LOCAL LIFE

Located on the corner of Longmarket and Queen Victoria Streets in Stanford, Union Grocery & Eatery offers a welcoming space where people can come together to share stories over a delicious cup of coffee and a slice of cake, enjoy breakfast or lunch, get some work done, or stock up on some select essentials for their pantry.

As the name suggests, Union celebrates community and the coming together of people. This has been achieved in the hands of owners, Ronald and Ineke van Elst, and their highly competent, warm, and friendly staff. 

Many years ago, Ronald and Ineke, who are originally from the Netherlands, decided that they wanted to retire in Stanford. For 20 years they enjoyed holidays in the area, looking forward to the day that they could make a permanent move. In late 2021, they began looking online for a local business to buy and Union Grocery & Eatery caught their eye. In 2022 they moved to Stanford permanently and took over the eatery that May.

While Union was formerly predominantly a health eatery and grocer, Ronald and Ineke have transformed it into one that appeals to everyone. Cakes and breads are made fresh in the kitchen daily, with locally sourced ingredients being used as far as possible in support of local businesses. This also helps to ensure that quality is standard. Many of the cakes and breads are gluten-free and vegan friendly so there are options for everyone to choose from. 

Union offers all day breakfasts and there are some delicious clean-eating options including gluten-free granola with honey and yogurt, with a vegan option available. You can also enjoy French toast, and a variety of toasties and omelettes. On the lunch menu is the popular Union Buddha Bowl (quinoa, chickpeas, beetroot, avocado, tomato, carrot, lettuce, seeds, and tahini dressing), as well as a classic favourite: bangers and mash with caramelised onions. They also have regular blackboard specials, often determined by whatever fruit or vegetable is currently growing in Ineke’s garden. 

There are many types of drinks to choose from to accompany your meal such as your usual coffees and teas as well as kombucha, fresh juices, and NOMU hot chocolate. Union also offers MannaBrew, made from Mesquite, for those who like the taste of coffee but without the caffeine.

They currently employ seven staff, some of whom have been there since the original Union first opened in December 2021. One such person is Ursula Hendricks, who started as a sculler before assisting the chef and is now working front of house. Her kind nature immediately leaves an impression.

Ineke and Ronald believe it is important to make sure that their staff are happy working at Union. “Communication is important,” says Ineke, “If Ronald and I go away for a week I know that I can trust my team to manage things while we are away. We are all honest and open with one another here, and by doing so we can keep improving Union for our customers.”

Union has both indoor and outdoor seating with smaller tables for a more intimate get together and larger tables for social gatherings. Along the back wall are shelves stocked with a curated selection of mostly locally sourced goods including free range eggs, rice, seeds, plant-based milks, honey, homemade jams, and more. Their regular, loyal customers, as well as visitors from out of town, love the grocery and eatery, and are impressed by the gluten-free and vegan options available. 

Union also holds a themed evening on the first Tuesday of the month where one can enjoy a set, four-course menu between 18:00 and 20:00. For these events each of the Union staff make suggestions for a theme and then, once decided, meals are tried and tested before the set menu is announced. Previous themed evenings include Moroccan, Dutch and Persian. The next one will take place on 7 May and the theme is African. Tickets are priced at R225pp and can be booked by phoning 072 078 0564 (booking is essential and seating is limited to 20 people). 

Union is committed to sustainability and ensures minimal waste comes from their kitchen. They have generator power during loadshedding and are open every day from 07:00 to 18:00 (08:00 to 18:00 on Sundays). For photos and information, follow them on Instagram (@unioneatery) or visit www.uniongroceryandeatery.co.za to view their menu.

The Grootbos Foundation (GF) at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (GPNR) was set up in 2003 by the reserve owners – the Lutzeyer family – as a non-profit organisation with a vision of conserving the Cape Floral Kingdom and uplifting the surrounding communities. 

The Foundation’s mission is to empower others through their ecotourism, enterprise development, sports development, and education projects – all of which are replicable and scalable, with many generating their own income or becoming partially self-sustaining. From coaching soccer and computer training to clearing alien vegetation, each programme has been carefully considered to build a brighter future for the people who live in the area, as well as for the environment. This link between conservation and social development at Grootbos has made them a world leader in terms of sustainable and responsible ecotourism.

GF funds their projects through the use of generous donations from corporate donors and governmental organisations as well as Grootbos Lodge guests and other private individuals. These donations are supplemented by income generated from various projects such as their on-site nursery and landscaping businesses. 

Green Futures Education

The Green Futures programme at GF consists of learning initiatives with a core conservation focus. These include nationally accredited training courses offered through their Green Futures Horticulture and Life Skills College (see the front page), their Green Futures indigenous nursery, alien clearing, and indigenous tree planting projects.

Conservation Research Unit

Green Futures Conservation relates to the Foundation’s conservation research programmes. These include award-winning ecological research projects, biodiversity surveys, and management of human-wildlife conflict within a protected environment. Their focus is to create a Protected Environment within the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy by conducting floral and faunal surveys to determine high priority conservation areas of greatest biodiversity. GF also strives to eradicate alien invasive species in this area to protect indigenous diversity, natural water sources and rivers, to manage wildfire risk and to provide employment. 

Sports Development

GF’s Sports Development Programme was established with the dual aims of achieving greater social integration in the Gansbaai region and educating and empowering youth, using sports as a vehicle for change. The programme launched in 2008 with the construction of a multipurpose sports facility which includes a full-size FIFA standard artificial soccer pitch sponsored by the English Premier League. The Football Foundation runs football, netball, hockey, and athletics training sessions in Gansbaai, Stanford and Hermanus, which engage approximately 2 000 youths each week. In addition to these sessions, GF also runs programmes centred on HIV education, female empowerment, environmental education, proper nutrition, enterprise development, and integration. 

Enterprise Development

The Foundation also offers employment and enterprise development programmes including career guidance for youth, workplace experience, and mentorship for small business owners. South Africa has a high youth unemployment rate and through their Enterprise Development programme GF aims to give young people the skills, confidence and tools to find work or to build a successful business.

Arts and Culture for Youth

GF’s art programme for children uses visual art, drama, games and music to engage children at the Grootbos Masakhane Hub and get them excited about conservation through the medium of art. In their pilot of this project, they have partnered with Creative Skills Factory, a local NPO that uses art to identify barriers to learning among five to seven-year-olds. The Grootbos Florilegium and its use of botanical art to activate conservation is the cherry on top of the Foundation’s cultural programme, and all profits from the sale of Florilegium prints, books and tours go towards GF to be split equally between their conservation and cultural programmes.

To learn more, or to donate or fund a student visit www.grootbosfoundation.org 

Twelve years ago, Nowan Cornelius (15), a Stanford resident, attended a rugby practice at Hermanus High School (HHS). Despite being relatively new at the school, he was already part of the U16A team, playing as a flyhalf. Tragically, during the practice, Nowan collided with a teammate's knee, suffering a major blow to the head. 

On the bus drive back to Stanford after the practice, Nowan's cousin noticed that his behaviour was unusual. He phoned their grandfather who collected them from the bus stop and took Nowan to the doctor. Just over 24 hours later, young Nowan passed away. 

At his family home in Stanford, Nowan’s number 10 rugby jersey takes pride of place, hanging in a glass display cabinet along with his rugby shorts – signed by all of his teammates.

From a young age Nowan had been actively involved in sports and had big plans for a career in rugby. He attended Emil Weder High School in Genadendal but decided that the best pathway to achieving his dreams would be through HHS. He hoped to play for the Springboks one day, and also wanted to study to become a doctor. 

In early 2012, Nowan asked his mother Natasha if he could transfer to HHS. She was reluctant as she had already paid the fees at Emil Weder upfront for the year, but Nowan was determined and knew that his grandfather, Peter, would find a way. Nowan and Peter had shared a special bond since the time that Nowan was born which continued to strengthen with their mutual passion for sport and rugby in particular, with Peter having played for the Universals Rugby Club in Stanford.

Peter didn't hesitate and immediately went to register Nowan at HHS, and Nowan transferred to the school in the middle of the first term, a mere few months before the tragedy. 

The Cornelius family describe Nowan as a deeply caring boy with a profound sense of responsibility. He was a happy child with a real love for life and was also very spiritual.

Nowan had a natural talent for music and played the marimbas and keyboard, and apart from rugby, he also played cricket. He would often play sports with younger children in the neighbourhood and this kindness and helpfulness endeared Nowan to the whole community. 

"Hy het baie liefde te gee", says Natasha. 

In 2010, Nowan almost lost his leg after an injury he sustained in a motorbike accident became infected. He spent four weeks recovering in hospital but this did little to deter him from getting back on a motorbike, or from getting back to playing rugby as quickly as he could. His sense of adventure and determination were just too great.

Nowan's family also hint at a certain amount of good-natured mischievousness and say that Nowan could be a bit of a prankster. They smile broadly as they recount stories about neighbours and snakes, and Nowan's love for peanut butter and jam sandwiches. 

One year after his passing, HHS started its annual 'Nowan Cornelius Sports Festival' in honour of Nowan, and to raise funds for regular renovation of the school's essential medical services. Any remaining funds are used to financially support sports learners. This year it was held from 20 – 23 March and featured a netball clinic and rugby games with 12 schools attending. 

The sports festival has been held annually for 11 years with the exception of 2018 (owing to the unrest in Hermanus), and 2020 (owing to Covid), and a moment of silence is held at 11am to remember Nowan.

Nowan's grandfather has been in attendance at the festival, watching the rugby, every year. 

Visit HHS Facebook page to see the results of the tournament. See more photos of this year's Festival on our Facebook page.

Escape (noun): 1. an act of breaking free from confinement or control; 2. a form of temporary distraction from reality or routine; 3. something that helps you to forget about your usual life or problems. 4. a key on a computer keyboard which interrupts the current operation. Abbreviation: esc.

Hidden away just 15 km from Hermanus and a mere 2.4 km up the Karwyderskraal Road lies Esc Wines, a small vineyard and protea farm with stunning views of the Bot River Lagoon. 

Originally used for growing land oats and wheat, the farm was bought in 2017 by Pretorianers Tian Claassens and CJ Venter, who were looking for their “second career”. 

The notion to start their own vineyard came from a comment made by Tian: “We buy so much wine, we might as well grow our own!” And here they are about six years later with four wines in the Esc range and plans to develop more. 

In 2018, friend and fellow wine lover Dawid Upton joined the ranks as shareholder, and was followed a year later by Corné Richards. After lots of hard work to get the farm ready for planting, they planted their first few hectares of vineyards in 2018 followed by another planting in 2019 with the guidance of consultant viticulturist Johan Viljoen. In 2019, they planted the first of 7 hectares of proteas with help from FynBloem which exports mainly to the UK, where there is a high demand for fynbos. 

When Level 5 lockdown was announced during the pandemic in 2020, Tian and his wife Susan packed up and headed to the Karoo, deciding to stay there for the three weeks of hard lockdown. There they were able to enjoy fresh air without masks, as well as their daily glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Unfortunately, hard lockdown was extended and with wine running out, they made their way to their holiday house in Hermanus. By the time Level 5 was lifted, Tian and Susan had decided to make Hermanus their home.

In 2021, the group of four shareholders began looking for buyers for their grapes, not wanting to make their own wine, but still wanting to get a few bottles back for their own enjoyment. 

Their viticulturist Johan suggested they speak to David Nieuwoudt of Cederberg Wines – an award-winning winemaker known as an innovator in the industry. David agreed to buy the grapes but suggested that they consider making their own wine to help cover the cost of running the farm, as selling just the grapes would not be sustainable. 

Tian, CJ, Corné and Dawid agreed, and David became the fifth shareholder of Esc, making the vineyard’s wines at his cellar in the Cederberg

In December 2022, Esc Wines released their first two vintages: a Sauvignon Blanc named SAV, and a Grenache Rosé named RZE. Their Shiraz (RAZ) and a Sauvignon Blanc Reserve were released in 2023, and at the end of the year they opened a tasting room where people could taste and buy Esc wines while enjoying a braaibroodjie and wors. “Esc Wines is not fancy or pretentious. We wanted to create a space where people could just relax and be free to be,” says Tian. 

The vineyard’s wines have gone on to do extremely well, with both Sauvignon Blancs achieving gold, and the Shiraz a double gold, in the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge – an international wine competition. 

Esc Wines will be releasing their first MCC, a Rosé MCCcalled FZZ, in March this year.  

They offer wine tasting from Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 – 16:00 on their farm on the Karwyderskraal Road. On most weekends braaibroodjies and wors are also available for sale. For more information follow them on Facebook and Instagram or email info@escwines.com. 

Fruit and vegetables, homemade muesli and rusks, freshly baked bread, quality meats, and locally sourced cheeses are just some of the goodies that await you at Die Bloubakkie in Kleinmond.

Owner Johan travels hundreds of kilometres every week to collect his stock, driving to farms as far afield as Robertson, Ceres, and his hometown of Worcester to ensure that only the freshest items are displayed on his shelves. He tries to source from small-scale farmers that farm as naturally as possible without the use of growth hormones or pesticides. Some of the farmer’s wives supply Johan with homemade rusks and biscuits which are then packaged by Johan’s friends in Worcester where Die Bloubakkie has a storage facility.

Johan grew up and attended school in Worcester but left after matriculating to get his BCom Honours at Stellenbosch University, and later completed his Business Accountancy 3 as an extra subject to his degree. He spent some time working in different jobs, and with the support of his parents, tried to find his niche. 

In 1996 at the age of 26 and back in Worcester, Johan started selling local produce from the back of his Ford Escort 1300, shortly afterwards swapping it for his mother’s yellow Datsun bakkie. Initially, Johan spent a lot of time moving around, trying to find a suitable place from which to sell his produce. He moved from the old N1 junction to the Pick ‘n Pay carpark, to Hoogstraat in Worcester, and was able to save enough money to buy a blue Toyota Hilux 1800. But soon enough he had to find a new location and moved to the square opposite the NG Moederkerk church hall, where his family frequently gave him a hand.

“That is where ‘Die Bloubakkie’ name took root,” says Johan, “And from the beginning, the community supported us.”

Things were going well until one morning in 1998 when Johan walked outside to find that his ‘bloubakkie’ had been stolen. The local newspaper, Worcester Standard, reported on the theft and someone, reading about Johan's plight, sold him a white Toyota Hilux. Johan changed the name of his business to ‘Die Witbakkie’, but his customers were having none of it, insisting that it would always be ‘Die Bloubakkie’.

Die Bloubakkie’s logo of a blue Chevrolet bakkie was inspired by ‘Oom’ De Vos Rabie from Nuwerus, a farm between Worcester and Robertson near the Pumpkin Farmstall. Oom De Vos used to bring Johan fruit and vegetables, transporting them in his old blue Chevrolet bakkie. What Johan didn’t buy, Oom De Vos dropped off at Nuwerus Retirement Home in Worcester. His kindness, and his ‘bloubakkie’, left a lasting impression on Johan who is a big believer in the spirit of community.

During that time, Johan and his family would holiday in Kleinmond and whenever they did, the neighbours would ask Johan to bring some fresh fruit and vegetables with him from Worcester. 

In the early 2000s, Johan moved to Kleinmond, and in 2006, seeing the demand for fresh, farm produce, he opened Die Bloubakkie in the small premises that is now Oupa’s Bookshop. Needing more space, Die Bloubakkie moved to a bigger shop (where Kleinmond Central Café is currently located) in 2011, before moving to his current location at 32 2nd Street in 2018, which Johan says is quickly becoming too small to house all their stock!

“I love living in Kleinmond,” says Johan happily, “The people here are concerned for their environment and the people are caring. It is a privilege to be part of this community.”

Die Bloubakkie is made up of an amazing team of nine – five at the Kleinmond shop and four in Worcester who help with tasks such as packaging. Each member of the team brings with them their own set of skills which ensure the success of the business, and all are focused on ensuring a great customer experience. From the moment you walk into Die Bloubakkie you are warmly welcomed by smiling faces and willing hands ready to help you find what you are looking for and help carry your purchases to your car. 

The shop is open Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:30 and Saturday 09:00 – 15:30. Be sure to follow Die Bloubakkie on Facebook for updates and to see Johan’s stunning photos of Kleinmond. For more information contact johan@bloubakkie.co.za.

South African environmental organisation Greenpop is gearing up for its twelfth annual tree planting and restoration event, Reforest Fest, which will run from 29 March to 1 April 2024 at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat adjacent to the Platbos Forest near Gansbaai. Come together to plant thousands of trees, explore interactive art installations and wellness activities, immerse yourself in a selection of informative workshops, savour locally sourced food, and enjoy live music performances by local and international artists.

Over the years, Reforest Fest has become a symbol of hope and positive change. At its core, this wholesome festival is all about trees, which are planted with the goal of restoring indigenous forests and reviving ecosystems. Over the four days, planting sites gradually transform from alien-dominated landscapes into thriving habitats filled with newly planted seedlings. 

The Reforest Fest has been a major tree planting event since 2011 and has contributed to the restoration of Platbos Forest Reserve and Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat. To date, the project has planted over 125 000 trees (planting between 5 000 and 10 000 trees each year), aiding the preservation of the forest and its unique species such as the Cape leopard, Cape bushbuck, Large-spotted genet, and baboons.

This year, the team is aiming to plant 5 000 trees with planting efforts expanding to three surrounding conservation properties. 

The festival is also about people. Participants spend their days planting trees with friends and then return to a camp filled with music and delicious food (including plant-based options). The Greenpop Village is a hub for learning and fun, with workshops, talks and entertainment for all ages. Children can enjoy guided foraging walks, woodcrafts, Easter egg hunts and more in the dedicated kid’s area. 

From morning yoga to evening drum circles, Reforest Fest offers a sensory feast that brings the community together to put hope into action.

One musical highlight to look forward to is Greenpop's co-founder, Jeremy Loops, who will be joining the festival as the headline artist. Get ready to loop into a musical adventure and join Jeremy for tree planting, campfire jamming, and an unforgettable live performance under the stars. 

In addition to Reforest Fest’s ample plant-based food vendors, there will also be two exciting pop-up experiences. Veld & Sea will create a tapas-style, wild sustainably-foraged flavour feast of plant-based dishes with seasonal, local and wild ingredients; and Kolossal Hospitality will create an incredible picnic-style lunch for participants to enjoy with friends and family. An assortment of wines to taste and pair will be available at the WWF Conservation Wine Tent where wines from across the Western Cape will be available.

In a world where urbanisation encroaches on green spaces, Greenpop’s Reforest Fest serves as a vital reminder of the importance of nature. It is crucial to create spaces that reconnect people with the environment.

Join Greenpop on their mission to restore degraded land and cultivate hope and regeneration at Reforest Fest 2024. For more information and tickets visit www.reforestfest.com. 

Florilegium (n). From the Latin ‘flor’ (flower) and ‘legere’ (to gather). A gathering or collection of flower and plant illustrations from a specific region. It is the exact Latin equivalent of the Greek ‘anthology’ derived from ‘anthos’ (a flower) and ‘logia’ (a collection). It originally did not refer literally to flowers, but to little flowers of composition, or a collection of fine extracts from a larger body of work. 

Hidden away among the beautiful fynbos and indigenous plants at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve lies The Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery, home to the Grootbos Florilegium, a stunning collection of 124 plant illustrations by 44 botanical artists featuring some of the over 900 documented fynbos species found at the reserve.

Grootbos is located in the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the most biodiverse biomes on the planet. Although small, the biome is home to approximately 10 000 plant species. Many of these plants are found only in South Africa, with some restricted to a very small range, such as the Gansbaai Heath, Erica irregularis, which only occurs from Stanford to Grootbos. 

The florilegium is the vision of Grootbos owner Michael Lutzeyer, who wanted to find a way to make fynbos appeal to a larger audience. A friend of Michael’s suggested that botanical art would be the perfect medium for this purpose. Unlike scientific data, artworks have the ability to convey information in a manner that resonates easily with people, capturing their attention and engaging them. 

Michael was put in touch with respected local botanical artist Vicki Thomas, who has painted for many years and is one of the founding members of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa. She immediately suggested a florilegium, and said that she would be happy to coordinate the project which began shortly after in 2018. 

Involved in the project were also Ruth Crichton, who made sure that things ran smoothly on the Grootbos side, and Grootbos Conservation Director Sean Privett, who, with his 20 years of extensive knowledge of the reserve, selected the plants to be illustrated. Some are a conservation concern, endemic to the region, or play an important role in the ecology, while others are edible, medicinal, or just particularly beautiful. Later, botanical artist Chris Lochner was employed as resident artist and assistant to the project.

The team dreamed of publishing the florilegium and Vicki visualised that each illustration in the book be next to a page of text (written by Sean Privett), interspersed with small studies including dissections, seeds, insects and creatures associated with the plants, which showed how the plants are connected in the broader ecological network. 

Unfortunately, in 2020, the project had to be delayed due to the pandemic and ensuing hard lockdown and restrictions. During that time Hannarie Wenhold, a patron who supports the conservation work at Grootbos, decided that all the original botanical artworks for the florilegium needed a permanent home, and donated funds to build a gallery where everyone could go and see the illustrations and learn about the fynbos. In 2022, the gallery officially opened its doors to the public and a coffee table book – Grootbos Florilegium – was published.  

The artworks displayed in the gallery and in the book are the result of months and months of hard work. Some pieces were completed in a matter of weeks while some artists followed the life cycle of the plant that they were illustrating to see it through all its seasons. 

Each artwork has been carefully scanned and colour matched to keep a digital record and high-quality prints are available for sale at the gallery. All the profits from the prints go back into supporting the projects at Grootbos, with half going towards conservation and the other half contributing to the teaching of the arts for local youth.

The gallery is open for guided tours (by appointment only) on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00, and 14:00 to 16:00. Enjoy a walkabout through the gallery while learning more about the botanical art process and the fascinating narratives of the plants and their pollinators. 

For a more immersive experience, book a half day tour and enjoy an educational 4x4 botanical tour through Grootbos Private Nature Reserve with breathtaking views, followed by a tour of the gallery and a delicious botanical inspired lunch at Bellavista Country Place. This tour is available on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 09:30 to 15:00. Both tours can be booked here. Follow Grootbos Private Nature Reserve on Facebook and Instagram for more information and for updates on their projects.

The Grootbos Florilegium is available in both hardcover and softcover at the gallery, on Takealot, Readers Warehouse, and other major bookstores. 

Earlier this year, Groves Café at the Hermanus Waterfront went through an exciting transformation, resulting in a striking new look alongside a completely overhauled menu. Under the ownership of Henri Grové, his son-in-law Lyall Wiggill, and his daughter Leani van Deventer, the establishment has been rebranded as 'Groves’.

The Grové family is originally from Polokwane, where they ran a successful family restaurant which started in their home. They moved to Somerset West in 2013, leaving the running of the restaurant to family friends, after receiving an opportunity to establish and run the Western Cape branch for Cook4Life – a business which sells high quality, household goods. 

In 2016, after his wife Pearl passed away, Henri had a dream one night that the owners of Fusion Restaurant wanted to sell. Following his gut, but not yet having the finances, he made the trip to Hermanus to speak to the owners and offered to buy it. 

Miraculously, not long after their meeting, Henri received a call from someone wanting to buy their family restaurant and property in Polokwane. Everything fell into place and in 2017, Henri and Lyall moved to Hermanus having purchased Fusion with the shop next door, Bite 2 Eat.

A month later, Bite 2 Eat received a complete facelift and ‘Groves Café’ was born in honour of Pearl. 

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the family was met with another opportunity to purchase a restaurant at the Hermanus Waterfront which was called Belgian Waffles & Beers. Not wanting to miss the opportunity and going on complete faith, a wing and a prayer, they purchased the small restaurant, renaming it ‘The Belgian’. 

Over the last two and a half years, the three eateries have continued to grow from strength to strength, becoming favourites among locals and visitors. 

Earlier this year with the help of local consultant chef Wander Bester, Lyall redid the menu at Groves, while Leani came in to give the eatery a fresh new look. She added bright colours, wooden accents, and a boldly patterned wallpaper on an accent wall, which draws the attention of passersby. The palette of colours she has chosen to decorate with, bring a vibrance and warmth to the eatery, inviting people in. 

Lyall has kept Grove’s famous waffles on the menu (which include toppings such as chocolate brownie, berries and cream, or glazed roasted pecan nut), but much of the other items have been changed. 

The eatery offers breakfasts including croissant eggs benedict, a granola bowl with fruit, a variety of French toasts and 2 breakfast bowls; as well as light meals such as toasted salad wraps (grilled chicken breast, smoked salmon, beef sirloin or halloumi and avocado), sandwiches (steak and mushroom, chicken mayo, pressed pulled pork, gypsy ham, Halloumi and beetroot hummus), seafood (hake and chips, calamari and chips) and quesadillas (chipotle cream cheese, BBQ pulled pork, grilled chicken breast, spinach and feta).

For those just wanting a quick cup of their delicious coffee and a small bite, there are freshly baked muffins, scones, cakes, tarts, and pastries. There are even a variety of smoothies to choose from.

Groves is open Monday to Sunday from 08:00 – 17:00. Contact them on 028 054 0069 or follow them on Facebook for more information.

Stanford recently welcomed the arrival of Maker Retail & Design, a newly established business by owner Nicola Rouillard (and her silent business partner who we will refer to as ‘Em’) in Queen Victoria Street. This unique store showcases an eclectic mix of antique, vintage, and contemporary handmade furniture, as well as an array of beautiful home décor elements and artworks for all tastes.

Nicole and Em met in Greyton almost three years ago through Nicole’s mom, Leoné. The two immediately hit it off, sharing their love for all things design. Nicole runs a small publishing house and is working on completing her architecture degree, and Em, who is originally from the UK, has years of experience in interior, architectural and landscape design. Leoné jokingly suggested that the two should open a shop together to share what they love with the rest of the world and so the seed was planted.

The opportunity arose when Em moved from Greyton to Stanford and found the perfect rental premises for a store. The dynamic duo decided to take the risk and on Saturday 9 December, Maker Retail & Design opened its doors to the public. 

Nicole has always been a fan of bold and dramatic interior decorating. “We wanted to provide items to the public that are not always easy to find,” says Nicole, “South Africa has a certain style when it comes to home decorating so finding elements outside of that style can be a challenge.”

When asked how they would describe the shop, Em said that the store is an eclectic mix of antique, vintage, and modern items that they would put in their own homes. “It is a one stop design shop!” adds Nicole. 

Em and Nicole are planning to make most of the items in the shop themselves but will also be stocking carefully curated products from local artisans. Nicole is gifted at sewing and will be making bags, pillows, clothing and more; whereas Em has a gift when it comes to the restoration of ceramics and paintings. Even Nicole’s fiancé, Raka, is involved – upcycling furniture into beautiful pieces that anyone would be proud to have in their home. 

“We are still going to be adding a pantry to our store,” says Nicole, “We want to fill it with what people want and enjoy, as well as to stock items and flavours that people may not necessarily be familiar with. Of course, everything will be proudly South African as supporting local is very important to us.” Nicole adds that everything in the pantry will be tried and tested before they stock it, so that they can give good recommendations to their customers: “We won’t stock anything that we do not like ourselves.” 

Maker Retail & Design will also be hosting small events and workshops such as sourdough fermentation, Bokashi composting, and home and lifestyle workshops – things that are of interest to Nicole.

There are many exciting things still to come so be sure to follow Maker Retails & Design on Facebook and Instagram (maker.retail.design). They will also be adding an online shop to their website, www.makermakes.co.za, in the near future.

Their store is located at 9 Queen Victoria Street in Stanford. They are open Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 – 17:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 and 19:00 – 20:30, and Sunday 10:00 – 13:00 (closed Monday).

Flower arranging is the artful practice of harmonising blooms and foliage. Guided by creativity and a keen eye for balance, florists carefully select and place flowers to create visually pleasing compositions. From vibrant bouquets to minimalist arrangements, the possibilities are endless. 

Susan Roberts, the sunny and kind-hearted owner of Lilly Rose Florist in High Street, is a skilled artist when it comes to the world of floristry. More than just a creator of beautiful arrangements, she possesses a magical ability to convey sentiment through the flower arrangements that she creates. 

Susan first started floristry in 2017 when Bernice Auret, owner of The Flower Scene, previously in Victoria Square, gave Susan the opportunity to work with her. “Bernice and her brother JJ are lovely people and they not only employed me, but sent me to OKASIE in Stellenbosch for training,” says Susan, “It was such an experience to work with the people there and the girls taught me so much. What I learned I will never forget.”

Susan was with The Flower Scene for almost three years when the business was forced to close its doors owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Not two months later, Susan decided to take a leap of faith and opened her own business inside The Eatery, which she named Lilly Rose Florist. 

Once her business started to grow, Susan was able to move into her own place in Oudehof Mall at 24 High Street, where she still operates from today. She says she feels very blessed, and that her long-standing clients love her new shop, with many new clients becoming regulars.

For the last two years, Susan has been doing floral arrangements on a weekly basis at Birkenhead House, a beautiful luxury hotel on the waterfront in Voëlklip. Susan and her new assistant Carmen Onverwacht, who started working for her two-and-a-half months ago, create fresh bouquets for the hotel’s restaurant, bar, and lounge areas every Thursday. The bright and vibrant arrangements receive many compliments from the hotel’s guests and staff, and bring an added element of joy to each room.

Carmen, who has never worked with flowers before, seems to have a knack for flower arranging. “She is a natural,” says Susan, who still provides guidance when necessary. 

Susan has a passion for nature and flowers, and loves to work with roses, tulips, lilies, irises, carnations, poppies, penny gum, grevillea, and gerberas in particular. She caters for private and business functions, birthday parties, funerals, weddings, and any other celebrations or events. 

Lilly Rose Florist is open Mondays to Wednesdays and Fridays from 09:00 – 16:00, and Saturdays from 09:00 – 12:00. The shop is closed on Thursdays and Sundays. 

Susan can be contacted on 071 484 7417 or via email at lillyroseflorist2@gmail.com. Please remember to order your arrangements in advance. 

If you have had the privilege of meeting local artist Mardee Cita (26) you will know that he is a person you won’t easily forget. Cheerful and charismatic, Mardee always manages to make everyone smile with his positive attitude and energy.

As a child, Mardee already knew that he wanted to become an artist and worked hard, teaching himself different techniques in a variety of mediums. 

In 2019, while Mardee was living in Cape Town with his uncle, a family friend saw some of Mardee’s art and invited him to come and stay in Hermanus where “art is alive”. Here he introduced Mardee to William Ntebe who was running the Zwelihle Youth Café at the time. William invited Mardee to display his art at the Youth Café, giving the motivated young artist a foot into the Overstrand art world.

Mardee was sharing a house with four other people and soon realised that he needed more space to be creative. Once again William stepped in, and he suggested that Mardee stay at the Youth Café and create his art there. Mardee readily accepted and met several new friends who he says all motivated one another.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Mardee did not lose faith and he maintained his positive outlook. Through the Youth Café, Mardee met local sculptor and ceramicist, Andrée Bonthuys, who bought him clay, and taught him sculpting and ceramic techniques. And through Andrée, Mardee met the FynArts organisers, who would often hire him to serve drinks at exhibition openings.

During this time Mardee also met Susan Roberts, owner of Lilly Rose and she was impressed by his joyful attitude and his beautiful ceramics. Susan quickly started promoting Mardee and his creations, even stocking his items in her florist shop. Through this Mardee connected with other people and his name became ever more familiar. Mardee says that to this day Susan is still one of his biggest supporters.

Never one to sit still, Mardee again decided to try something new. One of his friends at the Youth Café, Leroy, was fond of wearing hats and Mardee asked if he could paint one. Leroy accepted and once the hat was completed, told an ecstatic Mardee that he could keep it.

At the next FynArts exhibition opening, Mardee proudly donned his new hat which drew the attention of Hermanus residents Lillian and Charles Ellis. Lillian loved the hat and Mardee offered to paint one for her. Excited, Lillian brought Mardee a few hats and paid him to paint them in whichever way he wished. Over time, Lillian stocked up the hats, and in 2020 surprised him with a get-together at Ficks Restaurant where they officially launched Mardee Africa Hats. Shortly thereafter, Mardee’s hats were available to buy at Intethe Art Gallery, the FynArts Gallery and Ficks Restaurant, and they quickly grew in popularity. 

Taking it yet another step further, Lillian and Charles offered to assist Mardee in turning his hat-painting into a viable business, and they started looking for a place to rent from where Mardee could both create and sell his hats. In 2021, Frieda Lloyd (Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager) offered Mardee a space next to the Hermanus Tourism office in Mitchell Street and he has been there ever since.

Mardee’s business has grown exponentially over the last two years with his unique South African-inspired hats going home with visitors from all over the world including England, Egypt, America, Germany, Belgium, Japan, Australia, Abu Dhabi, India and New Zealand. He has created hats for businesses such as Dutchies Restaurant, Ficks Restaurant, Creation Wines, Southern Right Charters, and Insider SA, just to name a few. Recently he has also added sneakers and denim items, such as jeans and jackets, to the variety of apparel that he paints.

When asked about his plans for the future, Mardee says that his lifelong dream is to own his own studio: “I want to get to the point where my hats make enough money to open my own gallery showing all my creative sides. I also want to play a role in creating more jobs.”

Mardee was also recently offered a new opportunity that will help him in his pursuit of reaching his dream. He is set to further his business education by learning important business skills through FLAME, a Socio-Economic Development (SED) programme which aims to provide entrepreneurship training and support to micro-enterprise owners.

The Hermanus hatter couldn’t be happier. 

Mardee can be contacted via Facebook and Instagram (@mardeedesigns) for queries or custom orders. Alternatively, you visit him at the Hermanus Tourism office from Monday to Friday between 09:00 – 16:00 or on Saturday between 09:00 – 15:00. Mardee also offers painting workshops where he assists you with painting your own ‘Mardee Hat’. Tools are supplied and there is a small cost to cover the paint and his time.