Veld and Sea Wild Earth Alchemy

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ABOUT

WILD EARTH ALCHEMY | AUTUMN IMMERSION - A Seasonal Exploration of Ecology, Wild Food, and Regenerative Practices

23–29 May 2025

Veld and Sea HQ, Cape Point, Cape Town

**This is to reserve your tickets for Wild Earth Alchemy, once you pre-book your tickets, we will be in touch with payment details.

Autumn is a season of change—a time of gathering, composting, and transformation. It is the space between lush summer growth and winter’s pause, where the weather cools, the days shorten and the last of the season’s fruits are offered to those who know where to look. 

This seven-day immersion is a deep dive into the intelligence of the natural world, an invitation to tune into seasonal rhythms and cultivate a reciprocal relationship with the land through foraging, fermentation, fire, storytelling, and regenerative gardening. 

Through a combination of guided walks, hands-on workshops, earth-based wisdom, and communal eating, we will explore: 

The language of wild plants and their place in our landscapes and kitchens 

The gifts of the intertidal world and the nourishment of seaweeds 

The alchemy of fermentation, fire cooking, and seasonal preservation 

The ancient science of seed cycles, soil health, and regenerative gardening 

The rhythms of the sun, moon, tides, and seasons, and how they shape the ecosystems around us

This is a week of wild learning, tending, harvesting, and creating, culminating in a shared harvest feast —a celebration meal cooked over fire, honouring the cycles of nature and the gifts of autumn.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE HOME:

Hands-on knowledge – Foraging, fermentation, fire cooking, and regenerative gardening.

A deeper connection to natural cycles – Seasonal rhythms, lunar planting, and the living landscapes around you.

A wild pantry – Ferments, preserves, and infused creations.

Planted intentions – Your own home garden starter pack, ready to grow at home.

 Wisdom & stories – A deepened awareness of ecological reciprocity and the beauty of our wild world.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Daily Structure: Days run from 10 AM to 4 PM, combining group learning, hands-on sessions, and space for self-led creativity, study, reflection, and exploration. On the final evening, we will gather for sunset, extending the day until 6 PM.

Journaling & Plant Listening: Every day after lunch there will be space and time for observing subtle shifts in the gardens and wild, tuning into the ecological rhythms in the landscape.

Final Celebration: On the last day, we will come together for a collaborative harvest feast and botanical elixir bar, prepared and shared in Veld and Sea’s beautiful Glasshouse. This meal will weave together the lessons of the week, using ingredients from the gardens, ocean, mountains, and our wild pantry.

Resources: Guests will receive a journal, educational handouts, recipes, book recommendations, and beautiful photos of the experience taken by our in-house photographer.

TEACHER HIGHLIGHTS:

Roushanna Gray: Wild foraging on land and sea 

Rupert Koopman: Natural Science fynbos hike 

Laura Kropman: Fermentation  

Rochelle Coetzee: Wild food fire cooking 

Gershan Lombard: Fire Stories and Sound Journey

Bryan Little: Storytelling for the earth 

Tom Gray: Food growing

PRACTICAL INFORAMTION

Meals: We will start the day with herbal teas, coffee, and rusks. A simple nourishing, seasonal lunch will be prepared by our chefs and volunteers each day, and a sweet treat will accompany our afternoon tea. Guests are welcome to bring additional snacks/special packed lunches for those allergies or intolerances. 

Location: Veld and Sea HQ, Cape Point, Cape Town. 

Transport: Own transport is required as the venue is unfortunately not accessible by public routes. 

Accommodation: Not included. Nearby accommodation rental recommendations are available upon request.

YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WEEK:

23rd May Day 1: Rooting In – Land, Story & Seasonal Ecology

The week begins with group introductions followed by a day of introductions to the land —a moment to step into the slower rhythm of this space, to observe and understand the seasons, cycles and patterns of nature. 

Fynbos & Autumn Ecology Walk with Rupert Koopman: Exploring fynbos plant adaptations, pollination strategies, and seasonal phenology – ecological shifts and changing landscapes as the season turns. 

Echoes of the Earth: The Deep-Time Story of Fynbos and Geology: A journey into the deep-time story of the land, fynbos, geology, and the unseen forces that have shaped this place over millennia. 

The Art of Observation & Earth Storytelling with Bryan Little: Journaling & Reflection: Tuning into the language of the land, tracking patterns, and weaving curiosity into a deeper awareness of nature. This session explores how a daily practice of slow time in nature can reveal the ecological stories unfolding around us.

24th May Day 2: Foraging, Harvesting and Practical Plant Wisdom  

Guided Foraging Walk with Roushanna Gray: Learning the language of wild food in the edible autumn landscape: nourishing weeds, medicinal plants, aromatic fynbos, edible flowers, and the last wild fruits of summer. 

Picking, Processing & Preserving: Best harvesting practices for picking herbs and flowers, drying techniques and preserving foraged plants for kitchen and apothecary use. Together we will make herbal salt blends, wild spice blends and tinctures.

25th May Day 3: Gardening, Lunar Cycles & Regenerative Soil Practices

A day dedicated to tending the land, learning from the soil, and honouring the ancient wisdom of planting with the moon. 

Regenerative Gardening with Tom Gray: Fundamentals: Understanding soils and learning about composting, nutrient cycles and fertilising through worm farming and garden tonics. 

Lunar & Seasonal Planting Cycles: Sowing, tending, and harvesting in alignment with the phases of the moon. 

Propagation & Wild Herbal Planting: Learn about the art of propagation via seed and cuttings, take home your own starter packs to continue the cycle of regeneration.

26th May Day 4: The Fire & The Ferment – Transformation & Alchemy

Cooking with Fire with Rochelle Coetzee: Understanding heat, transformation, and the elemental magic of fire-based cooking. Ash baking, wood fire oven, smoking techniques and underground earth oven.

The Microbial Wild with Laura Kropman: Dive into the world of fermentation, the hidden alchemy that shapes flavour, preservation, and gut health.

Hands-On Fermentation: Kimchi, kraut, probiotic beverages, and botanical infusions.

27th May Day 5: Ocean’s Gift – Coastal Foraging & Tidal Rhythms 

Intertidal Coastal Forage with Roushanna Gray: Exploring the ever-shifting boundary between land and sea, uncovering edible seaweeds and tidal ecosystems and learn about the biophysics of the pull of the moon and the living pulse of the ocean. 

Coastal Cooking: We will create healing autumn broth bowls with seaweeds, shellfish, herbs and flowers. 

The Science & Magic of Seaweed: Explore the nutrient-dense, mineral-rich, and regenerative qualities of seaweed, benefiting both the body and the planet. Learn how this versatile ocean treasure enhances nutrition, supports ecosystems, and can be incorporated into everyday meals and remedies.

28th May Day 6: Wild Pantry & Botanical Alchemy 

Creating a Wild Pantry with the Veld and Sea Team: Preserving wild ingredients for year-round nourishment with infusions, botanical elixirs & tonic making, crafting medicinal brews, oxymels, adaptogenic teas, and infused honey. 

Botanical Drinks Creation Station: learn the art of drinks creation using our own wild pantry products and enjoy a relaxed slow afternoon of art, reading and journaling.

29th May Day 7: The Harvest Feast – Honouring the Cycles

The week culminates in a day of gathering, cooking, and feasting—an honouring of the land and the gifts of the season. 

Forage & Harvest: Gathering seasonal and wild offerings from the land, harvesting garden ingredients for our feast. 

Cooking Over Fire: Preparing a communal meal together, and applying all that has been learned throughout the week. 

Seasonal Feast in the Glasshouse: A long table gathering, surrounded by plants, shells, stones and stories from the earth and ocean accompanied by botanical drinks and delicious moments of adventure. 

Closing Circle & Sound Journey with Gershan Lombard: A reflection sharing, gifts and farewells.

COST: 

Early Bird Tickets (closes 31 March 2025): R7500 per person 

Standard Tickets: R8000 per person

Volunteer Exchange: Two partially discounted spaces (50% off) are available in exchange for hands-on assistance throughout the program. Volunteers will support the experience by helping in the kitchen, setting up and packing down workshops, assisting teachers, and providing general support as needed. To apply, please send a letter of motivation detailing your interest and skills to admin@veldandsea.com.

Scholarships for WOC: We are offering two fully funded spaces for WOC participants. To apply, please send a letter of motivation detailing your interest and how this immersion aligns with your journey to admin@veldandsea.com.

PAYMENT & BOOKING:

Please pre-book your spot via Quicket and we will be in touch with payment options to secure your spot.

CANCELATION & REFUND POLICY:

We charge a 50% cancellation fee.

Tickets are non-refundable within 72 hours of the first day of the event.

Tickets are non-transferable to other event dates.

DIRECTIONS