Living From the Veld in Namibia In our modernised, fast-paced world many of us are increasingly disconnected from the planet we live on. Our food comes in neat plastic packaging in conveniently sized portions that are put into the shopping cart with little more thought given to it than the price tag. The most conscientious shoppers will perhaps read the back of the package to find out if the product is organic, local, free-range, etc. But the words on the packaging are as close as many people will ever get to knowing where their food comes from and how it is produced.
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onsumer demands for the cheap and familiar have had a severe impact on rural areas around the world. Biodiverse landscapes are ploughed up and replaced with single crop species, domestic livestock has taken the place of numerous wild herbivores – domestic animals are easier to manage and produce familiar products like beef and mutton. Not by accident, parts of Africa look just like the English countryside, and produce the same food. The land itself has thus lost its variety, wildness and sense of mystery that we only glimpse when visiting national parks. Against this global backdrop, Namibia is perfectly placed to do things differently – this harsh desert country with the world’s second lowest human population density cannot be totally tamed and cultivated. Furthermore, the sustainable use and conservation of the environment are enshrined in the Namibian constitution, thus encouraging farmers to include nature’s bounty as an integral part of their livelihoods.
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Danene van der Westhuyzen’s new book From the Veld captures the Namibian approach to living off the land by celebrating the astounding variety of food from nature’s pantry. Far from the shopping carts, tellers and neat packaging of the supermarkets in the city, Danene and her family pick, gather, milk and hunt for the ingredients which go into the recipe collection in From the Veld. “I was born and raised in Namibia. I have lived here all my life. My family’s roots are deeply embedded in this soil. The harshness of our beautiful country has forged our existence. Drought grips the land every so often, bringing both despair and discipline. We are constantly aware of nature’s balance, as our survival depends on faithful conservation and the wise use of resources. And so we’ve grown to cherish the parched times as much as we relish the deafening sound of thunder that promises much needed rain.” - Danene. Danene goes on to explain that as a family living on a farm 200 km from the nearest town they hunt and gather as
