiest butter in South Africa. Then she started a clever “subscription farming business” delivering dairy products to households in the Cape on a weekly basis, which is how she could afford to buy the first five cows for her micro-dairy. Meet the (bio)dynamic small-scale farmer with big plans
Spring on a stick
Expand your braai repertoire by serving a side dish of flavourful spring-vegetable kebabs cooked to perfection over the coals.
A puzzle of nostalgia
Ride a fat bike through the town where you grew up - an abiding landmark in your life - and behold the picture that reveals itself.
Let's braai!
Celebrate Heritage Day on 24 September with this braai menu, which Platteland put together from Martelize Brink's recently published second cookbook, Oor die Kole.