Komorebi Organic Shamba

22/06/2025

🪶 Meet the Trumpeter Hornbill – The Bush’s Loudest Gossip! 🔊🇿🇦

If you’ve ever been on a bush walk and thought you heard someone blowing a tiny trumpet from a tree… congrats, you’ve just met the Trumpeter Hornbill – nature’s noisiest neighbor with a beak big enough to rent out as an Airbnb.

These birds aren’t shy. Oh no. They sound like a vuvuzela with attitude and fly through the bush like they own every fig tree in sight. With their rockstar mohawks and comedy-clown beaks, they look like the result of a bird meeting a kazoo in a dark alley.

👄 Fun fact: During breeding season, the female seals herself into a tree cavity with mud and poo (romantic, right?), leaving just a beak-sized slot for the male to feed her. She basically goes on a maternity leave that includes zero freedom, no Netflix, and a diet of regurgitated berries.

And the male? He works overtime like a stressed-out Woolies cashier, flying back and forth with snacks while she shouts at him in kazoo-speak from her little mud prison.

So next time you hear a strange honking noise in the Lowveld bush, don’t panic — it’s not a tiny marching band. It’s just the Trumpeter Hornbill reminding you that the bush has character.

🎺💚 Long live the noisy, weird, and wonderful!

13/06/2025

With the change of season we are moving some plants around on Komorebi. We had the chance to harvest some African Wormwood yesterday. I will try to make my very first tincture, the rest will be left to dry. Here is a little more information about this amazing medicinal plant.

🌱Artemisia afra (African Wormwood) is a highly esteemed and widely utilized indigenous medicinal plant across diverse cultures in Africa, especially in South Africa, where it is known by various names such as wilde-als (Afrikaans), umhlonyane (Xhosa/Zulu), and lengana (Sotho). This perennial, aromatic shrub, named after the Greek goddess Artemis, is a prominent member of the Artemisia genus, distinct from other species like Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) in its chemical composition, notably lacking artemisinin.

Botanical Characteristics:

* Artemisia afra typically grows as a soft, bushy shrub, ranging from 0.6 to 2 meters in height, with woody stems at the base and softer branches towards the top.
* Its distinctive silver-grey, finely divided leaves are almost fern-like and emit a strong, sticky-sweet, pungent aroma when bruised. This characteristic scent is a key identifier.
* The plant produces small, inconspicuous, creamy-yellow flower heads in late summer and autumn (March to May in the Southern Hemisphere).
* It is found across a wide geographic area, from South Africa northwards into tropical Africa, often in montane habitats, along forest margins, and by streamsides.

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

Artemisia afra boasts a long and extensive history of traditional use, addressing a vast array of ailments. Its roots, stems, and leaves are prepared in numerous ways, including decoctions, infusions, poultices, body washes, lotions, enemas, or consumed as a tea (often sweetened to counteract its bitter taste). Key traditional applications include:

* Respiratory Ailments: Highly regarded for treating coughs, colds, flu, fever, sore throats, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, and croup. Inhaling vapours from infusions or inserting fresh leaves into nostrils to clear blocked passages are common practices.
* Digestive Health: Used to alleviate indigestion, colic, flatulence, stomach pains, and to expel intestinal worms. It also acts as an appetite stimulant.
* Pain and Inflammation: Applied externally as warmed poultices for sprains, arthritic, and rheumatic swellings. Internal use helps with headaches, earaches, and general pain relief.
* Other Uses: Traditionally used for malaria (though scientific efficacy is debated and it lacks artemisinin), diabetes, bladder and kidney disorders, blood purification (for acne and boils), and as a wash for cuts and grazes. It's also used for menstrual issues and post-childbirth recovery.

Other Applications:

Beyond its medicinal value, Artemisia afra is known for its insect-repelling properties. It is used as a natural moth repellent and can be incorporated into homemade insecticide sprays. Dried powdered wormwood is also used to deter ants and fleas.

Cultivation and Sustainability:

Artemisia afra is a hardy and fast-growing plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Heavy pruning in winter encourages lush new growth. Its widespread use highlights the importance of promoting sustainable harvesting and cultivation practices to ensure its continued availability.

Scientific Research:

While deeply rooted in traditional medicine, scientific research continues to explore the phytochemical composition and pharmacological activities of Artemisia afra. Studies have indicated promising antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimycobacterial activities, supporting many of its traditional uses. However, ongoing research is crucial to validate efficacy and safety for specific applications, especially for conditions like malaria, given the lack of artemisinin in this species.

09/06/2025

🐛💡🐛💡🐛💡🐛💡🐛💡🐛💡🐛💡🐛💡

I wish I was a glowworm
A gloworm is never glum
Cause how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out you bum

(Thank you Michelle Grové for reminding me of the rhyme. 🐛💡)

🐛💡Let's talk about the South African glow-worm!

Despite the name, these enchanting little creatures aren't worms at all—they're actually fireflies, a type of soft-bodied beetle. You'll find around 30 different species of them twinkling across Southern Africa.

🐛💡What's in a Name?

When people say "glow-worm," they're usually referring to the female firefly. She's a bit special because she doesn't have wings and keeps her larval, or grub-like, look. But don't let that fool you—she's the one putting on the light show! Both males and females can glow, and even the tiny larvae emit a bit of light as a clever defense.

🐛💡The Magic of Bioluminescence

Their light isn't magic, it's bioluminescence! This "cold light" is created by a chemical reaction in their bodies. The main reason for all this glowing is to find a mate. The female emits a steady glow to attract flying males, who then respond with their own unique flash patterns. It's like a secret Morse code for love!

🐛💡Spotting Them

You'll typically find these fascinating beetles in grasslands, hedgerows, and along the edges of woodlands. If you're out and about in places like Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, especially after dark and when the rains start, you might just catch a glimpse of their mesmerizing light.

🐛💡What Do They Eat?
Here's a fun fact: The larvae are super helpful in the garden because they love to munch on snails and slugs. They're like tiny, natural pest controllers! Adult fireflies, on the other hand, usually don't eat much at all. Their main goal during their short adult life is to find a partner and create the next generation of glow-worms.
So, next time you see a tiny light dancing in the evening, you'll know you're witnessing the beautiful world of the South African firefly!

🐛💡Not the best video but so fabulous to see the glow worms are still here.

03/06/2025

What a wonderful morning it is when you walk to turn the pump on and find a beautiful Baboon Spider chilling on the side of your tunnel.🕷️ It is only the second time in 5 years that I've seen one on Komorebi as they are very shy creatures. Here is a short bit of information on the hairy wonder that is the African Baboon Spider. 🕷️

🕷️South African Baboon Spiders:

South African baboon spiders (Harpactirinae) are large, hairy terrestrial tarantulas. They inhabit burrows, are sit-and-wait predators of invertebrates and small vertebrates, and possess strong fangs for subduing prey. While generally not aggressive, they will defensively posture if threatened. Females have long lifespans (potentially decades), while males are shorter-lived. Habitat loss and illegal pet trade threaten some species. Citizen science initiatives aid in their conservation. Bites are painful but not typically medically significant. These fascinating creatures are an important part of South Africa's biodiversity.🕷️

And yes, I know it's a lot of photos for one spider but what a truly special sighting.🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️ Nature never disappoints... Except when they made aphids of course. 🙈😂

22/05/2025

Unveiling the Master of Disguise: The Mocker Swallowtail
(Papilio dardanus)

A Butterfly of Intrigue and Adaptation

The Mocker Swallowtail, Papilio dardanus, is a fascinating butterfly renowned for its remarkable ability to mimic other, often toxic or distasteful, butterfly species. This incredible adaptation, known as Batesian mimicry, provides the vulnerable female with protection from predators.

Key Features:

Distribution: Found across sub-Saharan Africa, with diverse regional variations.

Sexual Dimorphism: Males are typically a striking yellow and black, possessing the characteristic "tails" of swallowtail butterflies.

Female Polymorphism: This is where the magic happens! Female Papilio dardanus exhibit phenotypic polymorphism, meaning they occur in multiple distinct forms (morphs). These morphs closely resemble various unrelated butterfly species that are known to be unpalatable to predators due to toxins they accumulate from their larval food plants.

Mimicry in Action: Depending on their geographic location, female morphs can mimic species such as:

Danaus chrysippus (Plain Tiger): An orange-brown butterfly.

Amauris niavius (Friar): A black and white butterfly.

Amauris albimaculata (Layman): Another black and white species.
And many other local distasteful models.

Non-Mimetic Males: Interestingly, the males of Papilio dardanus do not participate in this mimicry and retain a consistent appearance.

Larval Diet: Caterpillars feed on plants from the Rutaceae family, which includes citrus trees.

Conservation Status: While generally widespread, habitat loss and pesticide use can pose threats to local populations.

Why Mimicry?

Predators, such as birds, learn to avoid brightly colored or distinctively patterned butterflies that have made them sick in the past. By resembling these unpalatable species, the defenseless female Papilio dardanus gains a significant survival advantage. Predators are less likely to attack a butterfly they mistake for a distasteful model.

A Wonder of Evolution:

The Mocker Swallowtail stands as a powerful example of natural selection and the intricate ways in which species adapt to their environment. The genetic mechanisms controlling the diverse female morphs are a subject of ongoing scientific research, highlighting the complexity and beauty of evolutionary processes.

Keep an eye out for this incredible butterfly in your area! Observing the different forms of the female Mocker Swallowtail is a testament to the power of mimicry in the natural world. You might be surprised by the variety you can find!

15/05/2025

Roselle (Hibiscus Subdariffa) harvesting has commenced on Komorebi. Our plants are in different stages of growing as we've had to replant at different stages because of weather and bug problems we had earlier in the season. Roselle is probably one of the most labour intensive crops to plant if you're doing it on a bigger scale. The time, care and patience it takes to harvest, wash and process the calyxes to the final beautiful dried product we offer truly makes it a labor of love. Not only is our Roselle delicious as a drink, it also has many medicinal uses, as well as being used as a natural dye for textiles etc. Find the full list of benefits in the photos below.

12/05/2025

Morning stroll on Komorebi...

10/05/2025

10/05/2025

I had a visitor of the flying kind in the house last night. Didn't manage to get a good photo of his cute little fuzzy face as he unfortunately kept moving his head. Obviously looking for a way out of this loony bin🙈🦇 Absolutely incredible how he hangs by only those teeny tiny little toes. Could definitely be the next Olympic rock climber. 🦇He flew out unharmed but probably a little traumatized by Lika's barking and attempt to catch him, as if she thinks she can fly as well... 😂🙈🦇🐶

09/05/2025

The other prized plant that I have on Komorebi is my Ginko Biloba tree. She was unfortunately damaged this week when a tree branch broke and fell on her. Tomorrow I will repot and give her some extra love and manure. Deloris will be supervising...

09/05/2025

Sometimes life gets busy and you forget what you've planted. But then... One day... Amos comes up to you and asks: " when do we harvest the rice we planted?" I thought the rice washed away with all the rain but no, turns out we managed to grow some rice in a pot next to an over achieving sprinkler. 🙈It's not a lot as I just wanted to test. I'll do some research on how to grow it for the best possible harvest for the next batch of seeds. But I am proud that we tried and succeeded. Thank you Keli Stanissis for gifting me the seeds. 🍚I battled to get a good photo but here is our home grown rice plant.