Green gurus unite on TV

December 12, 2011: Local lad and creator of the popular Home Organic herb and veggie garden units, Andrew Donkin, is now appearing alongside SA’s famous gardening guru, Tanya Visser, on the popular TV show, The Gardener. The programme, aired on the Home Channel (DSTV 182), features fabulous, creative and practical DIY gardening tips, advice and projects for viewers to try at home.

Now with the addition of herb and veggie DIY expert, Andrew, viewers can look forward to another green-fingered guru’s fresh and fun ideas on how to make their gardens even more fabulous.

A common trait both Andrew and Tanya share is their unwavering passion for gardening and sustainable living. Tanya Visser, who is also the editor of the The Gardener and Tuinier magazines, cultivated her green fingers at an early age, helping her parents in the family veggie patch. To this day, she loves growing fresh vegetables for her kitchen.

“I also love cooking and experimenting with the fresh produce grown in my garden. There’s nothing better than producing a delicious homemade meal using your very own home-grown veg,” she says.

Tanya is excited to have Andrew on her team and said, “Andrew knows his veggies like the back of his hand and he’s got a knack for everything DIY. I believe he’s a great asset to the show and his sometimes naughty antics and fun persona add even more energy to the set.”

Weekend hobby

Andrew’s love for all things green began as a weekend hobby and soon blossomed into a flourishing home organic vegetable garden business. Previously a mechanical engineer, Andrew decided to embrace a more environmentally sustainable livelihood which would keep him outdoors.

He first introduced his Home Organic units to the public at the Shongweni Market in April 2009, and ever since – he’s never looked back.

Home Organic offers a wide range of veggie garden kits, complete with structure installation, soil and a built-in irrigation system to start the budding or sometimes clueless gardener off. All one needs to do is plant the seeds or seedlings and watch the veggies grow.

Andrew is thrilled to be on Tanya’s show saying, “I’ve been having such a ball and working with Tanya is real a treat! My wife keeps teasing me about how this programme might make me famous, that I might become a diva. I keep reassuring her though, that my feet are firmly rooted on the ground.”

Filming has begun and season 10, episode one aired last week.

Info: Tune in every Tuesday at 9pm; Wednesday at 9am; Thursday at 1pm; Friday at 5pm; Saturday at 9am and 6pm; Sunday at 7am and 1pm.

For info e-mail: info@homeorganic.co.za or visit: www.homeorganic.co.za