If one were to ask, where then, in this post lockdown World – is there a place stunningly beautiful –exclusive – with a privacy and seclusion absolute – that seems to have been barely touched by the events of the past 100 days- A Magical Getaway - surrounded by nothing but the earth, the sky, and the mountains? Well clearly and absolutely, to the Most Beautiful Middle of Nowhere- Amohela ho Spitskop...
WildFields Apothecary - A Place of Great Healing
Here at WildFields there has been twenty years of Wilding - no use of chemical fertilizers, poisons, rodenticides or destructive tilling, and the Wilded Estate is filled with wild and native plants, wild flowers, wild pollinators, bees everywhere, and magic fills the air - we can now forage and wild harvest and have started a range of healing and soothing products, which are available to purchase, both locally and online.
We were incredibly privileged, whilst still living in the North West, to work with the magnificent Credo Mutwa, whose primary focus of his research had been on the South Africa plant Sutherlandia Frutescens (Lessertia) which he introduced us to and instructed us on the incredible healing qualities of this indigenous plant.
And so, when we moved to this small farm in the Eastern Free State, we started an extensive hunt on our Estate and surrounding farms, for any Sutherlandia frutescence plants that had managed to survive the overgrazing of the last some 150 years, but soon came to realise that this beautiful indigenous plant was extinct, certainly in our part of the Eastern Free State, and pretty much so all over the greater Free State Province.
A second search produced one single plant in an Indigenous Nursery in the Hekpoort Region of the North West Province, and we made a pilgrimage to buy this precious plant.
• And thus, we re-introduced Sutherlandia Frutescens to our fields and valleys.
This one plant, left to wild seed, has proliferated, and we have many wild plants across the Estate.
Plants cultivated in pots have been planted out, and many seeds have been given to neighbours and local farmers to re- introduce to their properties, particularly in the mountainous areas, where they will enrich the soil and bring back much wellness to the animals, insects and birds.
Besides the Sutherlandia Frutescens, there are fields of helichrysums, artemisia afra has wild seeded across the southern slopes of the mountain, in the summer the bulbine narcissifolia in swathes of yellow is found across the fields and into lower portions of the mountain.
So much so, that we can now forage and wild harvest, and have started a range of healing and soothing medicinal products, which have just now become available to purchase, both locally and online.
PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME: Price lists are available - courier not included -T's & C's Apply
Wild Harvested Sutherlandia Frutescens: Infused in Olive Oil.
Used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, fever, skin conditions and inflammation, haemorrhoids, back pain, de-stresses.
6 drops on face and neck at night for soft happy skin – helps with age spots and scars on hands, leaves hands soft.
100ml clear glass bottles
Wild Harvested Sutherlandia Frutescens: Tinctures
Used to wash wounds, reduce fevers, kidney and liver problems, rheumatism, stomach ailments, depression and stress, as a tonic, to purify the blood and wounds, to enhance appetite and prevent wasting, as an emetic, treat influenza, urinary tract infections.
50ml amber bottles
Wild Harvested Helichrysums: Bath Salts
Known as Imphepho, this magical plant is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, can reduce allergy symptoms, fights coughs and colds, reduces muscle and joint inflammation.
We use only the purest ingredients:
Raw desert salt – dried wild harvested helichrysum leaves and flowers- helichrysum essential oils- geranium essential oils- magnesium.
The mixed salts are left to infuse in closed bottles – then sun dried and packed into glass bottles.
Helichrysum is known to be sedative – treat yourself to candles – soft music- and a long soak. Your skin will feel like delicate porcelain, lovely and soft, and you will sleep beatifically.
300gram clear bottles
Wild Harvested Helichrysum: Smudge Sticks
Can be used as an incense, a fumigant, insect repellent, has sedative qualities.
The plant is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, fights infection.
Helps fight coughs and colds, can reduce allergy symptoms.
Used in sick rooms to clear the air.
Long been used traditionally as a smudge herb to communicate with ancestors.
Around 60grams per smudge stick
Wild Harvested Sutherlandia Frutescens Seeds
These appear to be difficult to find and extremely costly to buy – and are sold 10 or 18 seeds packets, as we can see on a Google search.
As our plants are wild planted, loved and honoured, grazed on by myriad animals and insects, they are happy and healthy and produce huge volumes of seeds.
As we desire to see this wonderful plant make its way back into wild areas, wild fields, mountain and koppies, home gardens, on road verges, where it can contribute to the health of the ground and the animals and insects that feed on it, we have packed them in glass bottles, seeds and seed pods, and even a lovely, dried flower. It would take us a year to count exactly how many each bottle has, but they pretty much range from 80 to 100 seeds per bottle.
R50.00 per bottle - while stocks last.
Our Labels are sourced from Growing Paper – officially founded in 2010, creating beautiful labels and gift cards from recycled paper embedded with seeds that grow into flowers herbs and vegetables. They now provide permanent employment for more than 30 people and provide paid upskilling opportunities for countless more.
Our Bath Salts - the salt, sourced from Oryx Desert Salt, where Samantha has grown the business extensively - supporting small, women owned businesses and contributing to local community upliftment and encouraging care for the ecosphere that is the earth.
Price lists available on application - and are subject to change – Courier fees additional.
T’s & C’s Apply.
Our Mission – We are passionate advocates of native plants – our mission is to promote communal understanding and use of native and medicinal plants of the Eastern Free State, and to provide scientific validation of this traditional ecological knowledge – we are dedicated to the conservation of native and medicinal plants and the natural habitats that support these culturally and ecologically significant species.
Our Vision – Entrepreneurship – to grow the business – expand in the local economy- create jobs – providing secure employment – and open The WildFields Indigenous & Native Plant Nursery and The WildFields Training Centre.
Further Reading
PIP PIP HOORAY Cherry Seasons on its way. There simply cannot be anything more luscious than fresh succulent cherries, and the very best cherries in South Africa are grown in the Ficksburg/Clocolan districts not far from Amohela ho Spitskop.
When successfully captured, fogbow images can evoke a sense of awe and mystery. The ethereal white bow, surrounded by a misty backdrop, creates a hauntingly beautiful scene that showcases the wonders of nature.
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