Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre

Sandy Roberts

A little History ….In late 1981 Margaret Roberts moved to road 16 in De Wildt and rented the lower portion of raw, undeveloped land from the homeopathic doctor living there at the time. In 1982 the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre was formed. Over the next 35 years, Margaret and her daughter, Sandy Roberts together created beautiful herb gardens and herbal products for health and healing which drew the attention of people first nationally and then worldwide. It is Margaret that introduced herbs to South Africa in a way that they would be understood, grown and used organically in everyday life in homes around South Africa. This journey she began on a remote farm outside Rustenburg in 1959 as a young farmer’s wife and physiotherapist. With no resources or finances she started working at the Rustenburg Hospital, but after her son was born with severe asthma that medication could not treat, Margaret focused her life on using healing herbs and growing everything on the farm organically. It is because of this journey that Margaret was awarded a Laureate award from University of Pretoria for being the first organic farmer of food and herbal medicine in SA. Her life of herbs later continued in De Wildt after Margaret’s divorce when she needed to restart her career again. Margaret began a nursery, building gardens and creating a range of medicinal herbal and botanical products to sell. This was unheard of in the Brits, Harties and De Wildt area at that time but she persevered by going national. Margaret and Sandy produced beautiful healing, healthy herbal products on the farm which soon got the attention of Woolworths. The Margaret Roberts name became a household necessity for many people for 25 years in Woolworths of its contracts time span. Margaret wrote over 40 Books on herbs and indigenous plants, and in the later years Sandy not only did the photographs but co-wrote the books with Margaret. After the sudden passing of Margaret in March 2017, Sandy continued the fascinating Indigenous Healing Plants book that they were writing together. It was launched at the Herbal Centre on 1 July 2017 on Margaret’s 80th Birthday as a tribute to her. This was one of Margaret’s favourite books to write with her beloved South African plants she was fascinated by. Well-illustrated, Indigenous Healing Plants is colourful and easy to read, this is ONE of South Africa’s treasures, as you turn the pages you will be inspired by the beauty, the uses and the medicinal value of each of South Africa’s indigenous healing plants, which are literally on our doorstep. Would it not be wonderful to make our own remedies for health and healing straight from the veld? As foraging has become both fashionable and vital to food supplementing, these pages will fill you with wonder of what is easily accessible and how important organic, naturally grown plants are for one’s health. From the marogo amaranths and the giant baobab, to the fragrant rose- scented geranium and the pesky black jack you will be filled with awe as to the value of each one. It is because of these amazing plants that Sandy finds her inspiration to add to the existing ranges by growing, harvesting and producing healing food, bath and skin products for their herb shop at the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre. The Centre It is also famous for being the origin and home of 2 of the Margaret Roberts Lavenders, Ginger Rosemary and High hopes basil which were all cultivated and grown by Margaret for the green industry and for gardeners across the world. These plants all took Margaret over 15 years each to develop fully. As a plant breeder this was not only a difficult journey but one of intense dedication and passion for plants especially used for the butterfly and bee gardens, essential oils and healing teas. More unusual plants are available at their little nursery. It is this legacy that inspires Sandy to continue with dedicated hard work. One needs to walk the healing herb gardens and enjoy the fragrance and tranquillity that allows you to truly relax. This starts the healing process and stress release. Of course an outing to the Herbal Centre is never complete without browsing through the fragrant shop, walking the Labyrinth, a visit to the little chapel and thereafter a delicious herb tea or lunch at the restaurant, not to mention visiting our heritage seed bank, the first in South Africa.

Visit us at the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre De Wildt 071 161 6441 Open every Wednesday to the public 08:30 - 16:00 and the first Saturday of every month. R20 Entrance fee for cars. www.margaretroberts.co.za