Christa von La Chevallerie, proprietor at Huis van Chevallerie says that both smoke and fire can have negative ramifications for vineyards.
Christa says: “fire-awareness and management is ever-present in farming.”
Huis van Chevallerie has, alongside others, provided support to The Juliet Crew. Established over a year ago, the Juliet Crew is an all-woman fire-fighting team comprised of young adults from at-risk communities. Communities such as Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Bonteheuwel, Touws River, Beaufort West, Retreat as well as Port Alfred, are represented in the Juliet Crew.
“Supporting the Juliet Crew in their endeavours, as part of this essential component of agriculture, makes perfect sense,” Christa says.
Named after the only female descriptor in the international phonetic alphabet, the Juliet Crew was conceived from the need to make firefighting more accessible to women. The Juliet Crew was created through a partnership between NCC Environmental Services and the Chrysallis Academy youth development organization, with the support of the Western Cape Government.
While the NCC Environmental Services fund transformation initiatives from their own funds, the Juliet Crew is also supported by the sale of the Huis Van Chevallerie Circa Pinotage Rose MCC, alongside other contributions. These, and other proceeds will go towards establishing a furnished and equipped base for the Juliet Crew, as well as other needs, such as female-appropriate kit and tailoring, and firefighting equipment.
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