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April Market
Sunday 2nd, 10am – 2pm
by Craig du Preez
Camphill Market has now been running for over 20 years, offering a monthly market to our valued supporters. A safe country environment, delicious organic produce, scrumptious dairy, outstanding bakery, herbs & herbal cosmetics products, along with a nice selection of regular natural food, clothing, book and jewelry vendors.
Over the years many more great markets have popped up in the greater Cape Town area, opportunities for people to get their fresh groceries, snacks and interesting products and lessening the need for people to travel out. Some of our products have often been found at these markets.
Our regular monthly markets offer entertainment, live performances, great food stalls, a coffee shop, tractor rides and an opportunity to step inside our workshops and enterprises, but all this is still just a glimpse of the Camphill experience. It’s not easy to convey the whole 53 year of existence as a sustainable village and organization in just a couple hours.
So the Camphill Market Team has decided to open up more of Camphill and Camphill life to our visiting public on our market days. Over the next few months we’ll be putting into place demonstrations from each of our enterprises, which include, dairy, bakery, cosmetics, and herb garden. We will also open our concert grounds as a picnic area, offer Fynbos tours, a cycle route, walks, and interesting demonstrations / info sessions on things like organic growing, sustainable energy and other farm related topics. Watch this space for more!
In the meantime, see you at Camphill this Sunday 2nd April, and on the first Sunday of every month.
Can't wait to see you there.
Directions & contact details
Directions: From the N1 take the N7 towards Malmesbury, travel approx 35km.
At the sign “R304 Camphill Village / Atlantis” turn left, drive another 4,5km and we are on the left.
Email market@camphill.org.za or visit www.camphill.org.za/market
Contact 021 571 8600 & 8641 on market day
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Meet the Marketing Team - this is the creative team that puts the Camphill Village Newsletter together each month.
Back row: Craig, Ninja, Max, James
Front row: Mishka, Antoinette, Janine
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Strategic Workshop
by James Sleigh
Sharing a vision and common goals in an organisation as diverse as ours is always a huge challenge. This is something that needs to be revisited regularly to get everyone to pull in the same direction. This we did three weeks ago and were very fortunate to have Herlecia Stevens of Pisa Consulting to guide us through the process.
While anyone watching may have thought we were just having fun and games - playing with balls, leading each other around blindfolded amidst much laughter, we had a very productive workshop. In two days we had, together, established a new vision, mission, value set and goals for the next three years, and all committed to them.
Our big job that now lies ahead, is to turn these goals into reality!
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Solar cooker demonstration
by Esme Jedidja
On Tues 14th Feb we were introduced to Sue Bellinger, Sustainability Consultant, who came to demonstrate the solar cooker to the Group Home Leaders of Camphill Village West Coast. She showed us how quickly one can boil water with sun energy.
The solar cooker is a simple but wonderfully practical patent: A black “oven” with a shiny inside, a plastic lid that slides in, once the black pot is put inside. The sun rays are reflected from the shiny inner walls onto the black pot. The solar cooker has to be turned to face the sun directly. So, as the sun moves, one just has to turn the cooker towards it.
We have tried out a solar cooker by cooking a stew and after that some caramel, cinnamon apples. The benefits of the solar cooker are plenty:
- Meat cooks and tenderises quickly
- Vegetables do not lose colour and are tasty
- Very little liquid is required
- Food doesn’t get over-cooked
- It is a clean cooking process
- No burnt pots afterwards
- Obviously no electricity or gas or fire usage
- The solar cooker is very affordable
Camphill Village West Coast will definitely benefit from the solar cooker to prepare food as well as to save on expensive electricity.
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Water Wise - New Habits to live by
by Eastlynne Nelson-Tansley
Recently, our main garden 4 inch water supply pipe line burst at a T-junction. Replacement arrangements are underway.
BUT, this meant our garden irrigation water was cut off. After a couple of weeks of watching our garden’s retreat, some pirate taps appeared on household pipes to service some of the gardens.
About this time Cape Town instituted severe water restrictions. Dams feeding Cape Town with water are at critically low levels. Our borehole’s water levels are rapidly dropping. We took the decision to say No to all house garden irrigation.
However we could use grey water from dish rinsing, shower water collection and vegetable cleaning to water some precious trees and herbs. All houses have placed heavy objects in the toilet cisterns to save on litres of flushing. Only running fully loaded washing machines is another new habit we are practising.
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Fire and Water
by James Sleigh
Fire and water have been the two themes that have been on the forefront of the Western Cape this summer. Over 18 000 fires have been battled in the Western Cape this summer, while we have experienced our worst drought in 100 years. As a rural, dry-land farming community we have been very exposed to both threats.
Water security is a very real issue for us, and we are very grateful to the AoCC who donated a water tanker to us as a bush fire precaution.
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Our first Weekly Sports Day - 22 March 2017
by Carine Human
Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to living a higher quality life. Wellness matters. Wellness matters because everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. It’s an ongoing circle. Therefore, it is important for everyone to achieve optimal wellness, in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.
There are eight Dimensions of Wellness. In attempting to create and maintain a holistic approach to them in Camphill, we've decided to focus on the Physical Dimension and introduce a sports event as part of our weekly program at Camphill. All residents and staff join in and we have sporting or gaming fun together as a village. This creates opportunities for fun, relaxation, socialisation and a safe inclusive playing ground out of our norm and comfort zones of the daily routine.
Physical exercise is good for mind, body and spirit. Furthermore, team sports are good for learning accountability, dedication, and leadership, among many other traits. Putting it all together by playing a sport is a winning combination. Exercising is a natural way to loosen up and let go of stress. Also, you will most likely make many new friends on the team who can be there for you as a support system.
The whole village came together on a Wednesday afternoon and had the freedom to choose the activity they wished to participate in. Table tennis, volley ball, soccer, cycling, running and walking routes, as well as board games for residents unable to mobilise comfortably, were set up. Everyone joined in on foot, cycle, wheelchair or chair, either participating or actively cheering on their friends.
It created a fantastically lively atmosphere throughout the village, with much laughter, fun, enjoyment, cheer, and a definite escape from daily stressors for all. The feedback from staff and residents was very positive and we hope to continue with this routine, or even increase it to twice a week!
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Music Festival Feedback
by Mishka Smith
For many of our residents, the music festival is the highlight of the year. This is what some had to say:
 Anke
I had a wonderful time,
I especially loved Freshlyground. |
 Paul
I enjoyed watching people dancing and the music was nice. |
 Gerhard
I want more people to come next year to listen to the music, to eat and to drink refreshments. |
 Cameron
I enjoyed it so much I didn’t want to go home. |
 Debbie
I really enjoyed myself, the music was nice. Everything was nice. |
 Monty
Two thumbs ups, the bands and everything was very nice, it was a lovely get together. |
 Thomas
Freshlyground do be do be do, it was very nice . |
 Mtunzi
It was nice, I liked the songs and the food. |
 Jenny
I enjoyed the singing and dancing |
 Agnes
I enjoyed it a lot, met lots of people, danced, drank cooldrinks and ate chips. |
 Brian B
I loved the colorful tents and trees, the one was a restaurant and I bought two waffles. |
 Brian H
I liked the music, my family came to visit and I really enjoyed being with them. |
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Orange Level Alert
by Craig du Preez
So palm oil is the new buzz word on everybody’s lips at the moment. Green Peace as well as journalists from around the world are waving huge red flags and everyone from the EU down to consumers are paying attention.
So what is all the fuss about? There is an international call to boycott all palm oil products. Why? Deforestation, loss of animal life, habitats threatened, carbon dioxide emissions and the potential extinction of the orangutan… Palm oil is in a staggering amount of food and cosmetics products, It is widely used in animal feed and biofuel. It’s in chocolate, biscuits, cakes, pastry, bread, crackers, donuts, crisps, pre-battered fish and chicken, pizza, ice cream, cereal, peanut butter, and margarine., lipstick, toothpaste, soap, most candy, and even in almost every soy milk currently on the market. Look closely and you will find that a large percentage of the consumer goods at your local supermarket contains palm oil or vegetable fat.
However there are many voices on the other side of the coin as well. Other wildlife and forest protection agencies, journalists and even the UN are assuring us that boycotting palm oil is not the solution. Despite the massive expansion in Indonesia, there have been good sustainable palm oil plantations running from as early as 2008 and most palm growers are small individual farmers. Banning or boycotting palm oil would mainly affect individuals and families below the poverty line. We would be hard pressed to find a sustainable replacement that would not have the same effects or significantly raise costs.
A solution: that people support the existing sustainable palm plantations, stricter regulation and certification for palm plantation and protected areas. It appears that this debate is just beginning and the solution is still far away.
In the interim, Camphill Village West Coast will do its bit to help slow the demand. We will soon be releasing our very own palm free soap. Keep an eye out for more info.
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What is Autism
by Carine Human
April is Autism awareness month, and here is a bit of information about one of the fastest growing conditions in the world. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a complex set of neurological disorders that severely impair social, communicative and cognitive functions. Though a thorough understanding of the science behind and treatment methodologies for autism is difficult, the basic understanding of these concepts is paramount to spreading awareness of ASD. Here are some quick facts to highlight important information about autism.
Defining Autism:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a complex set of neurological disorders that severely impair social, communicative and cognitive functions.
- Individuals with ASD can range from having cognitive impairments to typical or above average IQs.
- Typical ASD behaviors include stereotyped actions (hand flapping, body rocking), insistence on sameness, resistance to change and, in some cases, aggression or self-injury.
- Between 30-50% of people with autism have seizures.
- Autism was originally believed to be a form of schizophrenia brought on by a traumatic experience or bad parenting. This is not the case.
Autism Prevalence:
- In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network determined that approximately 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 for boys, and 1 in 189 for girls) is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States.
Causes of Autism:
- No one is sure what causes autism.
Diagnosis:
- It is possible to detect signs of autism in infants as young as 6-18 months. For example, if a baby fixates on objects or does not respond to people, he or she may be exhibiting early signs of an autism spectrum disorder.
- Older babies and toddlers may fail to respond to their names, avoid eye contact, lack joint attention, or engage in repetitive movements such as rocking, or arm flapping. They may play with toys in unusual ways.
- Parents who notice these signs, or are concerned their children are not meeting developmental milestones, should contact their pediatricians and request a developmental screening.
Treatments:
- Scientists agree that the earlier a child receives early intervention services the better the child’s prognosis. All children with autism can benefit from early intervention, and some may gain enough skills to be able to attend a mainstream school.
- The most effective treatments available today are applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and occupational, speech and physical therapy, which have proven to be the most effective.
- There is no cure for autism, and most individuals with ASD will need support and services throughout their lifetime.
- Many supposed “cures” for autism advertised on the internet are not backed through scientific studies and can be harmful.
Discovering Autism:
- Autism was first described by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943. He reported on eleven children who showed a marked lack of interest in other people, but a highly unusual interest in the inanimate environment.
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Camphill Chicken Project
by Ulrich YCW
To help make Camphill more self sufficient and sustainable, the young co workers wanted to provide the village with its own free range eggs from chickens that we would purchase and take care of. Together with help from garden manager JP, Rudi, and Ninja, we started to think about how we could make this chicken project happen. After visiting the Spier free range chicken farm in Stellenbosch and doing some more calculations and plans, the idea was to build a chicken trailer!
This trailer is going to be a sleeping, laying, feeding and drinking place for them. They can graze in the field in which the trailer stands, then after a couple of days the trailer can be removed to another field in which fresh grazing is waiting for them.
We started with our first 40 chickens plus rooster next to Huis-Ten-Bos. There they have large grazing and laying opportunities. We use kitchen compost from the houses as well to feed them. Those eggs are sold at our shop to the houses, and to the public on market days. Right now we are staying in contact with the Camphill in Hermanus who is willing to sponsor us with their unused chicken trailer.
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Join us on Palm Sunday
by Eva-Marie
Dear Friends!
We would like to invite you to join us on the 9th of April at 5:30pm to enjoy a fairytale performed by our residents for Palm Sunday. It is the story of the “ringing stones”. It leads you through pain and evil to a light filled future. You are very welcome to join us at the hall.
Eva Marie and the cultural team
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Magic Mike and Amazing Marguerita, the Voice of Camphill
by Janine Strumpher
Imagine our surprise when we heard that we had won 25 x 30-second advertising slots on Magic 828 radio, plus the free production of our advert. We immediately gathered the marketing team and came up with a beautiful 30 second ad. It was not easy, as 30 seconds seems much longer until you have so much to say about this wonderful organisation, the special people who live and work here and all about our fantastic products we produce, our monthly market, our annual music festival and all our cultural activities.
Our next question was - who will be our voice? We unanimously decided to ask Marguerita Freeks, with her vibrant personality and magical voice. She immediately agreed and the recording was done the following day. Marguerita is a wonderful friend of Camphill, and has performed at our Music festivals with The Bootleggers. Thank you to Magic Mike at 828 radio and Magic Marguerita; this is such a blessing and a gift.
Please listen out for our advertisements on Magic 828 - MW 828
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Thank yous
by Janine Strumpher
Thank You:
Sally Herbert – Lovely brand new clothing
Stuart Friedman – Microwave
Di Burger – Cushions
Ivy Shosha – Veggies
Heather McCracken – Dinner set & Crockery
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How to Donate
by Janine Strumpher
Our PayPal account is now in operation; there are now three ways to donate cash to Camphill Village West Coast.
- Our PayPal account is now fully functional if you would like to use this option - Click Here
- EFT – Camphill Village Standard Bank Malmesbury Acc: 082 399 204 Branch: 050507 Swift: SBZA ZA JJ
- Foreign donations can be made through a NPO in your country and a tax certificate can be issued, please contact Janine to discuss for more info.
NB! Your donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE, we would like to thank everybody that supports Camphill, remember without your support we cannot continue the work we do. We provide a safe normal life for people living with intellectual disability.
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My School Card
Support Camphill Village with a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card.
Every time you shop at Woolworths, Waltons, Kalahari.com, ToysRUs and several other partners, a percentage of the amount goes to your MySchool beneficiaries.
If you don’t already have a card the application form is available on our website here. http://www.camphill.org.za/my-school-card
If you already have a card, update your profile to include Camphill Village West Coast as one of your beneficiaries. https://www.myschool.co.za/supporter/update/
You can have up to three beneficiaries per card, so can support us at the same time as your school or other favourite charity.
Thank you – every little bit makes a difference!
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Please click the Facebook link below to hear about weekly updates happening at the Village and you can also follow us on Twitter
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