Something to Tweet about
Everything can get just a little too much at the end of the year, can’t it? Well, we have the perfect escape: See if you can find the human-sized bird’s nest we have tucked away in the Babylonstoren garden, then climb right inside. We’re sure the world will look a lot more manageable after you’ve had a little nest rest 
Have a very happy New Year’s celebration, everyone, and all best wishes for 2012!
Lotus in bloom
The lotuses have started to flower. We’d love you to come and share the beauty, but you’ll need to hurry, as they only last for a few days.
Popsicles from the garden
We’re celebrating the the warm weather at by eating popsicles made from summer fruits from the Babylonstoren garden.
Apelkoos blatjang
The first step in the process of making a real traditional Cape apricot chutney from a recipe dating from the 1700’s is drying the apricots, then soaking them in vinegar overnight. After this, they are cooked with onions, raisins and brown sugar (we use fruit sugar in our kitchen). We also add spices to give a flavoursome chutney – ideal for curries.
We hope you come and taste this sweet and sour chutney in our farmshop soon…
Hierdie is die eerste stap in die proses om ‘n blatjang resep uit die 1700’s te kook – tradisionele Kaapse blatjang.
Die appelkose word gedroog, daarna oornag geweek in asyn, en dan gekook met uie, rosyne, bruinsuiker (ons gebruik vrugtesuiker) en speserye vir ‘n geurige blatjang, ideal vir kerrie geregte.
Kom proe hierdie soet-suur blatjang binnekort in ons plaaswinkel….
The Glasshouse
Just to let you know that there’s something new in the garden at Babylonstoren. On Friday December 16 the glasshouse opens. We’d like to spoil you with fresh salads from the garden, breads from the old wood-fired oven and various liquids and infusions. Enjoy from Wednesday to Sunday, somewhere between 10am and 4pm.
Net om jou te laat weet dat daar iets nuuts is in die tuin by Babylonstoren. Op Vrydag 16 Desember open die glaskas. Ons sal jou graag wil bederf met slaaie uit die tuin, brode uit die outydse bakoond en ‘n verskeidenheid sappe en tees. Kom geniet dit Woensdag tot Sondag, erens tussen 10:00 en 4:00.
Daisies
A delicious lunch at Babel Restaurant, followed by some hard-earned relaxation on our flowering lawn of chamomile – what better way to spend a Summer’s weekend?
Peerwyn en peerbrandewyn vir Kersfees
Op 17 November is die vyf boepenspeertjies en een appeltjie in wording in glasbottels gehang, nes dit daar in die boom voorkom.
Die idee is dat die babavruggies dan in die bottel groei, om met volwassenheid afgepluk te word by die steeltjie en siedaar – ‘n yslike peer in ‘n klein bottel sonder veel moeite!
In pure Franse tradisie sal brandewyn of wyn in die peerbottel gegooi word om dit as peer brandewyn of wyn te benut.
Berry time!
No doubt about it: it’s berry time in the Babylonstoren garden! See more pics of our berry bushes on our Facebook page.
House & Garden, December 2011
Land of Plenty, Lisa Granger samples the cultural,gastronomic and vinicultural delights of South Africa’s wine lands….
Fresh from the farm
We’ve finalised the packaging for our home-made products, and now they have a shelf all of their own in the Babylonstoren farm shop.
All of our beautifully-packaged products have been made using produce from our farm and none of them have any cane sugar added.
We’ve listed all the things we have available, and hope that you’ll pop by the shop soon, with a shopping list of your own:
Jams & Honey
- Green fig Preserve
- Green fig & Brandy paste
- Honey
- Strawberry & Sage Jam
- Lemon & Orange Marmalade
- Lemon Twirls
- Bloekom Heuning (Honey made from eucalyptus blossoms)
- Spring flower Honey
Drinks:
- Strawberry & Lemon Cordial
- Strawberry/Elderflower & Vodka Cordial
- Ginger Beer
Treats:
- Heuningkoek
- Whole Plums in Port
- Boerenmeisjes (Apricots in Brandy!)
Pickles & preserves:
- Fennel & Carrot Pickle
- Yellow Plum Chutney
- Spiced Plum Jam
Most definitely worth the effort!
Groetnis,
Anelle and Annemarie
