National SA Idols winner Jason Hartman, will be performing with his band in a Planting Season concert at Knysna’s renowned Gastronomica food festival. The performance will take place in The Parking Shed (Thesen Harbour Town) on Friday 25 September at 19h00. He will be interacting with Knysna school children to sing with him in the concert and also to talk about organic gardening.
Jason was an obvious choice for festival organiser Pat Mulder who noticed the synergy between his belief in healthy living and Gastronomica’s focus on “slow food” (as opposed to “fast food”) and sustainable organic gardening. Apart from singing, Jason is a well-known “greenie” and ardent advocate for an organic diet and lifestyle.
A “plaasjapie” from Kwazulu Natal, Jason farms with sheep, horses, bees, chickens and organic vegetables together with his father. He is actively involved in Men of the Trees, a non-profit collective fighting for the protection of indigenous trees and works with the Save Our Soul Africa campaign that teaches people how to grow their own vegetables.
He also runs his own organization called Jasons Garden which aims to reconnect people and the earth by getting at least one million people to grow their own food. On Tuesday 22 September, shortly before his appearance in Knysna, Jasons Garden will assist with getting thousands of South Africans to partake in South Africa’s first National Planting Day.
His website at www.jasonsgarden.com contains proof of his devotion to the cause: “I believe that we as people are guardians of this planet,” he writes. “We have the ability to control and manipulate nature, so it would be wise for us to protect and preserve and guide this planet back to a pristine natural paradise. We have to change our culture from a taking culture to a giving culture. We must first change and educate ourselves and then our children. Once we’ve become natural again, we may se a future.”
To add to Jason’s Concert, eight children from local Knysna schools have been selected to perform the song “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers with Jason. For more information on Gastronomica events and on-line concert booking visit the Gastronomica website : gastronomicakny.co.za
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