How to

There are two sorts of people, those who had a treehouse as a kid and those who wanted a treehouse. A treehouse is a magical place, here you dream, strategise, hideaway, and forge live long social skills, memories and even relationships. A treehouse says, someone who is truly loved, lives here.  The South African climate is ideal for almost year-round play in a treehouse, which incidentally is also a great value add to your home.  We spoke to a few pros for inspiration and tips. 

Starting Point  

Tackling the task of building a treehouse or getting a professional to do it for you will take some meticulous planning and thought. The tree to be used should be considered carefully. Get a professional in to make sure that the tree/s you decide to use is healthy, has no illness, is well-rooted, and has reached its peak growth. 

Ian Weerts from Rustic Structures says “Every tree is different. You need to find a suitable tree and plan the treehouse around the tree. Ideally you don’t want to attach anything to the actual tree. Planting poles around the tree to accommodate the structure is the best way to go. This not only makes your structure stronger and safer – but it also eliminates any problems that the tree may give later in terms of movement“.  

It is also important to consider the type of wood you will be using. Consulting with a professional is vital. You need to know what you are doing. If a structure is not built to the proper safety standards there can be accidents. Wood also needs to be treated to last longer. 

Bruce Breedt from the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA) says, “Whether you decide to use untreated timber and apply surface protective coatings, or buy chemically pressure treated wood from the get-go, is up to you, but it is highly recommended that you consider using pressure treated wood treated to the correct exposure (H) class and that it is approved and certified in accordance with SANS standards. Using preservative treated wood, i.e., pressure impregnated with preservatives in accordance with SANS standards by registered and approved preservative treatment plants, ensures long service life and protection against decay and insect attack. Bruce recommends a minimum of H3 for above–ground use and H4 for in–ground contact is advised.   

DIY or Get a Guy 

Nicholas de Marillac St Julien aka The Treehouse Guy says DIYing a treehouse requires some serious skill and knowledge. He finds that many homeowners don’t have the time to take on the project and rather contact him to do  the job for them. Nic says “It takes years to learn how to keep a treehouse in a tree. Knowledge comes with experience and experience is important when it comes to building a treehouse”. He suggests getting a professional to at least do the structure of the treehouse for you. Trees can be complicated and professional treehouse builders know them best. 

Perfect Décor   

There are numerous ways to jazz up a treehouse. From gorgeous adult-friendly furniture and comforts to something as simple as hanging string lights, it will add a perfect touch of class to your treehouse. Some treehouses can even double up as a guest room and adding the perfect additions will make for the perfect spot for your guests to unwind.  Textured pillows, colourful rugs and even some artwork is an easy way to take your treehouse from drab to fab.     

Bruce continues, “Builders should decide early on, how the type of wood they use will affect their budget. Treated wood is more expensive and is a good idea if your treehouse is more than just a play area for the kids”.  

Adding plumbing and electricity can also challenge the builder and will essentially also make the treehouse building project more expensive.  You can build a treehouse from as little as R5000 to as much as R150 000 and up. 

Adventures Ahead    

Adding a swing, a slide or even a fireman pole will be a hit with the kids for sure! It adds a sense of adventure to any treehouse design. You can also keep it simple with a rope swing or add monkey bars if you’re feeling ambitious. Then, the only thing better than one treehouse is two. You can also build your treehouse close to the pool and have a slide aimed at the water.   

Nic adds “Ziplines are extremely popular at the moment”. The kids love it and usually comes along with the request for monkey bars. 

School in Session   

With our new normal, we are spending much more time at home. Many parents have decided that home-schooling is a safer option for their kids and have decided to create the classroom at home. Turning a treehouse into a spectacular classroom with Wi-Fi from the house is an excellent way to get the kids outdoors while they learn. Treehouses can be insulated and waterproofed as well, so the elements will never be a problem.   

Tree Trends 

Nic says “Oak trees are very popular and people love putting treehouses in them at the moment. Over the last year every single treehouse I have built has involved an Oak tree”. Oak Trees are very difficult to work with, but if done correctly, they can last up to 100 years.   

INSPIRATION: The popular TV show, Treehouse Masters on Discovery has made it very clear that a treehouse is not just a tiny play platform for children anymore. In each episode on the popular TV show, the team designs and builds custom treehouses for clients all over the world, but it does not stop there. They liaise with interior designers and decorators to create the most suitable environment for the family for whom they are building the treehouse. 

**Need some assistance? Reach out to the professionals mentioned in this article. 

We can’t say enough about the value of improving and updating your home. Finally fixing those little things that annoy you (or that you’ve chosen to ignore for years) and making budget friendly improvements will go a long way to not only improving the literal retail value of your home but they make a tangible difference to the way you live and feel about your home. Here are a few small budget ideas that will make a big impact. 

Listen to this article in Sotho in the May DigiMag

Make an Entrance

Start at your front gate and honestly consider how welcoming your home is. Consider the following small changes: 

• A new coat of paint or varnish on exterior gates, fences, garage doors or your front door 

• Plastering cracks on perimeter and external walls 
• Treating driveway and paving weeds 
• Shaping hedges, bushes and low hanging trees 
• Adding colour and fun with plants or a quirky welcome mat 

Lightbulb Moment

Reilluminate your space by replacing lightbulbs. Change the atmosphere of your room by choosing the right colour bulb (warmer light for cosy spaces, natural light for bathrooms and white/daylight for offices). 

Updating light fixtures or lampshades will instantly brighten up your home and help you highlight areas that need it most. 

Home Treatment

Make your home look good as new with a fresh coat of paint. Wallpaper is also an easy to apply option that will add texture and pattern to your walls in no time.  

While you’re at it, consider giving your curtains a good wash or replacing them all together to match your new paint job. 

Finer Details

Attention to finer details will make a huge difference. Changing hardware such as door & cupboard handles, replacing fixtures such as old taps, putting in new doors (or painting existing doors) and redoing cornices and skirtings will go a long way to making your home feel new. 

Connecting with an expert who can help is as simple as turning a page! 

Do-it-Yourself hyperstore, LEROY MERLIN has been growing steadily within Gauteng since opening their first branch in Greenstone in 2017. Recently they opened their fourth store in Fourways and we chatted to Brand and Customer Experience Leader, Claudia Krishna, about our initial experience of the store, what you can expect when visiting the store and plans for the future.  

What makes this store different from the other stores?

There’s a couple of things which make these stores different, you’ll notice that we have many showrooms. These showrooms are there to inspire customers and to show them what products will work really well together.   

There are also spaces to test products, something you don’t often find at other stores. We give customers areas to enjoy the home improvement experience. For example, if you go into the décor section, there are tables where you can lay out your chosen cushions or lampshade giving you an opportunity to see what it would look like before you purchase.  

Another aspect that sets us apart is the workshop area. On average we have three workshops during the week and on Saturdays and Sundays. These workshops aim to give people a bit of a DIY confidence boost, often they have the will, but not the skill.  It helps them to be more adventurous and to give them peace of mind that they won’t mess up their projects and waste their money.   

Also, if you live in an apartment and don’t have the space or the equipment for your project, you can book a workshop area and a facilitator to assist you to complete your project. It’s really not just a commerce experience of selling and buying, we want to give people confidence and the skills to be able to do things for themselves.  

When we walked through the store, we picked up an attention to detail, focussing on display and customer experience.  What goes into setting up the store?

It does take a lot of planning, and it is intentional. Our intention is to replicate your home and give you a complete experience of testing the products in-store before you purchase.  So, it’s not just a static tap on display, open it and water comes out so you’ll be able to see how far the water will splash and what happens to the sink when you use it. Switch on an oven or stove and it will work. When you open a cupboard, you’ll find stuff in the cupboard, showing you how to pack all of your products. We strive to give customers an intuitive experience, making their lives easier.   

How long has it taken to get to the grand opening day?

If I have to tell you years, you won’t believe it. This was originally meant to be our first store. The idea for the store was born in 2012 but only materialized now in 2021. The delays were mostly owing to all the development in the area, and so Greenstone was the first store opening. Fourways is also going to be our headquarters, for the past four years we’ve been squatting at the Greenstone store! 

We picked up on the spirit and positive energy of the staff, they just started clapping hands, cheering, chatting and were really excited. Is that part of the company culture?

Our company is really centred around people. If it’s not our customer, it’s our team, they are our partners. The thing that sets us apart from other retail employers is that from day one, our employees are permanent staff. They really buy into the value of being valued. At orientation they learn how this model was created and what our values are.  Staff also get to share in the profits of the store. Another thing that we promote is autonomy. You are not just a salesperson on the floor, you have authority and power and we expect of them to make the best decisions for their customers. I think, that really gives them a sense of belonging.  

How have the stores improved since opening the first store in Greenstone?

Before we open a store, we really immerse ourselves in that community. And by immerse, I mean we do a lot of home visits. During these visits we will chat to people about how they live in their home, ask questions like; How do you use your patio? How do you use your garage? What are the issues that you have? Is that something that happens a lot in this area? We then use all this information to tailor the store around that community.   

As the stores progress we also learn and improve, and now our stores are based on the unique community and our experience.  Our stores also progress as we adjust our products according to customers’ demands.  Take as an example the Little Falls store that features a big craft area, as our customers there love to do crafts.   

A new addition to the Fourways store is a florist, what other services do you offer?

When we opened Greenstone, we started with three services, key cutting, tool rentals and kitchen installation. Little Falls was the same. When we opened Boksburg, we added trailer rentals and landscaping services.  At Fourways we added a Florist as we thought it would fit in well with our service offering.  

Soon to arrive at Fourways is the monthly “Thrift Your Home Market” where you can book a table and sell your pre-loved home decor, tools, gardening products or DIYs to other LEROY MERLIN fans. The market already happens at the Greenstone and Little Falls stores and is a way to encourage recycling and upcycling in the community.  

You’re known for your unique drive-thru yard, how has that been received?

The service is a drive-through self-service. iIn other words, you drive in, fetch your stuff and pay. Sometimes it is a foreign concept to customers, but once they get the hang of the self-service, they find it easy to do.  People like it that they don’t need to come into the store. Another great aspect is that the yard is not this dark dingy place, just the opposite, it is light, organised and well-priced.  It really makes for a different shopping experience. 

We also see you’ve launched an app, what can you do with it?

We launched the app about two months ago. At first it was basically for online shopping, but we realised that there was a need for self-checkout instore, and now you can use your app for this.  You can scan while you shop and as it has a limit of up to 10 products, it comes in handy to skip the queues at the tills. 

You’ve got the online store that ships nationwide, are you planning any more physical stores?

The plan has always been to open the first four stores and then pause. We’ve opened a store every year for the last four years, so now as per our planning we will take some time to focus on our supply chain, the online store and to regroup.  

In closing, on a personal note, which is your favourite department?

When I started with the company, I was the category manager for paint. I’ve worked in retail for over 15 years and paint has always been my passion. Everything about it, I get so excited when I have an opportunity to speak to customers about paint.  I was even a little late for this meeting as I was helping a customer in the paint department. My heart is always there.  

You can visit the new LEROY MERLIN store on the corner of Fourways Boulevard and Roos Street, Witkoppen, Sandton.  

 For more info, visit leroymerlin.co.za 

If you are a homeowner, you know all about fun and easy ways to make your home a better place to live. In an ideal world, our homes would be 100 per cent natural and free from chemicals. From neutralising foul odours to magical cleaning recipes, there are many ways to create a better place for you and your family –organically.  We share quick and easy organic house hacks to try.

Citrus for All  

There’s a reason why citrus fruit pops up literally in every organic cleaning search, and for good reason. Cleaning products we buy at the shops are filled with heavy chemicals, so much so, that pregnant women are advised to avoid working with cleaning products for the safety of their unborn babies.   

You can easily make your own natural cleaning products which include lemons, baking soda, and vinegar. This powerful trio can clean almost anything, either on their own or by working together. Use them to clean everything from your kitchen sink to your bathroom shower.  

Homemade Bath Bombs  

Bubble bath products for both kids and adults are filled with chemicals and artificial fragrances. People with sensitive skin are very prone to developing allergic reactions due to the chemicals found in bubble bath products.   

Creative Healthy Family says “it’s a piece of cake to make your own bath products using simple ingredients like Epsom salt, gentle essential oils, and baking soda. Check out this easy tutorial for DIY detox bath bombs, or this one for soothing cold-relief salts. You can even make fun of play dough soap for your kids”. Now that’s the bomb.  

Neutralise Odours  

From smelly kitchens after a busy weekend to drains outside that may get clogged, there are many reasons why our homes can get smelly now and then. Air fresheners have too many chemicals in to make the use of them viable around your family. Science Direct shares that air fresheners emit over 100 different chemicals, including volatile organic compounds. Nothing about that sounds good…  

For a quick fix, simmer a pot filled with 50 per cent water and 50 per cent vinegar on the stove. Simmering it for an hour or two is a simple way to get rid of any uninviting smells. You can also use lemon or orange peels in the simmering water. Citrus delivers refreshment in the air and neutralisation when you need to get rid of unwanted aromas that linger in your home. 

Any organic home remedies you know of? Share them in the comments section below and we might feature your remedy next! 

The story of four friends taking on a big journey of a rather small proportion!  Rent, bonds and unsustainable lifestyles – this is what friends Jaydon Meidlinger, Dita Schoeman, Marisa Visicale and Carla Cronje are seeking to leave behind by building their own tiny homes. Homemakers visited Marisa as she was preparing the Tiny Hero Home for the journey from Johannesburg to a farm near Paarl and chatted to Jaydon to get more information about the tiny home community.

What started as an internal shift towards an “I am enough”, minimalist and sustainable lifestyle for architect, Jaydon and his partner Dita, turned into the Journeyman Collective a platform for designers and makers to find common ground and move towards a more sustainable industry. He has a very clear vision for living in tiny home communities and his mind is centred on living with a low-carbon footprint. 

After building their own 18m2 tiny home, tinyjourneyhome for their family of eight (two children, two dogs, two cats and two dreamers) and living in it for three years, Jaydon and Dita have now helped Marisa and her fiancé, Carla to build their own tiny home, the @tinyherohome.

Tiny Home Revolution

Jaydon started Journeyman Collective when he was 29 years old, using what he had learned from architectural studies, combining it with an understanding of material and processes and building a minimalist and sustainable lifestyle where one can live close the land and off the grid. 

Jaydon’s business is built on six pillars: soil loving, self-motivated, solar-powered, food growing, water capturing and heart-centred. Marisa on the other hand made it very clear that the most important choice that you must make is to choose like-minded people to share your home and farm space with. The focus is relationships and community.  Part of this community is also the resources we rely on.  To live sustainably is to benefit from the wonderful gifts the land has to offer and give back to the land. 

Why the Tiny Hero Home?

Marisa wanted to skip the never-ending story of paying rent and then a bond, so she embarked on her Tiny Hero Home project.  Hero, because this project liberated her from owing anything to anyone!   

Starting in August 2020, with four pairs of hands and a 6-month plan, the team of friends slowly built the home. Jaydon and Dita would visit from the Cape to assist with the more difficult parts of the structure while Marisa and Carla did as much as they could within their budget. 

Where can you find a farm willing to accommodate tiny home living?

Marisa explained that it was very difficult to find farms open to tiny home living at first, but now there are many more options available in South Africa. Many of the tiny living communities are easily accessible and close to amenities like schools, shops and hospitals. 

Marisa recommended the following places: 

Olive Glen Mountain Farm and Underhill Eco Farm. 

What does the destination offer a tiny homeowner?

Each tiny homeowner pays a reasonable amount of rent per month. This includes your water (if they can supply it freely, Marisa is installing a small storage tank as an additional water supply), an electrical plug (almost like when you go camping) and a cottage as Marisa calls it.  

The cottage, a public space shared between the two families, has a flushing toilet, a washing facility and extra space that is perfect for when you have guests over. As your home sits on wheels, you will not be paying any rates and taxes! 

What makes the home so sustainable?

Well…everything!  Even though the landlords offer a plug point to each home, this will seldom be used. 

Sustainability is at the heart of Jaydon’s vision for the Journeyman Collective. He explained that the future is not looking all too bright if we do not find a place where humanity can live in harmony with nature. He quoted Samuel Alexander: “We are the generation in between stories desperately clinging to yesterday’s story but uncertain of tomorrows. Then again perhaps the new words we need are already with us; perhaps we just need to live them into existence”. We choose to be a positive force living the future into existence. 

Water: Greywater is collected within the home to reuse through the clever building like a tub underneath your shower and water tank storage facilities.  

Solar Power System: Each home comes with a sufficiently sized solar power system to generate enough electricity for your use.  

Gas: Each kitchen and bathroom are kitted with gas for cooking and heating. The gas tank is safely installed in a cage behind the home together with your electrical box, solar power management system and lithium batteries.  

Electricity: Low usage bulbs and cleverly installed LED lights are used for a minimalist look and low electricity use.  Marisa’s home is illuminated by a little 5W lamp! 

Insulation: The home is built so that you can use several insulation options.  Marisa has used a foam method of insulation that is not the most eco-friendly. However, there are many other environmentally friendly options such as fibre or recycling pieces of plastic that you compact into the insulation area. 

Growing the land: The norm is to live off the farmland.  Vegetable gardens will certainly be implemented once the house is settled in place.  

Compost Toilet: Even the toilet waste is worked back into the earth using a sawdust compost system.  Once safely and properly stored for 6 – 12 months, the compost can be used for gardening. 

The Tiny Hero Home

Design and Layout 

As cooking is one of their family’s favourite pastimes, this tiny home accommodates a full-sized fridge/freezer, fully functional floating kitchen counters and cupboards, a gas hob, pantry space and a fold-down dining table/workspace that is also a full-length mirror when packed away! Currently, a wooden storage trunk is being used as a coffee table and pantry storage. With a minimalist look, there will be no items on the counter but enough storage and crockery to cater for up to four people in the tiny home. The minimalist look will be achieved by using sliding cupboard doors and appliances such as the gas hob stored away in a drawer.  

When it comes to closet space (that is still to be installed) there will be more than enough in this tiny home thanks to some out the box thinking that uses vertical space. The 30cm deep closets will hang on the wall allowing for hanging space (hanging clothes facing forwards instead of sideways) and shelving space. Part of the cupboard space will also be angled to store the ladder to the loft away when not in use. The ladder will also be getting a rail and wheels so that it can be easily slid across the tiny home to wherever it is needed. 

The loft bedroom, accessed via a sliding ladder, creates a cosy retreat complete with windows on both walls to overlook the surroundings.  

In the future, Marisa and Carla are considering adding on a bathroom with a corrugated bathtub/shower and composting toilet. 

The Tiny Hero Home has been fully customised to suit Marisa and Carla’s needs and wants. Two “trademarks” of Journeyman Collective homes is a hinged roof that can be opened up for a bit of fresh air (Jaydon also designed a magnetic roof mosquito net) and a meaningful focal window to reflect on the owner’s journey and personality. Marisa and Carla have opted for a beautiful circular window as a reminder of their journey. Jaydon and Dita’s Tiny Journey Home has a hexagonal window to represent their family’s adventurous side. They are planning a triangular window for their next home, perfect for a strong family who are looking to take on the tiny home lifestyle. 

Size 

The Tiny Hero Home is 3,6m long and 2,3 m wide with a height of 4,3m.  This is the approved travelling height, that is crucial to know when starting your build. 

When travelling with your home you are allowed to go as wide as 2,6m and if you have the appropriate driver’s license, you can build as long as 22m!  Which, seems like a giant’s house if you look at what Marisa has done to optimize her 3,6m length!  

Costing and Time 

Marisa explained that she built her home on a budget over time as money was available. The team also worked their fingers to the bone building it slowly on their own over four months. Marisia and Carla moved into the basic structure on 1 January 2021 and are continuing to add on as they go. 

A similar home that is 6 meters long and includes your trailer, solar power, electricity, a bathroom and all the registration and certificates needed will cost you around R250 000.  

In addition, you will still need to kit out your home on the inside with furniture, appliances, a kitchen and extras like a wrap-around veranda (stoep) that can easily be built as fold-up panels from the sides of your home. 

Unfortunately, you will not be able to apply for a home loan but if you save up and pay upfront, Journeyman Collective can build this home in 2 weeks! 

The Build and Advice 

Marisa’s first words of advice are: “You build your first home for your enemy, your second home for your friend and your third for yourself.”  As you build and make mistakes, you learn along the way!   

Marisa admits that she made one of her biggest mistakes by first starting to build her home and then finding a trailer.  Her advice is to follow these steps: 

Step 1:  Find the right trailer.  Remember this is the base of your home and it will always stay on it! 

Step 2: Find a frame for your trailer and build your floor directly on top of your trailer.   

Step 3: Build the shell of your home…and then, a very important step for her was: 

Step 4: Cancel your rent, move into your tiny home and stop paying rent.  Live less conveniently for 3 months and use that extra cash to kit the inside of your home with stunning finishes.  

Another mistake that costed Marisa a bit of space was building the walls on top of the floor instead of next to the floor!  But these are small mistakes and will not spoil the fun of living in their tiny home.  

It is super easy to expand your home, but plan for it!   

The most important question to Marisa was the one reason why you would live here instead of a fancy home? Her answer: She quickly realised how little she needs to be happy by taking the leap and living in their tiny home during the build. “I need my partner, my dogs and cats, good books and proper wine, Netflix and my laptop to work!  What more do I need?”  Other than safety, that was the only factor considered and sorted; she has everything she needs.   

This Hero will soon be the home to not only the two of them but also their 2 dogs and 2 cats! 

On Arrival 

On arrival you mark the spot and park!  You lower your 4 jacks which sit on the 4 corners of your home. You take off your wheels and pack them away underneath your home. Let down your hinges with your stoep. Then the journey starts! 

Tiny Home Maintenance

As with any other home you must deal with normal wear and tear.  The home is built from wood and will have to be lightly sanded every 8 months and treated with Woodoc Marine Seal. Luckily, Marisa’s home was well tested in Gauteng’s summer rain season and it’s super solid. 

An important part of your build is to protect your home from any rodents or bugs that might start to love your home as much as you do! This home is sealed with steel plates at every corner and double sealed with silicone. 

The Final Hero Journey

The journey is already planned for Tiny Hero Home.  She will be moved over 5 days starting in Johannesburg to Welkom, Kimberley and then Beaufort Wes, after which she will make a stop in Touws River and then home.   

Perhaps you will see this home en route! 

 Journeyman Collective offers three standard, customisable designs. The houses are designed to meet the South African building regulations. Their vision is to help people make a conscious transition towards sustainability where they can thrive off the land in community. 

If staying in one of these homes is not for you, consider using it as a mobile office or guest room. 

If you would like to check out this lifestyle or simply experience tiny living, contact Marisa or Jaydon directly to stay in one of their homes in AirBnB style and decide for yourself!

Read more sustainable stories on HOMEMAKERS.

Collecting food waste from homes on a bicycle to feed earthworms and make compost (vermicomposting) may not seem like the most glamourous way to spend your time. However, this seemingly simple waste management solution by The Compost Kitchen has garnered the attention of the United Nations while bringing South Africans together to protect vital resources, water and soil.  

We spoke to Founder, Himkaar Singh, to find out more about The Compost Kitchen, Vermicomposting, getting the world’s attention and what we can do at home to make a difference. 

Seeking Solutions

A lifetime of research, study and thought is what led Himkaar to start The Compost Kitchen. After the drought of 2017, Himkaar was reminded of a warning he heard twenty years ago on a primary school excursion to Rand Water. 

“…they warned us that severe water shortages would be coming in the future if we don’t conserve water. I thought they warned us 20 years ago but nothing has been done. Of course, we had done a lot, but what we were doing didn’t seem to be hitting the nail on the head. So, I decided to resign from my well-paying civil engineering job and pursue a Masters in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) abroad to find the real solution.” said Himkaar. 

Water and Soil Matter

It was during his studies that Himkaar fully realised the vital relationship between water and soil. “… the soil’s impact on the water cycle is the most significant out of any other factors related to water. Everything that happens downstream is determined by what happens when a raindrop hits the soil. There is one critical aspect of soil that is particularly important and that is its organic matter content. Organic matter is what enables the soil to act as a sponge and gives food to all life in the soil. Intense agriculture techniques and urbanization are destroying the soil’s natural organic matter cycle and breaking its ability to hold water. In fact, 60% of land in South Africa has soil with very low organic matter making it conducive to degradation and low productivity.” explained Himkaar. 

With the problem identified, Himkaar developed The Compost Kitchen’s unique business model, collecting food waste from homes and using vermicomposting as a way to get the organic matter back into the soil. “We need to get our fundamentals right so that any measures we implement later are more likely to achieve their intended impact,” added Himkaar. 

Food Waste to Garden Boost

Every week, The Compost Kitchen team collect food waste from registered households. The waste is then recycled into vermicompost using thousands of earthworms and delivered back to customers every month. “[Vermicompost] is known as the best type of compost because it is biologically rich and nutrient dense. Our customers’ gardens see significant health boosts when they add vermicompost each month.” said Himkaar. 

For those living outside of Fourways, The Compost Kitchen has a number of composting solutions and products to help you start composting at home. Himkaar suggests using vermicomposting for kitchen scraps and hot composting for garden waste. You can also find support and learn more about composting on The Compost Kitchen’s Composting SA Facebook Group. 

Worms with Benefits

Bokashi Bins and “worm tea” that helps your garden bloom have been available for quite some time. So, what makes vermicomposting different? “Vermicomposting is the use of special composting earthworms to accelerate composting of organic waste, especially kitchen waste. It results in a biologically rich compost which enhances soil health. Bokashi composting is an anaerobic process that relies on inoculated bran to ferment kitchen waste, including meat and dairy, into a safe soil builder and nutrient-rich tea for your plants.” explained Himkaar. 

The bonus of vermicomposting is that it is easy to take care of, compact and doesn’t smell. This makes it possible to use a worm composting bin in any size home with an outdoor area or balcony. Bokashi Bins can also be used at home but require a collection service when full. 

Get Paid for your Food Waste and Help a Farmer

In a global first, The Compost Kitchen are developing the “Vermi Buy Back” model where they will pay you to make vermicompost that they will collect to help repair soil for agriculture.  

“We’re trying to rethink the way we do waste management. We think that we shouldn’t be trucking around waste, but rather moving a finished product from the source to the end-user... So instead of them paying us to collect their waste, we pay them to collect vermicompost from them. This is the model we think we can cross borders with. Interested parties can sign up on our website.” 

Winner at “The Oscar Awards of Sustainability”

Thanks to their innovative solutions and impressive business model that advances the Sustainability Development Goals, The Compost Kitchen has been selected as a winner of one of the Top 300 best Practices on Sustainability in the World by the United Nations’ Entreps programme. Described by Himkaar as “…the Oscar Awards for Sustainability…” they were selected as a winner of this title out of an initial 5000 candidates worldwide! 

“A previous recipient of this award was Airbnb so although we are a small business in Fourways, we are seen as having massive potential. It means that we are on the right track. There are so many challenges on the way to developing a new model but when the world recognises our vision then it is a confidence booster. We’re so grateful to South Africans and the world for rooting for us and we’d appreciate if more can show their support by liking our Facebook page.” concluded Himkaar. 

To find out more, visit The Compost Kitchen website. 

We are living towards a more sustainable future and re–using and recycling should be a part of our daily lives by now. We discover coffee as your and your home’s best friend! From drinking it, using it in food and even using it to unclog the drain, its uses around your home will leave you wanting so much more! 

Re–using Around the House 

Coffee grounds can be used around the house for many reasons. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, potassium, and other minerals that plants need to grow successfully. Adding coffee grounds to acid-loving plants like tomatoes and citrus fruits can result in a much larger yield. Root vegetables also benefit from using coffee grounds as a nutrient. 

To repel ants, sprinkle dry, used coffee grounds in problem areas where you notice ants in your home or garden and they might just leave. To tackle huge ant mounds, pour an entire pot of brewed coffee right on the mound. 

Cleaning Wizard 

Coffee is a natural, effective alternative to harsh chemicals for cleaning. Mildly abrasive and acidic, coffee grounds are great for scrubbing surfaces like countertops, cooking ranges and refrigerators. Use them alone or mix them with a little dish soap. 

Coffee also absorbs odours in your refrigerator. This odour-killing machine works anywhere and for any smells. Keeping an open bag of coffee grounds around leaves a delightful smell in your home. 

Skin Treatments 

According to Healthline applying coffee directly to your skin may help decrease the appearance of sunspots, redness, and fine lines. Sources found a direct correlation between drinking coffee and a decrease in photoaging effects. Here’s to bottomless coffee! 

Coffee can also be used as a health and beauty product. Coffee grounds can be used as a skin exfoliator to nourish the skin and reduce wrinkles or stretch marks. Mix them with coconut or almond oil for a wonderful exfoliating massage oil. 

Get more home inspiration here.

With some added hours of use in the last year, your couch may be looking a little grimier than normal. From spilt drinks and lazy pets to everyday wear and tear, your couch may need a little extra attention to get it looking its best. Here’s a simple HOMEMAKERS tested DIY fabric couch cleaning method to try for yourself. 

Some upholstery should not get wet. Always check the manufacturer details before starting. If these are not available, do a spot test in a discreet spot before continuing. 

What You’ll Need 

Equipment / Tools 

• Wet/Dry Vacuum 
• Washing Machine 
• Toothbrush 
• Spray bottle 
• 2 x microfibre cloths 

Materials 

• 1 Cup warm water or soda water  
• ½ Cup (125ml) White Spirit Vinegar 
• ½ Tablespoon (7,5ml) Dishwashing liquid 

Instructions 

Vacuum

Remove what you can from the couch and give it a good vacuum. Use the brush attachment to pick up the bulk of the debris and the nozzle attachment to clean down the sides and back. Repeat as necessary to make sure you get as much dust and dirt as possible. 

Machine Wash

If you have removable cushion covers, remove the cushion inners and wash the covers on a gentle/delicate cycle in the washing machine. Zip the covers closed to avoid them getting tangled in the wash.  

Once done you can hang them to dry. If you are worried about the covers drying out of shape, put them back on the cushion inners and leave to dry while you continue cleaning. 

Tackle Stains

Mix water, white vinegar and dishwashing liquid together in the spray bottle.  

Lightly spray stains and grimy spots such as arm rests with mixture and let sit for 5 – 10 minutes. Dampen cloth with mixture and gently wipe where you have sprayed. 

Use a toothbrush to gently scrub stubborn stains. 

Repeat as necessary. Do not oversaturate as this may damage wooden framework. 

Wipe Down

Dampen second cloth with water only. 

Pat/Wipe cleaned area to remove excess cleaning mixture. 

Dry

Leave your couch to dry. Drying times vary from 3 hours to overnight depending on fabric, weather and how much cleaning was done.  

Replace Cushions

If you haven’t done so already, put cushion covers back on and replace cushions on couch. 

Vacuum

Do a final vacuum to help fluff up fabric and cushions. This can also be done after wipe down to help shorten dry time. 

Optional Odour Removing / Dry Cleaning Tip: 

Mix together equal parts Bicarbonate of Soda and Corn starch. Sprinkle over your couch and leave to sit for at least an hour. Vacuum clean. This should remove light stains and odours from your couch without having to get it wet. 

 Get more help for your home here.