Ballito Umhl - NOV 2020

ecome and I have so many fond
memories of living there.”
After completing a law degree,
Venishree went into sales and
marketing before heading to the
United Kingdom where she did
volunteer work with Oxfam and
married Juergen. In 2011 Venishree
took a sabbatical, spending time
learning Spanish and giving
Business English language lessons
to entrepreneurs venturing abroad,
before heading back into a corporate
as global head of communications for
a US company.
“In 2015 Juergen and I resigned from
our corporate roles and ambled off on
a spontaneous road trip through nine
European countries, after which we
planned to move back to SA.”
Venishree says their shared desire
to ‘Carpe Diem’ increased after
her mother was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s and dementia. “It was
time to be selfless and do something
different, maybe run a guest house,
live life, redirect and rejuvenate.”
When they returned to SA,
Venishree and Juergen fell in love
with Fraaigelegen Farm in Tulbagh.
Owning a farm was never on their
‘to do’ list and they still refer to
themselves as virgins at farming! They
set about restoring the vineyards,
olive groves and guest cottages.
“It was quite a learning curve. Passion,
determination and a few failures got
us through the first two years. The
farm was severely run down on both
the farming and the accommodation
side and there were multiple
unforeseen challenges.”
Much of the couple’s hard-earned
savings went into restoring
Fraaigelegen Farm. But it was worth
it. Today this is a successful agritourism
destination. “The ultimate aim
is to attain a balanced relationship
between the terroir and farming
philosophy – we farm with the land
not against it.” This is, she says, to
improve the organic carbon content
to sustain the soil’s life and fertility.
“Through harmony and balance we
strive to regenerate the soil biology so
that we don’t need chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, insecticides and fungicides.
We have already started seeing the
benefit of this farming method. It
has been a long, but very rewarding
journey.”
For recipes for
Venishree’s favourite
simple Lemon Olive Oil
Cake and Green Salad
Vinaigrette visit our
website: getitmagazine.
co.za/ballitoumhlanga
The couple’s motto and driving force became ‘quality over quantity’ and by 2017,
a deal was signed with Paserene Wines (Franschhoek) as the exclusive grape
producer.
“Our focus turned to extra virgin olive oil and we launched Adhara Evoo in 2018.”
Venishree broke the glass ceiling in the industry as the first female person of
colour to win an award, as owner and producer! In 2019 she joined the SA Olive
Association as a board member and director.
Recently Cape Good online shop was launched in Germany, with the aim of
bringing premium quality extra virgin olive oils of SA to Europe and a plan to
extend the portfolio with authentic, premium goods from South Africa, like wine,
tea and décor etc. Next on the list is the launch of their own wine label.
Venishree is proud of the quality of the extra virgin olive oil they produce and
says that SA ranks with the best in the world in terms of superior quality and
taste.
“There are so many health benefits from extra virgin olive oil. In spite of having
Parkinson’s, diabetes, dementia and arthritis, my 83-year-old mum is still strong,
and I’m convinced it’s because she gets olive oil in some form in her diet, every
single day.”
When Venishree is not receiving guests, hand-harvesting olives or grapes,
helping build a shelter for the farm animals or volunteering with local NGO’s, she
is very much at home in the kitchen.
“At home we use extra virgin olive oil in many ways – in curries, to fry all our
delicious Indian sweet and savoury treats (Murkoos to Gulab Jamuns) and even
to make roti! I bake cakes with extra virgin olive oil - it really is so versatile. Olive
oil is very stable when heated. It is a carrier of flavour and does not disturb the
authentic Indian flavour and spices but heightens them.”
Although she loves her farm, Venishree admits to still missing Durban and her
view from her university residence that overlooked the harbour.
“What an unforgettable view! What I miss more though is the never-ending
opportunity to get fresh Indian veggies and authentic Durban spices, and most
of all… a really good bunny chow!”
Details: Adhara Evoo is available for nationwide deliveries. Email: info@adharaevoo.
com or via WhatsApp on 071 404 2766. www.adharaevoo.co.za.
November 2020 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 33