Meet the PENROC team

Penrock Seeds and Penrock Plants are managed by the husband and wife team Johann and Leigh Nieuwoudt.

Johann Nieuwoudt has a BA degree in Development Studies and Anthropology from the University of Johannesburg as well as a four year qualification in Nature Conservation from Technikon RSA. Johann and his wife Leigh were instrumental in the creation of Simply Indigenous Nursery near Hartbeespoortdam, South Africa in 1997. Simply Indigenous is an award-wining South African retail nursery and bulb exporter. Johann and Leigh have recently started their own specialist wholesale nursery The Roraima Garden and are partners in Penrock Seeds and Penrock Plants. Johann is currently the chairman of the Indigenous Plant Growers Association of SA and serves on the executive committee of the South African Nursery Association. Johann is an amateur botanical photographer and is currently reading for his Masters degree in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of the Free State. Johann enjoys South American travel, bulb and pelargonium propagation and collection, travel and natural history books, studying snakes and bird watching. Johann intends producing photographic guides to the bulbs of South America in the future.

Leigh Nieuwoudt has a BA Honours degree in Political Science from the University of Johannesburg. She was a political researcher for a geo-political newsletter in Johannesburg for 7 years. Leigh is responsible for the marketing, administration and accounts at Simply Indigenous, Penrock Seeds and also Penrock Plants. She has been at the forefront of the marketing of indigenous plants in South Africa for some years. Leigh is absolutely passionate about Brazil, its music, culture, natural landscapes, patriotism, socio-political dynamics, regional and global influence and its economic prosperity. She has a very keen interest in all things South American, its future, sustainable development, geo-politics, culture, and natural wild places such as the Andes, Tierra del Fuego and Gran Sabana. She intends writing numerous books on South America. She enjoys books on international relations, remote places, travel books and Native American art and craft.

As the owners of Penrock, Johann and Leigh endeavour to continue supplying an enviable variety of South African seeds and bulbs in the future.