The slow life is the good life: go! Platteland celebrates the rural lifestyle and the entrepreneurial spirit of people whose hearts are in the platteland – whether they grew up in the countryside or are already based there, are contemplating making the move or simply hankering after the rural life. Platteland offers articles that focus on entrepreneurs, DIY projects, animals, gardening, food, towns and people. It is both practical and inspiring – as much of a visual feast as it is a celebration of great writing.

Build a summer palace

go! Platteland

Chitchat

Time to read • The festive season is all about braaiing, eating, reading and watching TV – and these five new books promise to make the breather even more enjoyable.

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Let’s go to town • Summer days are here, and what better way to enter into the spirit of the season than to shop for sunhats, flip-flops, cocktail ingredients and locally made gifts?

SCHOEMANSKLOOF Land of lace and water • Mention Schoemanskloof, and many people who’ve visited the Lowveld think of the route with the many citrus trees and slow trucks. But next time you’re in the area, follow Mia Louw’s lead: take the turn-off to the R539 and get to know the Kloof and its people.

Meet the people

One Sunday afternoon in Vanrhynsdorp • Are you one of those travellers who only swing into Vanrhynsdorp – off the N7 – when you need fuel and snacks? Why not take a walk with us through the town? Its streets hold many small gems worth discovering.

In the footsteps of Vloog Theron • In many ways the life led by flamboyant “Boeremafioso”Vloog Theron was shaped by his childhood in the Swartland village of Koringberg. Although polio hed him spend years in an iron harness, his childhood was fairly normal. Inspired by his eldest daughter Anoeschka von Meck’s new novel, Platteland took a walk in Vloog’s footsteps and discovered various surprising facts and odd coincidences.

Farming for the future The steady growth of agritourism • In a world where people increasingly yearn for a simpler, healthier lifestyle, agritourism has become a popular way to spend time in the South African platteland. Madeleine Barnard chatted to a number of farmers who have made some smart moves.

Sun sea and sitting on the stoep • About 4 km north of Dwarskersbos, West Coast meets Sandveld on Wamakersvlei, an eco-friendly beach farm that borders on Rocherpan Nature Reserve. Here, thanks to the vision of a “weekend farmer”, you can spend time in one of four newly renovated shepherd’s and fisherman’s cottages, and forget all about the rest of the world.

Rise to the occasion! • At its most elementary, real sourdough bread consists of only four ingredients, but baking it takes time and patience. Yet this welcome change from the norm can take you on a rewarding journey full of surprises, as keen gardener and foodie Riëtte Mouton would tell you from experience.

Slow down and smell the bread • Baking, brewing and crafting are at the heart of Jeff and Sue Lawrence’s retirement venture. All the magic happens at their Wakkerstroom headquarters in what used to be their holiday home. We joined Jeff for a day at Country Bread.

The case for raw pet food • Feeding your dog or cat should be about the health of the animal and not about your convenience. You should start introducing raw food – a healthy mix of meat, bones, organs and vegetables – into their diet, says pet-food nutritional consultant Bruce Poultney.

BEES The key to food security? • As the global human population keeps expanding, so does our food production and, with it, a need for more pollinators. Evan Naudé visited a commercial honeybee farmer in the Overberg to see what makes this industry buzz.

Step into the garden • Summer...