Monthly Archives: May 2018

How to create your own garden sanctuary!

In most parts of South Africa, the weather is wonderful almost all year round and with many of us working in offices five days a week, it is important, and a part of staying healthy, to get out into the open and breathe in fresh air. The best place to do this is in your very own garden. Wherever it is that you call home, if you have a garden, make the most of it.

In the definition of sanctuary you will find the words, a place of safety, and nature reserve, amongst others. A sanctuary can be anything you make it and with a space so often overlooked, the garden can provide the perfect spot for your sanctuary.

On the one hand, we have plants and trees that absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses from the air which helps combat the effects of global warming and they release oxygen to which we breathe. During hot months, trees also provide shade and may even reduce air conditioning costs in the home. Another benefit of trees is that they also shade the grass, which means less loss of water. Having trees present in your garden helps create the start of a sanctuary.

On the other hand, flowers and herbs are also an integral part of creating a space that provides relaxation, calmness and rejuvenation. Not only can one reap the benefits from a completed sanctuary, but the process of gardening to get it to that state is also a stress reliever.

Herbs such as Chamomile, Lavender and Jasmine, all combat stress, whilst having roses in your garden may fight depression. According to Organic Facts1: “Rose oil boosts self-esteem, confidence, and mental strength while efficiently fighting depression.”

Depending on what kind of sanctuary you are creating, here are 4 ideas of what to include to make the most of it:

  1. Bench or seating area – so you are able to take time out to sit and enjoy your surroundings
  2. Water feature – “If you are looking to add a water featureto your garden, feng shui areas such as southeast (money & abundance); east (health & family) and north (career & path in life), are excellent areas for water feng shui element energy.” (According to The Spruce 2)
  3. Zen Garden – raking the sand in Japanese-style zen gardens and strategically placing stones in the garden assist in focus and can aid in meditation. 3
  4. Vertical garden – work well in cordoning off an area that you may want to use to create a sanctuary garden. They also work well in smaller spaces to bring in the element of the garden into the area. Any type of plants including those planted vertically, help to reduce filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air.

According to William Brown, the Horticulturist at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, “We have incorporated the element of water throughout the property and throughout the gardens to not only mimic the sound of the Lions River which runs adjacent to the hotel, but because water is calming and helps promote relaxation. Any garden can become a sanctuary when water is incorporated. We also have Lavender growing around the gardens which is also known to reduce anxiety and is relaxing to the body”.

water-feature

Sources:

1 https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-rose-essential-oil.html

2 https://www.thespruce.com/create-good-feng-shui-in-your-garden-1275303

3 https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/japanese-zen-gardens.htm

Eco-conscious conferencing in 2018!

Why is there a need for conferencing you ask? Well, conferences provide human-to-human connections, relaying of information to a larger audience, important question and answer opportunities, information on new products and ideas for the future of the business, amongst others.

With hosting a conference comes the responsibility of finding a suitable venue that caters for all your needs, while keeping your staff motivated through a combination of downtime and team activities – all while ensuring successful outcomes. Granny Mouse Country House & Spa provides a host of features sure to appeal to you when it comes to securing a venue for your next conference.

Situated in the KZN Midlands, only an hour and a half from Durban and four hours from Johannesburg, this idyllic venue has been the top choice for numerous companies wanting to connect their staff, inspire, think up new ideas and strategize.

If you are unaware of Granny Mouse, you should note that they have excellent accommodation options, award-winning culinary excellence, an onsite Spa, various conferencing packages and a host of team building activities – some with a twist including macaroon and wine tasting, brandy and chocolate tasting and even a fun, interactive Mousterchef cook-off. Granny Mouse also have the options of green team building within their community.

The idea, which was implemented a few years ago, allows companies to give back to the community through good deeds such as planting a sustainable garden, painting and repair work to much needed crèches, schools and more.

Not only is there the option of green team building, but Granny Mouse also incorporate eco-friendly features into their conferences such as  water in glass jugs as opposed to plastic bottles (depending on the request). In addition, to minimise the use of electric heaters, fireplaces are placed in each function venue, perfect for colder Midlands’s days. Jojo tanks are also placed throughout the hotel for harvesting of rain water – a low-cost solution to supplementing existing water supplies and mitigating the effects of drier spells and periods of low rainfall. This water is then distributed though different areas of the hotel.

So if you are looking for a function venue that is environmentally conscious, then give the banqueting department at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa a call on 033 234 4071.