Sessions with Green & Eco themes, at the Franschhoek Literary Festival, are totally appropriate for this prime literary event set in the vineyards of the historic Franschhoek valley noted for its wine, cuisine and culture.
Here are the sessions that should be of interest.
BOTANICAL KINGDOM: INDIGENOUS GARDENING MASTERCLASS
16 May, 2025 14:30 – 15:30 CHURCH HALL
Indigenous garden guru Elsa Pooley (Indigenous Garden Plants – the Gardener’s Guide) shares how to choose, plant, and care for South African flora – and design pleasing spaces that save water while attracting wildlife. Whether you’re a grizzled green thumb or a budding rookie, this class is bound to seed some bright ideas.
SEEDS OF CHANGEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 16 May, 2025 16:00 – 17:00 OLD SCHOOL HALL
Wandile Sihlobo (The Uncomfortable Truth about South Africa’s Agriculture) and globally renowned economist David McWilliams (Money) zoom out to explore the broader economic forces reshaping the value of agriculture. In the age of Trumpian resource poker, how should SA play its strong agricultural hand?
TIDALLY AMAZING
17 May, 2025 13:00 – 14:00 FRANSCHHOEK THEATRE
Koketso Sachane witnesses Serai Dowling’s immersive presentation on South Africa’s tidal pools in A Guide to Tidal Pools of the Western Cape, blending cultural history with natural beauty. Through storytelling and arresting photography, Serai will discuss the historical significance of these coastal treasures and their place in the South African imagination.
STEEPED IN SECRETS
17 May, 2025 16:00 – 17:00 HOSPICE HALL
Jackie Phamotse’s The Tea Merchant follows the battles to save the family rooibos farm, unearthing long-buried secrets along the way. Steeped in mystery, family legacy, and the fight for indigenous rights, who really profits from Africa’s natural wealth? Gail Schimmel (The Finish Lines) unpacks the real-world issues behind this gripping new novel.
VELD: LANDSCAPES OF RENEWAL
18 May, 2025 11:30 – 12:30 NG CHURCH
Patrick Watson, Garreth van Niekerk (VELD), and Wilton Sikhosana discuss their decades-long partnership in ecological restoration with Nancy Richards. From the Seychelles to Spier Wine Farm, they explore how collaboration, indigenous planting, and soil expertise shape sustainable landscapes and protect South Africa’s ecosystems.
THE PANGOLIN PAPERS
18 May, 2025 13:00 – 14:00 NEW SCHOOL HALL
Join Tony Park (The Protector) as he discusses the urgent threats facing pangolins with Pippa Hudson. Through Park’s gripping storytelling and deep knowledge of conservation, he brings together the worlds of fiction and science in the fight for
these critically endangered creatures.
With literature, culture, and culinary discoveries around every corner, PLUS this focus on green & eco themes, the Franschhoek Literary Festival is more than a weekend—it’s a celebration of stories and the people who tell them.
WHAT: Franschhoek Literary Festival 2025
WHERE:Â FranschhoekÂ
WHEN: 16 to 18 May 2025
BOOKING & TICKETS: Webtickets |
INFO: For more festival updates, to view the full list of participants and to select sessions to attend, please visit the official Franschhoek Literary Festival website and follow the festival’s Instagram account. | See also Cape Town Green Map | Weekend of Culture, Cuisine & Creativity at the Franschhoek Literary Festival 2025
