NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS — After months of no rain, last week saw a reprieve for the Sneeuberg around Nieu-Bethesda as the heavens finally opened and glorious rain fell over the district.
A total of 91mm fell over Winterhoek, the farm of Sheryl and Andy Duthie - perfectly timed after a devastating fire the week before.
Nieu-Bethesda received about 42mm and The Rest 40mm.
It is beautiful to watch the Karoo blossom after rain. An artist in Nieu-Bethesda wrote: “As the cold, delicious rain finally fell, I imagined the tortoise out there lifting his leather face as the fat drops hit his parched, wrinkled neck. A tok-tokkie with mandibles plunging into a raindrop. A kudu savouring new leaves washed free of dust, and a farmer crying several tears of joy into his rain gauge.”
The veld has reacted well. New green shoots are evident, especially in those areas that were ravaged by fires, everything seems washed clean, the veld is verdant and the air is thick with moisture. The psychological and financial impact on farmers is huge and the change in demeanour amongst them is tangible. The Karoo is a place of hardship and extremes…blessings such as soft, soaking rain over a few days are appreciated hugely.
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