There is something incredibly satisfying about pruning fruit trees in winter. I know it can feel a little intimidating. Standing there with a pair of secateurs, wondering if you're about to cut off next season's fruit! But the truth is, a well-pruned fruit tree is...
If you've been following VanZylStead for a while, you'll know one thing about us… We don't believe July is a quiet month in the garden. In fact, I honestly think it's one of the most important months of the year. While many people are waiting for spring before they...
There is something incredibly satisfying about finding simple, old-fashioned gardening methods that still work beautifully today — and ollas are exactly that. An olla (pronounced oy-ya) is one of the oldest watering methods in the world, dating back thousands of years. And honestly? Sometimes the oldest methods are still the smartest.
An olla is simply an unglazed terracotta pot buried in the soil and filled with water. The magic happens because the terracotta slowly releases moisture directly into the surrounding soil exactly where plant roots need it most. Instead of watering from above and losing huge amounts of water through evaporation, wind or runoff, the water slowly seeps deep into the soil over time. Plants then naturally pull the moisture they need as the soil dries out.
And honestly… they just work. Sometimes gardening gadgets can feel complicated or expensive, but ollas are beautifully simple. You can make one yourself in less than an hour.
We all know the feeling! One minute your garden feels bright and productive in summer… and then winter arrives and suddenly half the garden feels cold, damp and permanently shady. The sun sits lower in the sky, walls cast longer shadows, trees block precious light and...
Winter in the garden somehow turns all of us into tea people 😅 One minute you’re outside in two jerseys trying to pull weeds between the rain… and the next minute you’re standing in the kitchen clutching a giant mug of something warm while staring dramatically out the window at your cabbages.
And honestly? Some of the best winter teas can come straight from the garden. A few sprigs of mint, thyme, rosemary, or lemon verbena can completely change a cold winter morning. Not only do these herbs smell incredible, but many have traditionally been used to help soothe sore throats, warm the body, calm upset stomachs, and simply make winter feel a little more cozy.
The best part? Most of them are incredibly easy to grow here in South Africa — even in containers. So if you’ve been looking for an excuse to turn your garden into a little winter tea station… this is it
Here are my top 5 herbs to drink through winter, what they are traditionally used for, and some delicious herb combinations that work beautifully together.
Small space, big harvests… even in winter
May in the garden is a shift. The air cools, the soil stays wetter for longer, and growth slows down—but if you get your containers right now, winter can be one of the most rewarding seasons to grow. Whether you’re gardening in the rainy Western Cape, the frosty Highveld, or even colder climates elsewhere, containers give you something incredibly valuable this time of year: control. You can move them out of the rain, into the sun, and protect them from cold snaps, creating a small but powerful growing environment right at home.
There’s something about winter gardening that feels slower, calmer… and then rust arrives and reminds you that the garden never really rests. One week your garlic is standing tall, your onions are pushing on, and everything feels steady. The next, you notice those...
There’s something about winter that makes us slow down a little… warmer meals, slower mornings, more time in the kitchen. And this is exactly why April is such a powerful month in your garden. Because while everyone thinks the garden is winding down… this is actually...
April in the Garden: Where Your Winter Begins There’s something special about April in the garden. The air softens. The harsh edge of summer fades. Mornings feel gentler, and the soil — still holding onto the warmth of the past few months — becomes the perfect place...
A Hearty Winter Hug in a Bowl Ingredients: For the soup: 1 large butternut squash, peeled and chopped 2 carrots, chopped 1 large onion, roughly chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried) 2 Tbsp olive oil Salt & black pepper 1 tsp...
As the chill creeps in and we wrap ourselves in scarves and beanies, it’s easy to assume our veggie gardens are safe from pests during winter. I used to think the same — until I walked out one frosty morning and found my cabbages full of holes and my spinach looking...
Autumn might not seem like the obvious time to start a vegetable garden, but it’s actually one of the best seasons to prepare for a successful spring planting. By taking the right steps now, you’ll improve your soil, reduce weeds and pests, and ensure your garden is...
This is really one of those recipes that is not really a recipe but a combination of ingredients you have in your garden, fridge and pantry. I learnt this on a retreat a while ago and I simply adapt it according to seasonality with the staple ingredients being onions, garlic, carrot, butternut and potatoes – Rebecca Bourhill
This is a super simple broccoli soup served with a feta yoghurt. You can also use soft goats cheese in place of feta if you want something a bit more fancy. The base of onions and garlic is the basis of many of my favorite soups. In fact, you can do this recipe with frozen garden peas (may need a bit more cooking) or cauliflower. If you want to make this recipe more decadent, add two tablespoons of butter when blending.
The days are getting shorter, and you feel a distinct temperature change in the air. April is the month to start thinking about how to protect vegetable gardens from wind, rain, cold, and frost. In the words of Benjamin Franklin. “An ounce of prevention is worth a...
It is cold in Cape Town and we have been blessed with more rain in the beginning of our rainy season than what we have been in years. I miss the sun, the warm weather and all the different produce I am able to grow in summer. But winter is for quality family time,...
