The BRIZA Blog

" Horticulturist and founder of Keith Kirsten Horticulture International," Mr Kirsten shares his knowledge and expertise with you and with us, specially for #GardenMonth.  They say that winter allows you to see the bone structure of the landscape and isn’t that an intimate treat that nature affords us? While you observe the elegant starkness around you in autumn and winter, beauty is not only visibly present to those of us willing to see it, but it’s also a budding anticipation in the air; something lies beneath, waiting. As gardeners we need to honour this elegance and the arrival of that special something by putting in the time, ahead of time, all the time. These labours are meticulous and essential – as well as rewarding and therapeutic – investments of pure faith and love that we get to reap throughout the year.   Clothing your garden in fresh spring blossoms is a process that starts now just as the glory of your winter vegetable patch has been a long t...

"In 2018, about 700 rhinos were poached in South Africa. Down from an average of 1 250 in 2017 and 2016 it sounds like good news. However, by legalising rhino horn trade, the number could be zero, which would really be good news, writes businessman, game rancher and rhino owner, Dr Peter Oberem." Afgriland magazine recently published this fascinating article by one of Briza Publications' authors ( The New Game Rancher ), the esteemed Dr Peter Oberem.  "Seven hundred rhino murdered in one year can never be good news. Why must we accept the deaths of almost two rhino a day in South Africa alone when there is an answer? To my mind, and the minds of hundreds of conservationists and game ranchers, the solution is legalising rhino horn trade." Dr Oberem explains further:  "This step will restore the value of live rhino, and give honest users of rhino horn access to legal and sustainable products. As a result, humans and the natural environment...

A truly revolutionary development Briza launched its Callfinder ®  ready titles in 2013 with the publication of  SAPPI Birds of South Africa , ( SAPPI Voëls van Suid-Afrika  in Afrikaans) written by Herman van Niekerk and Saartjie Kidson.  For the first time in South Africa, this exciting and highly anticipated book allowed the bird watcher to see an image of a bird and hear its actual call on the same page of the book, ensuring quick association, supplemented by information and hints on the bird’s behaviour to assist with finding and identifying it correctly. It was an instant bestseller and remains one of Briza’s most sought after titles.  To date, more than 30 000 books have been sold! Following the success of SAPPI Birds of South Africa , Briza released a revised edition of Mammal Guide of Southern Africa (Soogdiergids van suider Afrika in Afrikaans) by Burger Cillié in 2015, complete with Callfinder ® ready capabilities. ...

NINE SIMPLE TIPS FROM EXPERT HERMAN VAN NIEKERK At the start of #BirdFeedingMonth, we found ourselves asking, Are we actually giving the birds in our gardens what they need? You might be putting out some food, hoping to attract as much birdlife as possible – but at what cost?   We caught up with Herman van Niekerk, author of Briza’s Sappi Birds of South Africa , for some expert insights.   Figure 1 : Sappi Birds of South Africa “Most cities and towns have developed as extended bushland or forest areas because of the gardening practices of owners ,” says van Niekerk. “Of course the result is an influx of birds from their natural habitats which is wonderful news for city and town dwellers who can now enjoy birdwatching in their own gardens.” In response to our question – What do the wild birds need from our gardens? – van Niekerk asserts that there are in fact ways to optimise the environment for the birds in your garden so that just as your garden is a bi...

While we are enjoying warmer weather here in the Southern Hemisphere, it turns out that January is #HotTeaMonth. But the heat doesn’t put us off this scrumptious brew – on the contrary, South Africans will brew it cold if we have to! In fact, some of us prefer an iced tea drink no matter the weather: refreshment at its purest, barring water. Anyway, thus began our inves-tea-gation which is when we discovered that tea actually holds the key to a healthier lifestyle. And of course, sharing knowledge is what we do best… so please enjoy some of our findings below.  Figure 1: "red liquid with ice and plant" by Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash Let's start with the heart Recent studies have shown that coffee might not be as problematic as experts once thought. Nevertheless, research on tea and heart health is growing and some studies have found that there can be as much as a 20 percent reduction in heart attack risk among people who drink up to three cups of regular gree...

Chapter 2018 ends with a bang Our seasonal customers are what keep some booksellers going. So identify the sure wins beforehand and hone your sales efforts pre-emptively so as to maximise the holiday rewards.  Arguably the entire year leads to this moment. Let’s examine some of the highlights that may affect Santa’s supply. What packs our shelves Various occasions throughout the year mould the contours of bookshelves. Trends are as unpredictable as they are fluctuating meaning it’s tricky to align your vision with the customer’s needs, wants and expectations; survey the landscape, starting with the calendar in retrospect. Cape Town’s Open Book 2018 that was held in September was a literary celebration. Highpoints include #cocreatePoetica and of course the illustration masterclass while RAP, poetry and the spoken word are still platforms for young people to voice concerns and solutions to mutual challenges epitomising the younger generation’s desire for access...