My herbal writing career

My interest in herbs started about 1995 when I found that I actually know nothing about herbs and how to use it . I was about to do something about it .We lived on a farm and I was not working at that time . I started reading a lot of books on the subject , planted herbs all over the place and experimented both with the planting and the usage of the herbs . While writing everything down I realized that a lot of people was like me , not knowing about how to use herbs . Then I decide to write a book and try to publish it . My husband and son was my toughest critics but they started to love herbs almost as much as I do .

I then started to experiment with herbs and the use of it in cooking and all the while making notes of everything I did . During 1998 , I had enough material to write a book , I did and I send it to Lapa Publishers in Pretoria . The book “ Kook met kruie en speserye” was published during 1999 and was completely sold out by 2001 . It was a culinary book with recipes for herbs and spices and a lot of side notes . I was so proud of this first book of mine . I hoped to write some more books on the subject but my daughter was born in 2000 and she kept me busy for the next almost ten years to come .

My daughter grew up and I had a lot of time on my hands , I was still itching to do another book when my publishers contact me in 2010 asking me to do a follow up book , but this time the whole spectrum , from how to decide on a herb garden , to planting and harvesting and a chapter about cooking . I was overjoyed and writing that book kept me busy for the next two years . The book “Kruie van tuin tot tafel” was published during 2012 and sold out by the end of 2013 . It was printed for a second time and is at this time almost sold out again .

I also love doing genealogical research as well as history . Following y research on my husband’s ancestry , I wrote a book on the Greyvenstein family that was printed and published by myself . Then I did a book on the history of Alexandria – the town we live in since 1991 to date , it was also printed and published by me . During 2014 I did a book for our local Dutch Reform Church on the history of their pastors since 1895 .

At this moment I a busy writing another culinary , herbal book and I hope to have it at the publishers by April 2015 for final approving . As you can see , writing is in my blood . I love herbs , history and genealogy and everything associated . I am very proud of my books and can just thank the Lord for giving me the ability to share the things I feel so deeply about with others around me .