Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is passionate about natural tasting, flavorful cuisine. Turning their passion for organic farming into reality, the Bushmans Kloof gardening team has started a new “square foot gardening” and polytunnel project where most of the lodge's table produce is grown. Organic produce is an important part in Bushmans Kloof's culinary offering and the owners, management and staff agree that growing fresh produce in an environment free of pesticides and fertilizers produces better tasting fruit and vegetables. With a regular harvest that includes lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onions, potatoes, wild ginger, lemon geranium and wild garlic, signature dishes served at Bushmans Kloof proudly showcase the freshest ingredients and regional Cape Country Cuisine.

Square foot gardening is ideal for growing fruit and vegetables in a variety of spaces. Using only 20% of the space used by conventional row gardens, the raised beds require minimal attention, while the harvest produced in a square foot garden is five times greater than that of conventional gardening.

The team at Bushmans Kloof has also installed a polytunnel. Polytunnel gardening is a great way to extend the growing season so that crops can be harvested for a longer period of time, thereby increasing the variety of fresh produce. At Bushmans Kloof fruits such as strawberries and beetroot are harvested in spring, but with the newly installed polytunnel, seasonal produce can be harvested at least three weeks earlier.

“Having started off with only a few vegetable beds, we now have 20 and are proud of how successful the square foot gardening project has been,” said Bushmans Kloof executive Chef Floris Smith. “The polytunnel adds to the self-sustainability of our garden, which all forms part of our green and eco-friendly philosophy at Bushmans Kloof.”

Heading up the square foot gardening project is Charmaine Smith, gardens manager and head of housekeeping at Bushmans Kloof. A steadfast supporter of all green initiatives at the lodge, Charmaine says she is glad to be contributing to the dinner table while helping to lower Bushmans Kloof's carbon footprint. Together with her team it is her responsibility to take care of the vegetables planted in the garden – ensuring all organically grown vegetation is carefully harvested, chemical free, healthy and great tasting.

For more details and reservations, please contact Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat at +27 21 481 1860, email: info@bushmanskloof.co.za, or visit us online at www.bushmanskloof.co.za.

About Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is a luxurious ecological oasis situated at the foothills of the breathtaking Cederberg mountains. Nearly 19,000 acres of majestic views, staggering rock formations, open plains and invigorating outdoor activities cumulate to create an unforgettable wilderness adventure. The five-star resort features 16 luxurious rooms and suites, award-winning Cape cuisine and a complete wellness experience deeply rooted in nature. Bushmans Kloof also offers its private Koro Lodge to families and groups of travelers, featuring the fully-independent services of a guide, game viewing vehicle, and dedicated chef and hostess.

Bushmans Kloof is located less than three hours from Cape Town and is consistently recognized for its award-winning environmental and conservation projects. The entire reserve is malaria- and predator-free, serving as a sanctuary for endangered species, indigenous plants, and a variety of birds and animals. It is one of South Africa's Natural Heritage Sites as well as part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and home to more than 130 ancient Bushman rock art sites. Condé Nast Traveler readers recently voted Bushmans Kloof, a member of Relais & Châteaux, as the #1 'Resort and Safari Camp in Africa,' as well as the #3 'Top 100 Hotel and Resort in the World' during their 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. The gorgeous reserve has won numerous annual awards for its exceptional hospitality and opulent accommodations from National Geographic Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure.

About The Red Carnation Hotel Collection
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, an award-winning collection of five- and four-star family-run boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Geneva, Palm Beach, South Africa and Ireland. In South Africa, sister properties include The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in the Cape Town and The Oyster Box in Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal. Each property shares the qualities central to the Red Carnation's ethos that win them so many prestigious awards – splendid luxury, generous hospitality, inventive and traditional cuisine, private art collections, passionate service and loyal staff committed to creating richly rewarding experiences for all their guests.

For more information about The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, please visit us at www.redcarnationhotels.com or email book@rchmail.com.

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About The TreadRight Foundation
Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation's family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The foundation's guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities.

TreadRight's past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Society's inaugural “World Legacy Awards,” helping to combat wildlife crime with WildAid, and empowering individuals with the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise.

 
To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at TreadRight.org.

Red Carnation Hotels – Because We Care

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