Carel Boshoff (iv), President of the Orania Movement, busy with a guest lecture in Antwerpen during a European tour.
Outeur Argief vir John
Members of the Orania Movement are undertaking a European tour and visiting several minorities. Carel Boshoff and a member of a German minority in Belgium poses for a photo.
It has been some time since I last reported on progress in Orania. Be assured that we have not been idle!
A project of this size requires thought, action, meetings, criticism, arguments, and faith! I want to present, without comment, a few snapshots from the last few weeks. But let it be clear: we shall survive. That much has been decided.
Orania has an uncomfortable almond orchard size-too many trees to harvest by hand, and too few to buy a spesialized tree shaker! A pecan shaker (as seen above) damages trees and can apparently not be used.
An interesting garden took the honours in a recent gardening competition. Generally we found that low maintenance gardening is gaining a foothold, and plants able to withstand our harsh climate are also popular.
First layers
Orania has some interesting examples of building methods. This site is due to attract a lot of attention as it sports a novel way of saving energy, water and of using recycled building material. The foundation consists of used tyres filled with soil, and bags full of soil are used as bricks. Google Earthship and catch the fever!
One of our gate guards ending his shift. On the photo below he is shown demonstrating the leopard crawl to a new recruit. For security reasons I could not get any closer for a nice photo.
Hugh Tarbet. Photo: Johan de Villiers
Hugh Tarbet etched his name on a rock in the Orania area during January 1900. Any family left anywhere who might know his history?
Fairy tale family photo
Seen at a recent matric farewell with a “fairy tale” theme.
The two local schools have quite a few matric pupils this year, and we wish them well!
Early peaches
Spring has thus far been good for almonds and early peaches. If no serious cold spells await us, we could have a very good year. Pecans bloom in October, and their fate will thus be determined much later.