Warmbad Renaissance supports water conservation

The bountiful summer rainfall in our region since January 2017 brought considerable relief from the worst drought in living memory. Nonetheless, dams supplying Bela-Bela with water are only 39% full at present.

Most Warmbad Renaissance residents are therefore committed to the conservation of this scarce resource and often re-use so-called “greywater” from baths, showers and laundry for flushing toilets and watering plants. While greywater may look “dirty,” it is a safe and even beneficial source of irrigation water in a yard. However, in any greywater system, it is essential to use “plant friendly” products, those without salts, boron, or chlorine bleach.

Click HERE to learn more about the use of greywater.

Another interesting water-saving device that is worth considering, is the Arumloo.

The Arumloo is an innovative toilet capable of flushing on less than two litres of water.

The Arumloo

The Arumloo uses a dual-flush mechanism. A flush is achieved using an innovative pan design that creates a vortex to remove stools more efficiently at low water volumes. The shape of the toilet pan promotes an accelerating vortex action for effective clearing of waste.

The Arumloo is obtainable in South Africa. Click HERE to learn more.

Indigenous tree of the month (4)

As indicated previously, we will provide information during the next few months about the indigenous trees that occur in our village. The purpose is not only to inform, but also to encourage residents to dedicate themselves to their conservation.

This edition features the Weeping Wattle (Peltophorum africanum), which is a semi-deciduous flowering tree in our region, growing to about 15 meters and has a dense, spreading, rounded crown. In Afrikaans it is known as a Huilboom. A beautiful specimen may be found in front of U117.

The appellation ‘Weeping Wattle’ refers to the moisture that drips from the branches before the first rains. It is caused by nymphs or small frog hoppers called spittle bugs that suck sap from the trees which they secrete as almost pure water.

The Weeping Wattle is an excellent choice for dry gardens as it requires minimum maintenance. In winter, when the tree loses some of its leaves, the tracery of branches and seedpods is quite attractive.

The Weeping Wattle in front of U117 in  winter garb

A sprig of a Weeping Wattle in winter, showing its sparse foliage and seedpods

When the leaves reappear in spring, the tree soon creates dense shade followed by spectacular bright yellow flowers. The flowers provide a high yield of pollen and nectar that attracts butterflies, bees and birds by providing them with food and shelter.

A Weeping Wattle in summer, showing its spectacular bright yellow flowers

A close-up view of Weeping Wattle flowers

The roots and bark of the Weeping Wattle have long been used in traditional African medicine. Among the many ailments that are treated with parts of this tree are eye infections, venereal disease, tooth ache, digestive problems, abdominal pain, sores, rashes, blisters and coughs ... the list is endless. The wood is hard and is suitable for turning and carving. It is used to make furniture, grinding blocks, wooden buckets, tool handles, etc.

Ons jongsgetroude egpaar

Louise en Paul Kruger

Paul (56) en Louise (54) Kruger wat onlangs hulle intrek in E26 geneem het, is op 8 April 2017 getroud. Dit maak hierdie gemoedelike egpaar loshande Warmbad Renaissance se jongsgetroude egpaar! Ons webtuiste (www.renaissance-in-die-bosveld.co.za) het ‘n deurslaggewende rol gespeel in hulle besluit om hierheen te verhuis.

Louise is op Zeerust gebore, maar het op Randfontein grootgeword waar sy in 1980 aan die Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck gematrikuleer het. Hierna het sy algemene kantoorwerk gedoen, onder andere by die befaamde motorrenjaer, Ben Morgenrood, se motoronderneming op Randfontein. Meer onlangs het sy haar toegespits op die versorging van gestremde persone.

Paul is op Pietersburg gebore en is trots daarop dat hy ‘n direkte afstammeling van oud-pres Paul Kruger van die toentertydse ZAR is. Nadat hy aan die Hoër Tegniese Skool Piet Retief op Adelaide gematrikuleer het, het hy by die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag aangesluit. Hy was 'n majoor voordat hy in 1985 eervol ontslaan is. Hierna het hy hom toegespits op o.m. die konstruksiebedryf.

Paul en Louise het saam ses kinders uit vorige huwelike, asook drie kleinkinders.

Ons webtuiste gee (weer eens) die deurslag

Marthie Bonnema

‘n Uitgebreide internetsoektog en ons webtuiste (www.renaissance-in-die-bosveld.co.za) het oud-apteker Marthie Bonnema (61) oorreed dat Warmbad Renaissance aan die meeste van haar vereistes vir ‘n aftreeoord voldoen.

Sy het dus E23 gekoop en onlangs na ons oord verhuis. Sy voel reeds tuis want die mense wat sy tot dusver ontmoet het, het haar sommer gou welkom laat voel.

Marthie is op Lydenburg gebore en het op Marble Hall grootgeword. Aan moederskant is sy ‘n direkte afstammeling van oud-pres. Paul Kruger se tweede vrou, Gezina. Trouens, haar ouer suster is na dié voorsaat vernoem.

In 1974 het sy aan die Hoërskool Ben Viljoen op Groblersdal gematrikuleer. Hierna is sy na die PU vir CHO waar sy in 1979 die MPharm-graad behaal het.

Marthie het verlede jaar as ‘n assistentdirekteur van die Mpumalanga-hospitaaldiens op Nelspruit afgetree.

Voormalige Bolander nou Bosvelder

Hester Breet

Hester Breet (69) het onlangs haar intrek in E139 geneem nadat sy sestien jaar lank op Koedoeskop woonagtig was.

Hierdie gesellige voormalige Bolander is op Robertson gebore en getoë, en het die matrikulasie-eksamen met goeie gevolg aan die Hoërskool Swellendam afgelê.

Maar die Bosveld was uiteindelik haar voorland. ‘n Geruime tyd nadat Hester se eerste man oorlede is, is sy en Piet Breet, ‘n wewenaar, in 2001 op Thabazimbi getroud. Die pasgetroudes het hulle op Piet se plaas op Koedoeskop gevestig.

Piet het haar in 2009 ontval en agt jaar later, nadat sy verskeie aftreeoorde in die omgewing oorweeg het, bevind sy haar in Warmbad Renaissance. Hier woon sy tot dusver baie lekker, dankie. Haar wooneenheid is gerieflik en die oord, rustig en veilig.  Die mense wat sy tot dusver ontmoet het, het baie moeite gedoen om haar tuis te laat voel.

Hester het drie kinders, vier kleinkinders en een agterkleinkind.