Granny Mouse Country House & Spa is just the place to head to for a few days to rejuvenate your soul.

Whether you are heading out for a break with your bestie group, or a romantic getaway with your other half to escape it all, General Manager Sean Granger of the “Mouse House” suggest that packing for a stay at Granny Mouse should be super easy.

Are you one of those people who packs even the kitchen sink for those just-in-case moments? Let’s break it down and keep it simple, so you don’t have 3 bags to your partner or besties one. The hardest part for most people is my biggest secret: pick out the clothes you’re going to wear each day before you leave. You’ll need to do a little research – your planned itinerary and of course the weather. At Granny Mouse we will however provide you with information that helps plan your stay. From this, you will definitely be able to figure out what you need then take exactly that, adds Granger.

The most simple and quick checklist of a basic weekend packing list can be slightly modified for any type of getaway:

• Comfy shoes for the entire weekend – be it takkies, boots or sandals depending on the weather and what you plan on doing. If you are planning long leisurely walks then takkies will be obviously be the best choice.

• Clothing items that you will no doubt need will be a pair of pants or jeans, a couple of t-shirts, and a dressier top for dinners at the Eaves Restaurant. Pack the basics, two pairs of underwear, socks, a pair of pj’s, a book, the cell phone charger, water bottle, face masks and pop all in an overnight bag.

• Casual shirts that can be dressed up for dinner in the evenings and of course the toiletry bag with all your bits. Remember again, ladies and gents, it is only for a few nights and we have a spa on the property so you can make time for some pampering right here. If your trip is with your loved one, remember to maybe scale up from pj’s to something nice.

• For the road trip be sure to pack some snacks, as well as a water bottle so you aren’t buying too many throw-away plastic bottles.

• Essentials not to forget are phone chargers and power cables, should you be taking your laptops. Let’s not forget the toothbrush and toothpaste, so maybe pack that into your toiletry bag first thing. Sunblock is easy to forget, and it is necessary especially in sunny South Africa.

• Another must is the mosquito repellent – now that spring has sprung, they seem to be coming out of hibernation thick and fast. The weather can be quite dry in the Midlands, so don’t forget to pack the lip balm to avoid chapped or cold sores. Just in case, pack the headache pills or any scheduled medication, as you don’t want to end up suffering for no reason.

Lastly, remember your sunglasses; it’s not just for shading your eyes, but a fashion statement as well!.

Having a healthy, happy garden is one of Granny Mouse Country House & Spa’s pride and joy. And there are many ways to make that happen while also providing a range of environmental benefits.

Recycling food and other organic waste products helps improve the health of the soil, reduce greenhouse gases and assist in lowering the impact of drought.

The compost bin is the most basic way of doing so.

Anything that grows will decompose and, with a compost bin, it provides the perfect home to bacteria and decomposing organisms such as worms to work their magic. The decomposing matter, also known as black gold, is a compost rich in nutrition and can be used for your garden.

The benefits are huge, and it’s a fantastic way to recycle organic waste that we all generate at home or at the “Mouse House”. Composting at home allows us to divert some of that waste from landfills and turn it into something practical for our own back yards.

Some items that are perfect for the compost bin include eggshells, grass clippings, fruit and vegetables, uncoated cardboard, small pieces of uncoated paper, tea bags, nutshells, shredded newspaper, wood chips, house plants etc.

Please remember not everything can go into a compost bin, and the most obvious is food waste that creates smells that attract pesky insects such as flies, rats and a few neighbourhood strays i.e. mongoose.

Some obvious food items that should never ever go into a compost bin include fish, meat and bone leftovers as these will start smelling really bad, very quickly, especially on hot humid days.

Another no-no is adding things like milk, sour cream, yoghurts or any dairy products. Fats too, whether used i.e. yellow grease, or not ever having been used. Also, don’t drop in any plants or wood that has been sprayed with chemicals, and that also goes for woods that have been painted, varnished or stained. This won’t make for a happy compost bin.

More items that should not be added to the compost bin include insect and disease plants that you have pulled out of the ground as the pests will probably survive and then infect your other perfectly healthy plants.

Weeds are another one, as that will then just take over your soil all over again. Lastly and quite an obvious one, is dog or cat poop, as it will make it all hazardous and possibly include roundworms especially dogs faeces. Cats litter and faeces carry organisms that cause toxoplasmosis which is dangerous to pregnant women and can possibly cause injury to unborn children.

The Granny Mouse gardening team wish you a happy composting day!! And not only will you be enjoying a happy, healthy garden going forward but you will also be saving the planet one small step at a time.

Inspired by: https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/compost/what-not-to-compost/?utm_medium=browser&utm_source=bhg.com&utm_content=20210706&utm_campaign=1129616a