Nursery, Art & Shop
Real Wire Art: |
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 The creation of the 2.5 metre high wire baobab tree at the entrance of Soekershof in the beginning of 2002 has an enormous spin-off for wire-artist Messina Mussindo ("You may call me Joey"). The making of the second tree, exhibited in the South African embassy in Berlin, gave the international career of Joey momentum with various creations displayed in musea and galleries in Europe and the USA. Work of Joey can also be found in several private collections around the globe. The wire branch on the veranda of guesthouse Mardouw between Swellendam and Ashton is one of the refined examples of Joey's work. Joey has his workshop and outlet at Soekershof and lectures visitors of this ‘primary unusual destination’ about him being born in or between the baobabs and the traditional connection between South Africa and Australia. Above all Joey's demonstration of his so called ‘one-wire-art’ shows his ability of innovation in wire-art. Joey is also the creator of the memento visitors of Soekershof can earn with their maze-quest. |
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Visitors Centre: |
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The Visitors Center of Soekershof is housed in a thatched cottage which, together with the homestead of nearby Fraai Uitzicht, is the oldest existing building (anno 1798) between Swellendam and Tulbagh. In the Visitors Center one finds not only a video and photo-presentation of the development of Soekershof since April 2000 but also a small collection of handcrafted gifts exclusively made by local artists. |
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‘Sponsoring’ |
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As part of the commitment to invest in local
communities Soekershof ‘sponsors’ the nearby
Klaas Voogds Primary School.
This ‘sponsoring’ incorporates not only the supply
of plants for the garden; staff of Soekershof also
teach the pupils of this rural farm workers school
basic horticultural knowledge and skills. Soekershof is certified by Fair Trade in Tourism In South Africa. More Info |
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‘Our Little Nursery’ has a fine collection of succulents with an emphasis on ‘home grown’ (Southern) African succulents as Aloes; Euphorbias; Crassulas; Mesembs; Adeniums a.s.o. In two climatised zones in the propagation unit the gardeners of Soekershof propagate rare plants for a growing number of (succulent) plant collectors and nurseries in South Africa.
The more general collection in the retail nursery is ever changing; always depending on the availability of plant material in the gardens and the mood of the gardeners. Some people think that cacti (not indigenous to Africa!!!) will grow virtually everywhere in South Africa. Landscapers in the Cape Town area reckon that, in their area, at least 60 to 70 percent of the cacti planted in the unprotected open air die within months due to weather- and soil conditions; insufficient information by nurseries and occasionally even by hidden diseases.
In a joint venture with wire-artist "Joey", Soekershof developed a ‘Solar Umbrella’. After a test period of three years new improved models (a bird and a butterfly) were launched in 2007. These sun umbrellas are for sale at R 300.00 each at Soekershof Walkabout. Buyers are invited to paint the fabrics themselves for a personal touch. No two umbrellas are thus the same. After the introduction of the umbrella other products are being developed and marketed; all made by local artists and all ‘exclusive to Soekershof’. Examples are ‘bokkie’ pencils; sprayers, plant hangers and (garden) furniture. To see what it looks like you will have to come and visit!
"Life is full of cactus but you don't have to sit on it" - A. Nomynous