Mrs SA 2011 moves Closer to Home

Photo (Denise Lloyd)  Caption
Mrs SA 2011 finalist Adéle Potgieter and husband Chris.

Miss SA Pageant 2011 to be held at the Fancourt Golf Resort in George

The glamorous Mrs SA competition has taken on a totally different significance – especially for the Southern Cape. For the first time ever the prestigious pageant will be held in this area at the world famous Fancourt Golf Resort from 6 to 13 November this year. Our own Mrs SA 2009, Joanie Johnson is the new director of the pageant and she plans to put the emphasise on the local region.

Joani  has been involved with the company ever since she won the title in 2009. She is also a full time model and beauty queen with more than 30 years experience in the Modeling and Pageant Industries. Johnson says she is very excited about this new venture and is planning big things for the 2011 Pageant!

“I want to bring the Mrs South Africa Competition to its full right – I think the Pageant has major potential! I also feel that I have first hand experience at being Mrs South Africa and what it all entails and will be using my experience and knowledge to the best of my ability to make Mrs SA a glamorous and prestigious pageant“, Johnson said. She took over from Mrs Urma Mollema who now resides in Canada.

Adele Potgieter from George and Dianne Erasmus from Geat Brak River are amoungst the 16 Finalists

Amongst the 16 finalists that were recently announced at a media breakfast in Randburg in Gauteng, are two lovely local ladies. They are Adele Potgieter from George and Dianne Erasmus from Geat Brak River.

All semi-finalists were subjected to a weekend of grueling judging and interview session after which the top candidates were chosen. Judges included Denver Burns (Mr South Africa 2010), Gary Rom – celebrity hair stylist, Wayne Stafford – industry guru and Lourine Wannenburg – model and beauty queen.

Adele, who is a lecturer at the Nelson Mandela Metropole University is married to Chris and has two sons Quinten and Estian. She is actively involved in the community. Her charity of choice is CANSA where she is chairperson of the Relay For Life in George.

She has been a lecturer for the past eight years and says that she absolutely adores her students. “I love being a part of their lives for a short period of time where I can witness how they grow academically and emotionally whilst preparing for life after varsity”.

Adele loves the outdoors and getting actively involved. Many readers will remember her as the lady that normally co-presents the different beach and bikini items on the outdoor stage at the Diaz Summer Sun Festival in Mossel Bay.

She also enjoys reading, gardening and travelling.

“I am still floating on cloud 9 after the announcement. It is an enormous honour to present George in the Mrs SA finals. I think this is a good opportunity to market the town in general as the Mrs SA competition will be hosted at Fancourt for the first time ever in the Southern Cape” she told the Lalakoi.

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Strawberries in the Garden Route

High Tea and Wimbleton? Why not Strawberries and Cream near George?

If you are thinking of strawberries in the Garden Route, you must be thinking of Redberry Farm! Only minutes’ drive from George is a fairytale wonderland where kiddies and adults can enjoy themselves in strawberry fields. Here are various activities for young and old. The farm has a rich history that dates back to the family of CJ Langehoven, with some of the Langenhoven relatives buried on the farm.

The Redberry Farm first opened for business in 2001, after Mark Miller and partner Dave Cruse laid their hands on the beautiful farm on which we now find the Redberry Farm. When they bought the farm it was a dairy farm and after a colleague had done some research about strawberries, it soon became clear that the area of George has a micro climate ideal for strawberry growth.

The average minimum and maximum temperatures that was taken over a period of 35 years was a minimum of 13.2 ?C and a maximum temperature of 19.6 ?C. They also realised that there was no other strawberry farm in the area, making strawberry farming an ideal business opportunity.

Pick you own Strawberries at the Redberry Farm in George

The Redberry Farm started with the idea of a “pick your own”. This gives you the opportunity to take a container and go into the strawberry fields and choose your own strawberries! It was initially only open for 2 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Soon the Redberry Farm became so popular that they had to open 6 days a week from 9am to 4pm. The Redberry Farm became synonym with strawberries and cream, nevermind Wimbleton!

Activities at the Redberry Farm in George

Today the Redberry Farm is one of the best known activities for tourists and holidaymakers to the area and locals also enjoy a visit to the farm. People come from as far as Plettenberg Bay to enjoy the Redberry Farms famous tea and scones with strawberries and cream in the tranquil farm-like setting with the Outeniqua Mountains as back drop.

The Redberry Farm is set in the scenic and tranquil setting of George. The farm is centrally located to most of the activities in the area and is only minutes’ drive from Fancourt and the George Airport.

As the Redberry Farm wanted to be able to provide the visitors to the farm with strawberries right though the year, they decided to plant 6 different varieties of strawberries. They have California-, Spanish and Israel varieties on the farm.

Strawberries in South Africa

Although the farm offers strawberries right through the year, the best time of the year to pick strawberries is during the month of September. The average size of the strawberries that will be harvested in September grows up to 110g each. These strawberries are part of the California Commitment.

The farm produce their own products from the strawberries such as jams, syrups, liquors and lots more that they then sell in the Farm stall on the farm. They also supply various shops with some of their top quality strawberries. They even supply as far as Johannesburg.

Friends and Families from all over come to the Redberry Farm of a peaceful day between the strawberry fields, to enjoy a snack in the tea garden and to let their kids run around and play in a safe environment. The Redberry Farm not only offers strawberries, but there are also a number of fun activities for the young ones to be entertained with.

The Redberry Farm launched their Mini Train in 2010

In 2010 the farm launched their “Mini Train” and ever since an astonishing number of 20 000 people already enjoyed a ride on our train. This is a unique activity that will entertain both adult and child. The track winds in between the strawberry field for 700m providing young and old with lots of fun! While on the track on gets a beautiful view of the Outeniqua Mountain.

The Redberry Farm also boasts with its own “bubble ball”, that is a large inflatable ball that allows activities on water.

The Bubble Ball provides great entertainment for those who always wanted to play and run in water without getting wet.

The farm will soon also be the home of one of the largest Mazes in Southern Africa. Here over 30 000 Syzygium Paniculatum Plants have been planted with approximately 10 000m of pathway to discover. This is an educational maze that incorporates the secrets of strawberries.

Kids, or adults if you wish, can feed our beautiful and friendly bunnies or enjoy a pony ride.
The tea garden is not only ideal for tea and scones while the young ones enjoy themselves in our safe and child friendly environment, playing on the Jungle Gym or enjoying one of the farms many activities, but is also the perfect venue for kiddies’ parties, stork parties and birthday parties. The venue was already home to many parties on which kiddies and adults enjoyed themselves.

Some interesting facts about strawberries are that strawberries form part of the rose family. A strawberry is a succulent, red fruit that is produced from tiny white flowers.

The Redberry Farm is proud to announce that 2011 is their 10th anniversary and what is a anniversary without an celebration! On the 16th of June 2011 there will be an huge strawberry celebration on the farm. The day will be a fun filled day and will be the ideal day for friends and families to bring their kids and enjoy a day on the farm.

The Annual Strawberry Festival will be held in September at the Redberry Farm

It is also almost time for the annual Strawberry Festival on the Redberry Farm, and on the 23rd and 24th of September 2011 we will be celebrating this once again. There will be stalls, entertainment, live music, tractor rides, jumping castles, races, strawberry competitions and lots more!

Now if you hear the word strawberry you will surely first think of the Redberry Farm in George! The ideal location of friends and family to come together!

Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival

strawberry festival

Strawberry Festival
at Redberry Farm

It’s Spring time and the holidays are here……
Bring your family to the Strawberry Festival
@ Redberry Farm

Friday and Saturday 25 & 26 September 2009

Entrance: R20 per Adult & R10 per Child (0-3 FREE)

Cheese, wine, SPUR burgers, biltong, dried fruit, arts & crafts, pancakes, coffee, at Outeniqua Hop Festival

Festival opens @ 10h00 on Friday the 25th
Cheese, wine, SPUR burgers, biltong, dried fruit, arts & crafts, pancakes, coffee,

strawberry festival

Indian cuisine

Beach golf, tractor & pony rides, jumping castles, strawberry & pie eating competitions,

face painting, balloons, picking of juicy strawberries

Cossack Stunt Academy performing incredible acrobatic tricks on horseback @ 18h00

with Pieter van Pletzen doing firedancing once it gets dark

Local musicians ‘Beetles & Butterflies’ performing LIVE in the beer garden

Festival opens @ 08h00 on Saturday the 26th

RUNWALK FOR LIFE to host a 5km activity through the strawberry fields @ 08h00

Follow on entertainment from Friday

SMS Competition

SMS the word HOP to 35060
and stand a chance of winning an amazing

FANCOURT & HOP ROUTE HOLIDAY

valued at R12 000
Entries close 30 September 2009 (SMS charged at R3)
TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY / Competition and prize details available Here

http://www.outeniquacountryhop.co.za/content1.cfm?AgentsID=411&PageID=1296

Fynbos Festival at Garden Route Botanical Gardens in George

Fynbos festival at Botanical Garden in George

The Garden Route Botanical Gardens will be hosting their annual Fynbos Festival on the 9th and 10th of October 2009.

Gardening demonstrations at Garden Route Botanical Garden

Visitors to the festival can look forward to Gardening Demonstrations, lectures on Owl and Worm Farming, Eco Stalls & Food Stalls.

Date: 9 & 10 October 2009

botanical garden

Times: FRIDAY: 09:00 – 17:00; SATURDAY: 08:00 – 15:00

Beer tent and local bands at Fynbos Festival

There will also be night time entertainment with live music from various local bands and a beer tent. (Times still to be confirmed)

For further information or to be involved with this wonderful event, feel free  to contact Tel No: 044 874 1558

For more information and contact details for the Garden Route Botanical Gardens

click here

Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival

stawberry fest

Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival  taking place at Redberry Farm

Date 25 and 26 September
The Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival is taking place at Redberry Farm on 25 and 26 September. This is a fun filled festival where many stalls and events offer plenty of entertainment and tasty delights and where strawberry decadence is the order of the day.

Live music, a beer Garden, fine local wines and cheeses at Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival

stawberry fest

There will be live music, a beer Garden, fine local wines and cheeses, pony rides, tractor rides, a jumping castle, lots of strawberry eating and pie eating competitions and much, much more during the course of the day to keep everyone entertained

The Cossack  Stunt Academy riders will perform at Outeniqua Country Hop Festival

The Cossack Stunt Academy riders will thrill festinos with awesome acrobatic

stawberry fest

tricks on horseback on Friday evening and during the day on Saturday. Run Walk for Life will host a 5km walk around the farm starting at 8am on Saturday morning.
Where: Redberry Farm in Geelhoutboom, George
Time: Friday afternoon and evening 25 September and full day Saturday 26 September 2009.

For more information on the Redberry Farm

contact us