WIE IS ONS?
Die Windpomp is deur die Erasmus-familie gebou, begin by die pa en ma, John en Eefje Erasmus gevolg deur die seuns, wat tans die onderneming saam met hul vrouens bestuur, en die derde geslag op die drumpel.
John het in Boksburg grootgeword met ‘n Afrikaanse Pa en Ma, wat ‘n Griekse agtergrond gehad het. Eefje het na Suid-Afrika geïmmigreer vanaf Landsmeer in Holland, toe sy n skrale 12 jaar oud was, wat ook die naam van die Equestrian Estate “Landsmeer” oorkant Jasmyn verduidelik.
Windpompe het hul oorsprong uit Mediterreense lande en nie net uit Holland nie. Die Nederlanders het net windpompe gebruik om water uit die dyke in Holland te pomp. Die windpomp by Jasmyn, is ‘n simbool wat beide die pioniers se Europese oorsprong verteenwoordig. Die Jasmyn-windpomp is ‘n goed gevestigde landmerk in Hartbeespoort en het geen bekendstelling of advertensie nodig nie.
Die eerste Jasmyn-winkel is oorspronklik gebore op ‘n klein hoewe ongeveer 35 km vanaf Rustenburg op die N4. Die plaas het ‘n paar vrugtebome gehad en ‘n klein plaasstalletjie, so groot soos ‘n motorhuis, wat vrugte, groente, koeke, lekkers en brood verkoop het. Meestal verskaf deur die boervroue in die omgewing of wat op die plaas self geproduseer is. Dit was klein, maar die gewildheid het gegroei as gevolg van uitstekende kliëntediens en die vars produkte. Toe die seuns hul skool en naskoolse studies klaargemaak het, het hulle teruggekeer plaas toe om hul ouers te help. In 1995 het die gesin die klein Jasmyn-garageplaasstalletjie opgeknap en uitgebrei. Hulle het ook toe hul eerste klein bakkery, slaghuis, koffiewinkel en ‘n piepklein boekwinkelhok bygevoeg. Hulle het almal in die winkeltjie gewerk en met groente en suiwel geboer. Die gewildheid en groeiende handel het hul bekendheid verseker op die roete na Rustenburg vanaf Pretoria.
In 2000 het die myne in die Marikana-omgewing hulle gedwing om die eiendom te verkoop en Jasmyn na Hartbeespoort te verskuif. Die Meerhof-plaas is gekoop van die Oeshevski-familie wat die plaas vir baie jare as ‘n navorsingsplaas bedryf het. Die Meerhof-plaas het vir ongeveer 50 jaar aan die Oeshevski-familie behoort. Dit is ‘n plaas ryk aan geskiedenis en aangeteken by Hartbeespoort area se geskiedkundige terreine. Die ou “Ossewa”-pad tussen Rustenburg en Pretoria, asook die treinlyn tussen Magaliesberg en Pretoria het oor die Meerhofplaas geloop. Dit spog met ‘n ou damwal en ‘n pragtige pizza-oond wat deur die Italiaanse krygsgevangenes gebou is.
In 2001 het die hele Erasmus-gesin na Hartbeespoort verhuis en ‘n nuwe begin. Die nuwe Meerhof Plaas is ‘n generiese ontwikkeling. Die gesin speel almal op een of ander manier ‘n rol. Hul aanbevelings word gewoonlik gedryf deur die behoeftes van die publiek.
Hulle werk onvermoeid om nuwe uitdagings en hul gedeelde visie aan te pak om ‘n nalatenskap te verseker wat sal herinner aan hoe sterk hierdie gesinsband is.
WHO WE ARE
The Windmill was built by the Erasmus Family, starting with the father and mother, John and Eefje Erasmus followed by the sons, whom currently run the enterprise with their wives, and the third generation on the doorstep.
John grew-up in Boksburg with an Afrikaans Father and Mother, whom had a Greek background and Eefje immigrated to South Africa from Landsmeer in Holland, when she was 12 years old, explaining the name of the Equestrian Estate “Landsmeer” opposite Jasmyn.
Windmills originated from the Mediterranean countries and not just from Holland. The Dutch only utilized windmills, to pump water out of the dykes in Holland. The windmill at Jasmyn, is a symbol representing both the pioneers European Origin. The Jasmyn windmill is a well-established landmark in Hartbeespoort and needs no introduction or advertisement.
The first Jasmyn shop, originally was born on a small farm holding approximately 35 km from Rustenburg on the N4. The farm had a few fruit trees and a small farm stall, the size of a garage, which sold fruit, vegetables, cakes, sweets, and bread, mostly supplied by the farmer wives in the area or that was produced on the farm itself. It was small, but the popularity grew as a result of excellent customer service and the fresh produce. As the sons finished school and their after school studies, they returned to the farm to help their parents, and in 1995 the family renovated and expanded the small Jasmyn garage farmstall and added their first small bakery, butchery, coffee shop and a tiny bookshop loft. They all worked the little shop and farmed with vegetables and dairy. The popularity and growing trade grew and they became well-known on the route to Rustenburg from Pretoria.
In 2000 the mines in the Marikana area forced them to sell the property and relocate Jasmyn to Hartbeespoort. The Meerhof Farm was purchased from the Oeshevski family who ran the farm as a research farm for many years. The Meerhof farm belonged to the Oeshevski family for approximately 50 years. It is a farm rich in history and logged into Hartbeespoort area’s historical sites. The old “Ossewa” road between Rustenburg and Pretoria, as well as the train line between Magaliesberg and Pretoria ran over the Meerhof Farm. It boasts with an old dam wall and a beautiful pizza oven that was built by the Italian prisoners of war.
In 2001 the whole Erasmus family moved to Hartbeespoort and started a new. The new Meerhof Farm is a generic development. The family all play a role in some way or another. Their recommendations are usually driven by the needs of the public.
They work tirelessly in embracing new challenges and their shared vision to leave a legacy that will be reminiscent of how strong this family bond is.
‘N WOORD VAN DIE FAMILIE
Ons was altyd geïnteresseerd in agritoerisme en boerdery. Dit het natuurlik vir ons ouers gekom en toe vir ons. As ‘n gesin neem ons saam besluite, sou ons die behoefte sien om veranderinge te maak en te ontwikkel. Ons beplan ver vooruit. Ons wag, voel, kyk, reis en sit dan saam met ’n argitek en ingenieurs en beplan en pas aan soos die tyd aanstap. Na baie maande se beplanning besluit ons en begin veranderinge. Dit is nie iets wat net gebeur nie. Die publiek en ons kliënte speel ‘n baie belangrike rol in hoe en wanneer ons veranderinge aanbring asook in enige toekomstige ontwikkeling wat ons beplan.
A WORD FROM THE FAMILY
We were always interested in agritourism and farming. It came naturally to our parents and then to us. As a family we make decisions together, should we see the need to make changes and develop. We plan far ahead. We wait, feel, look, travel and then sit with an architect and engineers and plan and adjust as time goes on. After many months of planning, we decide and start changes. It’s not something that just happens. The public and our customers play a very important role in how and when we make changes and devlop for the future.