Pleasures of country life
Experienced lifestyle writers record platteland experience in new book highlighting a return to old-fashioned values
Well-known Eastern Cape lifestyle writers Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit have drawn on their own journey of swapping fast-paced city life for the simpler and often richer pleasures of the platteland by releasing a new book on the subject.
Moving to the Platteland – Life in Small Town South Africa is the result of the award-winning photojournalists, authors and indie publishers’ own experiences of building fruitful lives in a country environment. In addition, the Cradock-based pair are sharing insights gained from interviewing and getting to know scores of others who went before them; interesting and unique characters whose stories have filled the pages of their previous travel books and articles.Chris and Julienne have been living in Cradock for more than a decade, having moved there from Johannesburg in 2007. Freelancing for lifestyle and travel publications like Country Life, SAA’s Sawubona, British Airways’ High Life and The Guardian in the UK, combined with their regular production of Karoo-themed books (Karoo Keepsakes I & II and Road Tripper – Eastern Cape Karoo) has allowed them to build a large network of former city slickers who made the “brave and creative choice to move permanently to the countryside”.
Julienne began her working life as an environmental reporter mentored by the legendary James Clarke at The Star in Johannesburg. She then founded and edited a ground-breaking “green” magazine called Keeping Track.
Chris had a “rollicking start” to his career with words, deadlines and, later, images. He worked for the iconic Rand Daily Mail newspaper before a long engagement as the Jo’burg editor of Scope magazine.By 1995, he was the editor of Living Africa magazine when Julienne and Keeping Track joined his parent company. “We met, sparked and hived off on a freelance career together that has spanned more than two decades,” they say.For many the process of moving from a long-established life in the city to the countryside can be tricky without a guide, hence the book. There’s a lot to consider when weighing up such a change, they say. There are pros and cons to country living, and you’ll need to know how to look for a suitable town to live in – and fit in with the locals.
Relocating a business in the platteland or starting one afresh, along with how to go about building new networks, are other considerations. “Semigrants” with children will also want to know how and where to educate the youngsters.
“This book [Moving to the Platteland] was always going to happen,” says lead author Julienne. “Everyone’s talking about global urbanisation, but we have noticed another population movement, another trend: the trickle-back of down-sizers.“Chris and I have had the privilege of sharing time with and listening to the stories of hundreds of new plattelanders who chucked the city for a life in the country. “From sculptors to restaurateurs, painters to padstal owners, writers to small-crop farmers, teachers to bakers – they’re all out here, happy as larks.”
In the book the two also recount the failures some of their subjects experienced, which provide valuable cautionary lessons for those keen to make the move.
“It’s not a rose-tinted account of rural life,” says Chris, “although we do make a strong case for choosing the platteland. The book has been designed to answer a need; to provide guidance to small town incomers and, to a large degree, inspire them and cheer them up for the long winter months”.
Chris and Julienne, or “Jules”, share more about Moving to the Platteland:Q: What is this book all about?
A: It’s a lifestyle celebration of a large sample of South Africans who have moved from their city base to the platteland – permanently. It’s also a bit of a how-to book, an incomer’s companion if you will, full of advice and guidance to new small town arrivals.
Q: Who would find it useful?
A: The younger urban families who want to raise their children in the country and, possibly, use the internet to set up new business; the older, 50-plussers who hunger for a change in their lives after a long career in the corporate world.The message is: “Yes, you can. This is how it was done by others who have gone before you.” We make it clear in the book that semigration to the countryside is not for everyone. In this instance, our reader market will define itself. Some will use it as a practical help, others will want to read about moving to the rural areas from the distance of their city sofas. And then perhaps, one day when they’ve had enough of the urban crush they will join us out here.
Q: What qualifies you as authors to write such a book?
A: We have been lifestyle journalists working in the countryside, mainly the Karoo region, for more than 10 years. In that time, we’ve heard and recorded the accounts of hundreds of successful platteland pioneers.We have also walked the walk, having downsized from Johannesburg to Cradock in the Eastern Cape in 2007.
Q: Is this what makes the book special?
A: Yes, and the fact it is packed with human interest and photographs. Some of the trickier subjects like dysfunctional municipalities are tackled, but with positive insights and suggestions for solutions.
Q: What makes this book different from your others?
A: We normally produce travel books and, of late, souvenir editions on the Karoo. These books are timeless. Moving to the Platteland, however, is a book that tracks a trend. It’s the beginning of a conversation: A conversation we will be having with readers via our website, Karoo Space, social media, on-site launches, workshops and traditional media like print and radio. As things change in SA our new editions of this book will be updated. That’s the exciting bit: SA is a ‘developing story’ and we will be tracking part of it. We’ll keep speaking to down-sizers, recording their experiences and reflecting them for our readers.
Moving to the Platteland is available from Karoo Space at www.karoospace.co.za. The print version costs R260 and the two Ebook versions are R150 together. Moving to the Platteland will also eventually be sold at selected outlets around SA.
Competition | Stand a chance to winThree lucky readers will each win a copy of Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit’s new book, Moving to the Platteland. To enter SMS the word
PLATTELAND to 41893, followed by your name and surname. SMSes costs R1.50 and free minutes do not apply. All errors are billed. Tiso Blackstar staff and their families may not enter.
The cut-off for entries is noon on Monday, with the winners to be drawn electronically and notified before day’s end.
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