Kathy’s sense of beauty translates to one of her passions, which is gardening. (The garden at Pooh Corner is one of the attractions of the place, along with hospitality!) A few years ago Kathy was on holiday in Bonnievale and was gobsmacked by the beautiful verges on the road between Bonnievale and Robertson, “absolutely breathtaking beautiful road” and I hear a little sigh in her voice. Kathy was so inspired by the verges that she has eventually translated it to Noordhoek.
Yes for those of you who drive the leafy lanes of Noordhoek – the gorgeous verges of our roads do not get the way they are by accident! Kathy is the mastermind behind the Noordhoek “On the Verge Project” which was started in November 2009 – so they have just celebrated their one year anniversary!
I quote from Kathy’s last newsletter “We have planted 14 Wild African Plums in the gaps on Main Rd. Donated by Chris Bonthuys and there are another 7 to come! We also planted 3 Bottle Brushes on the corner of Sea Cottage and Main Rd. We have also created a definite horse and walking path all the way from the corner at Chapman's Peak Caravan Park, past Noordhoek Farm Village to the corner of Avonrust Circle Rd. Now the horses do not have to go onto the road at all! We still have a way to go and if anyone has old poles to continue lining the path with, that they can part with, please let me know.”
Kathy has managed to collate 11 sponsors who offer financial support as she is now employing 4 gardeners to help her spruce up the verges of Noordhoek! So in addition to making Noordhoek more beautiful, she is also contributing to employment in the area. More than 12 verges have been gardened in one way or another by the team and Kathy is determined to keep the guys as long as possible. Her goal is to pay the team of 4 guys R120 each per day from 2011, which would make a one day a month support, over 6 months come to R720 each.
There are individuals who have donated plants or shared their time, nurseries who have supported by donating trees and companies who have loaned equipment like weed eaters to help the project and Kathy is so humble that when we asked her to be Village Personality for November all she did was send me a list of people to thank – so for their efforts please find this list at the bottom of this blog!
Kathy still needs helps though: “We have a huge need for people, to help water the new plants and especially trees along the road sides in the coming summer season. Please help if you can, or encourage friends to do the same if they live next to any of our newly planted verges.
1. Financial support and sponsors for the gardeners. I have included bank details below if anyone would like to contribute.
2. Water! If you live in Noordhoek and can help with some water for the verges near you please do share.
3. Materials especially plants that can sustain themselves on their own. Kathy is the gardener and you can contact her about aloes and agapanthas and all things that grow!
Thank you Kathy for all that you do – we know you delight in seeing the changes grow into something noticeable and that your fulfilment comes in other peoples’ enjoyment and appreciation of the beauty in Noordhoek. I happen to have another Winnie the Pooh quote that applies to Kathy: “You can't stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes.”
Herewith as requested Kathy’s Thank You List for the Noordhoek “On the Verge” Project and BANKING DETAILS!
Ian Gie, Lesley Bendig, Charissa Balman, Jacqui Cunningham, Julian Novak, Chris Dixon, Wendy Lynas, Jonathan Berman, NEAG and the Noordhoek Conservancy for financial sponsorship.
Chris Dixon, for trailer loads of plants
Sally & Norma for helping to gardening the post office garden and Silvermine Island
Chris Bonthuys for wonderful support, plants and trees and always picking up our piles!
Marc De Rooi and South Peninsula Tool Hire for the free use of a weed-eater or mower
Mike Stewart and the Dunes Stables for as much manure as we need
Robyn Mason and Cape Dutch Nursery for plants and trees
Bridget O'Donoghue for so much enthusiasm, support, help and advice
Kathi Sales for keeping the books and always being on top of money matters.
Caryl Richmond for sharing Adonis with us
Lin Howland for spreading the word and donations of plants
Jeremy Wiley for helping to keep the opposite verge to Farm Village cut.
Sue McConnell for sharing Gerard with us
Debra West and Elizabeth Ryan for growing cuttings from their gardens for us
Mark Jacobs for supplying us with the On The Verge vests

If you would like to support this project or find out more about On The Verge, contact Kathy Fish on : 021 7891440 or email: info@poohcorner.co.za
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Fish Hoek
Branch Code: 36009
Acc No: 07 385 030 6
Name: Noordhoek Conservancy
Please have the donations referenced with e.g.: vg/surname.