Two Decades of Growth

From a seedling vision to a budding and blooming nursery, meet the family behind the Midlands Garden Centre and how they keep growing, come rain or shine.   Situated in Rosetta on Old Main Road, Midlands Garden Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary this September! The beloved store opened its doors on 1 September 2003 and is still going strong. The owners, Albert and Jacky Jooste, have made it through “black frost, hail storms, wind...

The Duncan Family

Meet a wonderful family who excels in always staying true to their health and well-being, respects the earth we live and walk on, and provides the same love and care for their community.   We don’t always feel our heartbeats every second of the day, but if we stop and concentrate we will feel that thump, thump, thump. We can say the same about the Duncan family, who have been keeping the community’s heartbeat healthy...

A Holiday Camp Out

We look at a few camping spots where you can spend a night or two – whether it’s just you, a partner, or the kiddies too. For nature lovers, and those who are looking for a more rugged outing experience and something different than chalets or cottages, camping is the way to go. Whether it’s just for one night or a few, below we look at four camping sites and what they offer, so grab...

Discover the Magic

Christmas at The Quarry Centre Last year, The Quarry Centre is pulled out all the stops for the festive season and converted the space into a magical Christmas wonderland. With an immersive Santa’s Grotto experience for children of all ages, show-stopping Christmas lights, a night market with live music and kids’ entertainment, late-night shopping, and more, the whole family is invited to discover the magic this December.   Santa was at The Quarry, along with...

Reviving The Midlands

One preloved bit of furniture at a time!   If you love interior decorating and looking for the next best piece of furniture for your home, but you’re on a budget, we have you covered. Below we look at four unique antique and décor businesses in the Midlands that give preloved furniture a second chance. They also share some tips and tricks. Located in Yard 41 in Shafton Road, Howick is Ruby Orchard. It is...

Creative Crooks

We introduce the Crooks family, who are cornerstones of the community, and actively building, curating, and designing their lives through their art. We are reminded of the value of our environment, our community, and our intersection with it.   The Midlands is home to many exceptional families, and the Crooks are among them. Residing on the hill above Midmar Dam, and like many who dwell in the area, they’ve been part of the community for...

Making the Next Big Move

Gauteng and other city buyers look for bigger homes in developing regions, causing a precinct boom. The Avenues Hilton meets these new demands by being surrounded by culture-rich communities, art, beautiful rolling hills, and is within commuting distance to Pietermartizburg city.   Over recent years, the Hilton area has surged in popularity, and the village has experienced a population growth of an amazing 34%. On the back of the pandemic and the hard lockdown in...

Essential Services

If you are looking at going solar, need backup power solutions, want to switch to gas or need timber for your latest DIY project, we found some great local businesses that can help you out.   Service Beyond the Call Tell us about your business Power Africa was established a few years ago as we identified a need for alternative energy solutions here in the Midlands – we already supply gas alternatives through Nottingham Road...

Making it Work

We asked one of our local mothers, Trudi Moran, how she keeps juggling it all, from being a mother to a business owner. She shares who inspires her and some tidbits of wisdom she has learnt along the way. If you like to do it all or strive for perfection, whether you are a mother or not, this will be for you. Maybe you can relate to it even just a little bit or a...

Old Boys & Girls Making Their Mark

We are going back in time in this edition, uncovering even more gems, old pupils to be specific, from our local Midlands schools. Join us as we follow how their path to success unfolded over the years since they matriculated and look at where they are now. Mbaliyezwe Ndlela is from Howick High School. She matriculated in 2009. Her Visual Art teacher, Mrs Lindi Beard, recognised Mbali’s ‘distinctive style’ in her art lessons and the...