A beginners guide to starting your very own veggie patch
By Angelique Redmond There are a multitude of reasons to start a veggie patch, but the one that stands out for me is the idea of fresh, crunchy vegetables that you didn’t have to buy from the shop. So, not only will you save yourself some money, but it’s a great activity for the whole family to get involved in! The old adage goes, ‘You are what you eat’ so why not eat the freshest vegetables around? Getting started Step 1 is quite simple; plot the space you will need for your vegetable patch. Will you be growing it outside in your garden, in a window box or tub? The perfect size for a vegetable patch is roughly 4 square feet or 0.3 meters. Step 2 is where you take a look at what type of soil you are working with. You need to know what type of soil you currently have and what the PH balance of the soil is, neutral is generally a PH of 7, but vegetables grow best in slightly acidic soil with a PH balance of 6.5. If you’re not sure, you can always pick up a soil test kit from a reputable gardening store. If you can’t find a soil test kit here’s two quick ways to test your soil using household ingredients: Scoop some soil into a container. Then, add a half-cup of vinegar. If the soil bubbles or fizzes, it’s alkaline. If there’s no reaction, scoop a fresh soil sample into a second container. Add a half-cup of water and mix. Then, add a half-cup of baking soda. If the soil bubbles or fizzes the soil is highly acidic. If your soil is too acidic you can adjust it with finely ground chalk or limestone often referred to as garden lime, which will raise the PH. Other common soil problems could be sandy soil or soil high in clay, or a patch that doesn’t drain well. To check for drainage issues, water your patch and then check it the next day, if the water is still there, the patch has poor drainage, which is not ideal for a vegetable garden. One thing you can do is add sand to the soil to improve the drainage. What should you grow? Step 3: Deciding what to grow can be quite the process. When I first started my vegetable patch I was quite overwhelmed with all the choices and had to be quite strict and limit myself, or I would have ended up with a vegetable back yard instead of a garden! Decide what you really like and what you will use daily or...
Woza Sisi Exhibition in Collaboration with DOPEstore
Woza Sisi is an ongoing body of work that explores a group of women working as street hairstylists at Kerk Street market, in Johannesburg CBD. Woza Sisi has collaborated with DOPEstore as part of a series of cultural monthly events hosted at the concept store to develop visual arts within the fashion sector. DOPE, which is an acronym for Designer Original Products Enterprise, is a retail store that was founded by Andile Cele in 2009. The store offers premium designed products. DOPEstore strives to work with different creatives in the fields of art, fashion and music. “We feel that art plays a vital role, and its a medium that hasn’t been exploited enough within the youth culture” says Andile. These series of events are aimed at celebrating art, fashion and music. “We are excited to collaborate with young brands or artists in the scene”. DOPEstore feels that Woza Sisi will appeal to their clientele. It exposes hardworking women who execute artistry in a form of hairstyles daily. “Their contribution to street culture is overlooked”. The photography exhibition will also launch Woza Sisi merchandise to be revealed on the opening night, which will be available at the store throughout the duration of the exhibition. Also, two guests will have an opportunity to have their hair styled by one of the street hairstylists who participated in the project. Opening Thursday 5 March 2015 7pm – 10pm 6 March – 31 March 2015 DOPEstore 95 Commissioner Street Marshalltown Johannesburg...
Project Maboneng: Street Festival to celebrate the expansion of the precinct
With what seems to be one of the most exciting developments in downtown Johannesburg over the past few years, the Maboneng Precinct has clearly made an impression in the hearts of young people, attracting all ages, races and ethnic groups to its streets. From trendy themed restaurants and office space to lodging, fashion stores and even a new age cinema, the precinct is one of the coolest hubs in the inner city. And in celebration of the recent expansion of the Maboneng Precinct in downtown Johannesburg, the managing and social committee has decided to launch the exciting project with a massive hip-hop street festival. Aptly named ‘PROJECT MABONENG’ the fest will feature local and international talent and will take place later this month. With a huge local line-line-up of the best of SA hip-hop, PROJECT MABONENG will also feature a powerhouse international headliner to be announced next week. The street themed festival hopes to attract a mixed crowd further encouraging and supporting the development and infrastructure of the Maboneng precinct and the inner-city as a whole. PROJECT MABONENG LINE UP: Cassper Nyovest Ifani Okmalukoolkat Riky Rick Kid X Kwesta Milkshake, Dimplez and Vigi Twins on Decks Speedsta Sphe and Naves Hiphop artist, entrepreneur and concert organizer George Avakian stated that PROJECT MABONENG will feature some of SA’s hip hop royalty, in addition to an infamous international outfit which aims to attracts over 5 000 people. ‘We are so excited to launch the new inner-city development with a mass celebration of this kind. We hope to attract even more people to come experience the vibrancy of the precinct for themselves, and what better way to do it than with a street festival.’ Doors open at midday while the 12-hour street festival experience will cost R325 per person. A convenient ‘Park & Ride service will be available to and from the Joburg stadium and is included in the ticket price. Limited tickets go on sale this week at TicketPro (www.Ticketpro.co.za)....
Sub-Saharan Africa Broadcast Presents African Music Film Month in conjunction with BUSARA 2015
Celebrate the diverse music and culture of Africa and the diaspora with a month-long film-festival on your screen presented by AfriDocs. During the month of February, AfriDocs’ 2 weekly documentary slots – now on Tuesday AND Thursday evenings, at 8pm Central African time (GMT + 2), and weekend schedules will feature some of Africa’s most loved musical talents – both historical and contemporary. Never before has such a collection of documentary films about African music been available to audiences across the continent. From Morocco to South Africa, Cape Verde to Madagascar, documentaries featuring, SALIF KEITA, CESARIA EVORA, BI KIDUDE, ABDULLAH IBRAHIM, OLIVER MTUKUDZI, BOB MARLEY, OMAR SOSA, SISTER FA, SPOEK MATHAMBO as well as stories from the Malian Festival Au Desert, and Paul Simon’s Graceland, to the history of punk in Africa – the AfriDocs African Music Film Month is unmissable television. Presented in conjunction with Zanzibar’s annual Sauti za Busara Music Festival, taking place from Feb 12th – 15th, this month long musical extravaganza celebrates the music of Africa and its diaspora – discover the music and culture of Kenya, Zanzibar, Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Senegal, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ghana, Angola and beyond only on DStv 190 ED channel and GO TV. Visit www.afridocs.net or www.facebook.com/AfriDocs to stay up to date with screening schedules, media interviews, twitter chats and more!...
Ernie Smith Live at the Orbit-Time for Love
It’s been almost 5 years since Ernie Smith’s last album, but this year sees him return to the airwaves with his new single – the Afrocentric jazz dance number Time For Love. Self composed and released under his own label Child Of The Light Records, the single is the first track from the album of the same name – fresh new sounds that include collaborations with Grammy winner Bebe Winans as well as local stars KB Motsilanyane and Mandoza. Although still very much an Ernie Smith styled record, Time For Love embodies a state of evolution in his growth and sound. The single was inspired by the many stages that people go through in life and the reminder to take time for love and other things that are central to the human condition. Details of the launch are as follows: Venue is: The Orbit- Braamfontein. Time:8PM Event: Dinner & performance...
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