31/05/2025
Hi everyone!💦
It has been a month since I got out of the water, after nearly 21 years spend in or near water. My water days are done now and I am heading to the Karoo.
Once a dream, now reality.
I took the leap of faith. I answered the call.
I am fulfulling my pupose on earth.
I have taken a well deserved break on the West Coast where we have not had any water for over a week, being this close to nature really awakens your soul! Self care and listening to your body becomes easy again.. It's all about preparation, safety and sudden change. I must admit it has been fun playing survival & in 2 weeks from now I will fully start to become part of the Karoo.
My next lesson in life is to ask for help. I cannot do this part by myself, I need your help & assistance in sharing my letter below (Afrikaans & English) to anyone living in the Karoo.
I know how much a pair of extra hand can do to help someone out. I want to find the people who have good hearts and kind souls who been trying so hard and just need a little break.
I cannot change the world, but I want to change my world by making things better and leave a path of friendships, live and healing.
Thank you in advance! 💚🌱✨🌍
This page will follow my adventures...
Dear Karoo Community and Self-Sustaining Farmers,
My name is Lize Kruger, I am 42 years old, and until April 25, 2025, I was a water rehabilitation therapist in Pretoria.
Five years ago, I had a dream that changed my life. It made such an impact that I still remember and feel every detail today. During this time, I prepared myself for what lies ahead. I learned to plant and listen to nature, transforming my grassy yard in Pretoria into an organic garden with fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs of more than 30 different species. I started keeping chickens and lived a self-sustaining life in the city.
I also completed my FGASA field guide course and exam outside Nieu-Bethesda—long ago, but I believe the knowledge will return quickly. With a Code 10 license and basic mechanical knowledge from my time as an overland guide, plus experience in building, painting, plumbing, electricity, and more from my home renovation, I bring a variety of skills.
Today, I write to you, the people of the Karoo, with a sincere request. I am coming to the Karoo in mid-June (from the Kleinzee direction), not sure where I will find my own piece of land, but with a deep feeling that I am called here.
I am looking for self-sustaining farmers, local community members, and those who carry the stories, secrets, and wisdom of the land—as passed down from ancient times. I want to gain and help preserve this precious knowledge before it is lost.
I want to learn about the plants and bushes—how to use them for food, medicine, or the earth. I want to understand how a windmill works, how to care for animals with respect, and how to nurture the fauna and flora. I dream of helping raise a lamb and feeling the rhythms of the Karoo. Books and YouTube cannot replace the wisdom of your hands and hearts.
I learn quickly, have lots of energy, and will work hard to be an asset. I plan to stay at a place for a week to a month, to learn something unique from each and discover the soul of the Karoo until my roots grow here.
I don’t have much financially, but I am eager to help with work—on the land, with animals, or anything else—in exchange for food and a place to stay. My tent won’t withstand the Karoo’s cold. I travel with my two trained therapy dogs—good manners, ninety percent of the time. They know chickens and are comfortable with them, but sometimes they don’t get along with other dogs and cats. My safety is my responsibility.
If you or someone in your community can help me learn, share stories, and become part of this heritage, I will be infinitely grateful. Please feel free to contact me.
Warm regards,
Lize Kruger
0792300015
lizekruger9@aol.com
Geagte Karoo Gemeenskap en Selfvolhouende Boere,
My naam is Lize Kruger, ek is 42 jaar oud en was tot en met 25 April 2025 ’n waterrehabilitasie-terapeut in Pretoria.
Vyf jaar gelede het ek ’n droom gehad wat my lewe verander het. Dit het so ’n impak gemaak dat ek vandag nog elke detail kan onthou en voel. In hierdie tyd het ek myself voorberei vir wat voorlê.
Ek het geleer om te plant en te luister na die natuur, en my graserf in Pretoria omskep in ’n organiese tuin met vrugtebome, groente en kruie van meer as 30 verskillende spesies. Ek het hoenders begin aanhou en ’n selfvolhouende lewe in die stad gelei.
Ek het ook my FGASA-veldgidskursus en eksamen buite Nieu-Bethesda gedoen—lank gelede, maar ek glo die kennis sal vinnig terugkom. Met ’n kode 10-lisensie en basiese meganiese kennis uit my tyd as overland-gids, plus ondervinding in bou, verf, loodgietery, elektrisiteit en meer van my huisrenovasi, bring ek ’n verskeidenheid vaardighede saam.
Vandag skryf ek aan julle, die mense van die Karoo, met ’n opregte versoek. Ek kom middel Junie na die Karoo toe (vanaf Kleinzee se rigting), nie seker waar ek my eie stuk grond sal kry nie, maar met ’n diep gevoel dat ek hierheen geroep word.
Ek is op soek na selfvolhouende boere, plaaslike gemeenskapslede en dié wat die stories, geheime en wysheid van die land dra—soos van ouds af oorgedra is. Ek wil hierdie kosbare kennis opdoen en help bewaar voordat dit verlore gaan.
Ek wil leer van die plante en bossies—hoe om dit te gebruik vir voedsel, medisyne of die aarde. Ek wil verstaan hoe ’n windpomp werk, hoe om diere te versorg met respek, en hoe om die fauna en flora te koester. Ek droom daarvan om ’n lammetjie te help grootmaak en die ritmes van die Karoo te voel. Boeke en YouTube kan nie die wysheid van julle hande en harte vervang nie.
Ek leer vinnig, het baie energie en sal hard werk om ’n aanwins te wees. Ek beplan om ’n week tot ’n maand by ’n plek te bly, om van elkeen iets unieks te leer en die Karoo se siel te ontdek totdat my wortels hier groei.
Ek het nie baie finansies nie, maar ek is gretig om te help met werk—op die land, met diere, of enigiets anders—in ruil vir kos en ’n blyplek. My tent sal nie die Karoo se koue deurstaan nie. Ek reis met my twee opgeleide terapiehonde—goeie maniere, negentig persent van die tyd. Hulle ken hoenders en is gemaklik daarmee, maar soms stem hulle nie ooreen met ander honde en katte nie. My veiligheid is my verantwoordelikheid.
As jy of iemand in jou gemeenskap my kan help om te leer, stories vertel en deel te word van hierdie erfenis, sal ek oneindig dankbaar wees. Kontak my gerus.
Hartlike groete,
Lize Kruger
0792300015
lizekruger9@aol.com
fans Lize Kruger
