IPPS Student Exchange 2011: Michael goes to Australia!
May2011
We are proud to announce that Michael was selected for the IPPS Student Exchange Programme to Australia in May 2011. IPPS Australia and IPPS Southern Africa have established an exchange programme, the intention of which is to offer plant propagators at the start of their career, an opportunity to gain experience of a different plant production industry, and to build a better understanding of each country. Michael will visit Australia for three weeks where he will be hosted by a local industry family. During his time abroad, he will work with the Australian propagators and growers, as well as visit gardens and other places of botanic interest. He will also attend the IPPS Sydney Conference which takes place on the 27th – 29th May 2011.05.11
Michael leave on Saturday the 14th May 2011 and returns on Sunday 05th June 2011. We will be updating our Themba Trees Facebook (link?)page on a daily basis in order to keep you up to date with his progress. Please sign up in order to keep in touch with us regarding his trip.
Good luck Michael! Enjoy the trip. We know that you will be an excellent ambassador for Themba Trees and the Green Industry in South Africa.
AGRIBIZ Training Course for Women Entrepreneurs
May 2011
Caroline has been invited by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to represent the Forestry Industry at a Female Agri-business Training Workshop in May 2011 in the Cape. As part of their Sector Transformation and Gender Mainstreaming mandate, the above-mentioned Directorate, in partnership with NAMC, Landbank and Market Matters Inc. will be conducting a workshop for female entrepreneurs in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . The focus of the workshop is to foster entrepreneurial skills necessary for sustainable businesses for livelihoods.
Firewise Communities Train-the-Trainer Course
29-30 November 2010
Caroline attended the two day Train-the-Trainer course that was held at Newlands Forest from 29-30 November 2010. The primary focus of Firewise SA is to create awareness of the dangers of wild fires and to equip homeowners, community leaders, planners and developers with the knowledge and skills of fire prevention. The protection of families, property and the environment before a fire starts is a Firewise priority, as is the provision of an action plan in an emergency.
By attending the workshop, Caroline is now equipped to advise businesses and individuals on ways in which they can assess and reduce their risk of being a victim of wildfires by implementing an *Integrated Fire Management strategy. Firewise landscaping and vegetation management forms part of this Integrated Fire Management strategy.
*Integrated Fire Management is a series of actions that are carried out to create a sustainable and well balanced environment where the damage from wildfires is reduced and the beneficial use of controlled fires is optimized. It includes fire awareness, fire prevention, prescribed burning, resource sharing and co-ordination, detecting fires, suppressing fires and rehabilitating fire damage. To be effective, the actions must be carried out at a local, provincial and national level.
Themba Trees featured in Farming SA
April 2011
Click here to view the artcile
Themba Trees featured on AgriTV
Female Entrepreneur Award 2010
August 2010
Caroline de Villiers won the Female Entreprenuer Award in August 2010 in the Forestry Division of the Western Cape.
