Stellenbosch Open Gardens 2023 and the Sustainability Institute: A celebration of nature and community

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Get ready for the Stellenbosch Open Gardens 2023 – Garden Town festival! From 25 October to 3 November you will have 10 days in which to explore a unique selection of Stellenbosch gardens to see nature’s kaleidoscope of colours and textures on full display.

The Sustainability Institute is one haven that will be open to visitors and looking forward to welcoming them. Situated in Lynedoch in Stellenbosch, visitors to the SI can see how permaculture food gardens flourish, take a walk around the labyrinth in the woodland and discover conscious water and waste management techniques that add to the tranquility of the SI’s space.  

The Cape Floristic Region was once a thriving source of edible plants that nourished and sustained people. Sadly, modern agriculture has threatened this biodiversity, and knowledge of these valuable foods has been lost. In partnership with Loubie Rusch, the SI is working to change that. Loubie has been championing Cape indigenous foods since 2010, and is well known through social media, workshops, and talks. 

Our WILD HARVEST project cultivates and promotes the use of indigenous plants and repurposes food waste, creating delicious and nutritious products like salts, seed mixes, and vinegars.

  • The WILD range features indigenous herbs and foods, bringing unique flavours and textures to dishes while supporting landscape regeneration.
  • The GARDEN range uses those often-discarded garden ingredients like carrot tops, broccoli leaves, and edible weeds, transforming them into delicious salts and stock powders.

Visitors to the SI can find all of these products, and a delicious menu that includes many of them, at the Green Café. The SI’s Nourish team serves up recipes that use indigenous edible plants and the Café offers a space to relax, replenish, and slow down to listen to the abundant bird song and breathe in the clean air. 

The Green Café also offers bespoke handcrafted ceramics made by Crafter’s Corner, books on indigenous edible plants of the Western Cape, seedling trays (including indigenous seedlings and plants) and various delectable ingredients harvested from the abundant vegetable garden that is a key feature of the SI. 

Entrance to the SI is free during the following dates, and the gardens are open between 08:00 and 16:00: 

  • Friday 25 October
  • Monday, 28 October
  • Tuesday, 29 October
  • Wednesday, 30 October
  • Thursday, 1st November
  • Friday, 2 November

For more information about the SI: www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/visits-and-venues/

Books available at the Green Café and The Garden Show and Market at the Stellenbosch Town Hall.

Cape Wild Foods: A Growers Guide by Loubie Rusch

Get to know and grow your own indigenous wild foods. The Growers Guide is aimed at small farmers and home gardeners and brings them plant and cultivation information and images about a selection of 22 local indigenous food plants. 

Cape Wild Foods: A Cook’s Guide by Loubie Rusch

Intrigued but have no idea where to start? The Cooks Guide is the sequel and culinary compendium to the Growers guide, covering the same 22 plants. It is an ideal book for all chefs no matter how novice. It is full of ingredient information, menu and cooking ideas and recipes.

You can find out all about the blooming marvelous events planned for Stellenbosch Garden week via their website: www.gardentown.visitstellenbosch.org