JEREMY LOOPS’S (SEA) GREEN ROUTE J

EREMY Loops is an award-winning folk musician, social activist and environmentalist from Cape Town. He is also co-founder of tree-planting organisation Greenpop.

“My green route starts at Sealand Gear for supplies. It makes beautiful upcycled bags and accessories from used or waste material and the founders are old surfer friends.

“From there, I’d go to my favourite secret surf spot. You’d have a hard time making a stronger case for the power and majesty of nature than the ocean. If you’ve ever surfed perfect Deep South barrels, you’ll know you’ve never felt more alive than when surfing.

“My next green spot is Cape Nature’s Platbos forest. This ancient indigenous forest is Africa’s southernmost, and it has a remarkable yet incredibly fragile ecosystem. I love it so much that our tree-planting organisation, Greenpop, takes groups of volunteers there every year to plant 8 000 trees.

“Next, I’d head further up the coast to Vermaaklikheid. There you’ll find the Duiwenhoks estuary, one of South Africa’s most pristine rivers. It’s embedded deep within a difficult-to-traverse valley and so goes mostly untouched by people. Those who do come into contact with it are incredibly respectful of the space. I’m building a sustainable musical retreat there on a piece of land I bought last year along the banks. It’s a little slice of paradise.

“I’d end it all off in the backyard at our family home. My parents have spent a lot of time developing it into this welcoming, green, open space.

“My personal highlights are our generous granadilla trees, our rainwater system which feeds a greenroom full of garden salads and runner beans, the chilli plantation and the artichokes. Self-farmed food for the win!”