We’ve hand-picked some of SA’s most respected authors and activists, practitioners and most importantly, real people to be represented on our Fundi’s Forum giving real advice on how to convert your home and garden with sustainable and cost saving designs. Their books will be on sale at the Fundi’s Forum Tent and they will be happy to sign these for you.
On the sustainability front, Marita Nel, who designed the Wattled Crane Nursery for the KZN Crane Foundation in Nottingham Road will talk about eco-friendly architectural design principles and Pierre Basson will take a closer look at renewable energy sources available around us. The Green Bishop, Geoff Davies, will talk about Eco-Congregations and Rob Symons with share his considerable knowledge on Organic Farming. Sarah Allen will talk about her experiences (trials, tribulations and solutions) of going off-grid. Learn about gardening with grey water, how to save seed, build rammed earth walls or to make your own yoghurt. Stock up on vegetable seedlings and fruit trees to get your own good food garden growing or take home all the info (and equipment) you need to get start your off grid journey. Numerous stall holders will showcase biogas, solar pool heating, solar lighting, water filtration systems, wind turbines and heat pumps.
Fracking is a hot topic – there will be a number of films shown on the subject and Francois Du Toit, representing the Sustainable Alternatives to Fracking and Exploration (SAFE) Alliance, will do a presentation on Fracking in the Drakensberg. Also with a conservation focus, enjoy presentations by Simon Joubert on Butterflies and the ever entertaining Pat McKrill on Snakes and DUCT on River Health. Thirty environmental documentaries will be shown at the Film Festival throughout the weekend on a multitude of topics from soil to water, oil and agriculture.
A Schools Eco Day will be held on Friday 26 April and is intended to be a fun filled, action packed day with hands-on environmental activities, sustainability displays, fundi-forum, specialist talks and more! Schools are invited to exhibit their sustainability projects with prizes for the best project displays! The day will conclude with the WESSA Eco-school Awards Ceremony in the afternoon.
Or maybe you just want to come along, pull up a picnic blanket and sip on a green juice from Green Valley Restaurant while Erin Fourie (of SA Idols) entertains you between 11am - 1pm on Saturday 28 April 2013.
This year the Midlands Indigenous Open Gardens will take place on the same weekend (and preceding weekend) so out of town visitors can enjoy both events on one trip and learn a little about local flora too.
Altogether a fascinating line up and a weekend not to be missed for anyone interested in living lightly on our planet, in harmony with other creatures. SLIP aims to drive the development of a local green economy by encouraging the community to implement planet friendly lifestyle changes.
For a complete programme of events, presentations, workshops and stallholders see: www.slip2013.wordpress.com and Follow our Blog for tips on green living.
Dates: 25-28 April 2013
Venue: KZN National Botanical Garden, 2 Zwartkops Road, Prestbury, Pietermaritzburg
Entrance: Free access to the Garden for the duration of SLIP
Contact: Karen Zunckel 083 235 8628
