Workshops

Cape cooking: traditional bobotie with seasonal chutney

Only 10 spaces available.

Bobotie is considered the national dish of South Africa, having been served at a special dinner by the United Nations Women’s Organisation in 1954. It is one of the most engrained recipes in traditional South African cuisine with cultural influences from all over the world, including Malaysia, France and the Netherlands. Bobotie is celebrated everywhere in South Africa – from high-end restaurants to casual eateries, and around the dinner table in many homes.

Join us in the heritage kitchen of Soetmelksvlei, a new Babylonstoren excursion, to celebrate this South African icon. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, master baker Martjie Malan will teach you the art of making traditional bobotie alongside its classic companion. Chutney, or blatjang as it’s called in Afrikaans, is a spicy condiment cooked from a variety of Cape fruits.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Discover the secret life of bees

Only 15 places available

Cape honeybees are honoured workers on Babylonstoren Farm – not only do they produce an abundance of honey for the breakfast table at Babel Restaurant, but they also play a key role in pollinating many of our garden fruits, herbs and vegetables.

We host our workshops during the warmer seasons, when the garden is buzzing with Cape honeybees, hard at work foraging for pollen and nectar. The workshop starts with a guided walk through the garden to explore the bees’ favourite spots, from nectar-filled annual flowers to pollen-rich trees. We’ll then invite you to put on your beekeeping suit and discover our collection of diverse beehives – including the traditional woven skep, the practical Langstroth with moveable frames, and the much-talked-about flow hives. Our beekeeper, Arné Stander, will share the story of the indigenous Cape honeybee and explain the basics of beekeeping.

**Note: **Please bring along your sun hat for the garden walk and closed shoes such as gumboots or wellies or high-ankle hiking boots for the practical session with beekeeping suits.

Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
A refreshing lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Grow your own edible and cut flowers

Only 15 places available

Let the seasons ahead be a flower feast! Join us at the start of summer for expert help to plan your cut flower and edible flower garden with flower specialists and master gardeners Louise and Gundula.

In this hands-on workshop, guests will get to celebrate flowers for their beauty and their functionality. You’ll learn to use blooms as eye-candy as well as delightful snacks as so many flowers can be enjoyed both in a vase and on your plate. The class will give a whole different angle to skipping through the daisies this summer.

_Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch in the Greenhouse is included. _

Pasta from scratch with mozzarella

Only 15 places available.

Join us on the farm for a morning stroll through the garden to harvest farm-fresh eggs. We’ll use these to make our own pasta dough from scratch and create a variety of flat and filled pastas to enjoy on the day. Farm foodie, Louzel Steyn, will share a few tricks on making and cooking the perfect pasta, as well as how best to pair different pasta styles with different sauces.

Our resident Italian-trained cheesemaker, Alta Eybers, will share her secrets to making the best mozzarella, using milk from Babylonstoren’s own water buffalo herd. We’ll also stir up a quick, rustic sauce with what’s available from the garden to pair with the fresh pasta. Come hungry for this one!

_Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch in the Old Bakery is included. _

Handcrafts at Soetmelksvlei: plant pressing

Only 10 spaces available.

Remember plucking dainty blooms in the garden as a child, then carefully placing them between sheets of newspaper and piles of the heftiest books you could find? For centuries, botanists have relied on pressed plants for identification and to fill their herbariums with dried specimens as plant libraries. In Victorian times, children combined pressed picks with bright ribbons to create pretty pictures, while sweethearts would slip flowers between the pages of a book to preserve the memory of a special moment.

Flower pressing is back in a big way, and we love the practice for its calming effect and aesthetic appeal. Join us for a hands-on workshop at Soetmelksvlei, a new excursion by Babylonstoren, to try your hand at this age-old craft. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, artist Tina-Marié Malherbe will guide guests through the garden to pick, press and create their own botanical collection.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Make your own Christmas decor

Only 15 places available

To get into the spirit of the Christmas season, join Constance, our floral artist. Walk with her through the garden and fill your basket with seed heads, flowers, foliage and whatever takes your fancy, before observing a demonstration of a few of her favourite Christmas decoration designs. Constance will guide you while you make your own Christmas wreath to take home.

Steaming coffee and a croissant from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.

Unlock the diversity of indigenous succulents

Only 20 places available

Drought-tolerant, hardy and amazingly diverse in shape, colour and type, succulents have taken the gardening world by storm. Learn to cultivate, propagate and design a succulent garden under the keen and knowledgeable guidance of Ernst van Jaarsveld, our resident botanist. After walking through our cycad garden to look at various succulent ground covers and species, Ernst will share his top succulent tips during an illustrated talk in the garden lecture room. During the afternoon, you’ll get hands-on and learn how to grow your own collection of succulents from seeds and cuttings.

Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Everything’s better with butter: make butter & bake buttermilk rusks

Only 10 places available.

Join us for a buttermaking and buttermilk rusk baking workshop at Soetmelksvlei, a delightful new excursion by Babylonstoren.

Prepare to roll up your sleeves as we embark on our journey at the Babylonstoren ticket office. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, you will experience the age-old tradition of churning fresh farm milk into butter. See how we separate the cream and follow the simple steps to make your own butter. Under the guidance of master baker Martjie Malan you will bake buttermilk rusks, using fresh buttermilk – a by-product of the buttermaking process.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Lavender & essential oils

Only 15 places available

Harness the abundance of Babylonstoren’s fragrant and flowering lavender fields in summer. Pack your hat and a pair of sturdy shoes as you’ll be exploring beyond the garden to harvest aromatics and other indigenous herbs for their fragrances. From there, guests will be taken to the Scented Room to see the steam-distilling process that captures the natural essence of the plant. Guided by Babylonstoren’s in-house compounder, Gavin Hendriks, you’ll be able to create your own body product to take home, using a selection of our essential oils.

Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch in the Tasting Room is included.

Grow your own veggies (workshop for kids aged 4–7)

Only 20 places available

Note: This workshop is for children between four and seven years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum two children per adult. Adults need to book a space for themselves and cover the applicable fee.

Orange carrots, bright red beets and cute radishes! Did you know you can grow your own rainbow of colours? Bring your folks along for a dig in Babylonstoren’s sprawling gardens where we’ll learn to grow our very own veggies with Brent Reid from Babylonstoren’s garden team. It is a morning filled with picking, nibbling and planting. Discover frilly leaves and dig out strong root vegetables. Sow seeds, make cuttings and start potting your own plants. By the end of this day, you’ll have greener fingers than the Grinch who stole Christmas! You’ll also get some vegetable seedlings to take along and grow at home.

Juice and light snack are included.

Grow your own veggies (workshop for kids aged 8–12)

Only 20 places available

Note: This workshop is for children between eight and twelve old. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum two children per adult. Adults need to book a space for themselves and cover the applicable fee.

Orange carrots, bright red beets and cute radishes! Did you know you can grow your own rainbow of colours? Bring your folks along for a dig in Babylonstoren’s sprawling gardens where we’ll learn to grow our very own veggies with Brent Reid from Babylonstoren’s garden team. It is a morning filled with picking, nibbling and planting. Discover frilly leaves and dig out strong root vegetables. Sow seeds, make cuttings and start potting your own plants. By the end of this day, you’ll have greener fingers than the Grinch who stole Christmas! You’ll also get some vegetable seedlings to take along and grow at home.

Juice and light snack are included.

Bake your own: savoury breads for a festive table

Only 10 places available. Join us for a savoury breadmaking workshop at Soetmelksvlei, a delightful new excursion by Babylonstoren.

Prepare to roll up your sleeves as we embark on our journey at the Babylonstoren ticket office. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured. Here, master baker Martjie Malan will guide you to bake breadsthat will gather friends and family around the table. Learn how to mix, knead and prove dough, before adding herbs and cutting and twisting it into beautiful, pull-apart loaves.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Discover the secret life of bees

Only 15 places available

Cape honeybees are honoured workers on the Babylonstoren Farm – not only do they produce an abundance of honey for the breakfast table at Babel Restaurant, but they also play a key role in pollinating many of our garden fruits, herbs and vegetables.

We host our workshops during the warmer seasons, when the garden is buzzing with Cape honeybees, hard at work foraging for pollen and nectar. The workshop starts with a guided walk through the garden to explore the bees’ favourite spots, from nectar-filled annual flowers to pollen-rich trees. We’ll then invite you to put on your beekeeping suit and discover a collection of diverse beehives – including the traditional woven skep, the practical Langstroth with moveable frames, and the much-talked-about flow hives. Our beekeeper, Arné Stander, will share the story of the indigenous Cape honeybee and explain the basics of beekeeping.

**Please bring along your sun hat for the garden walk and closed shoes such as gumboots or wellies or high-ankle hiking boots for the practical session with beekeeping suits.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.

A refreshing lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Learn how to make sun prints at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 places available

When the sun is bright and the sky an endless blue, we present a workshop that harnesses these elements through the photographic process known as sun printing.

Join us at Soetmelksvlei for this unique workshop. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured.

This workshop is fun and experimental. Inspired by the cyan-blue prints invented at the dawn of photography, we’ll explore the Soetmelksvlei garden to collect natural objects for our compositions. Each participant will paint their own with the photosensitive paint and create unique sun prints to take home. A sun print is also called a cyanotype to describe the cyan blue photographic print that is created when the specially painted surface is exposed to sunlight. The print is processed when the ink that was hidden by the shadow of the photographed object is washed away by running water.

We’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Heirloom tomatoes : bake your galette with traditional butter pastry at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Having a trusted shortcrust pastry recipe in your skill set opens a world of delicious bakes from your own kitchen. Join us in the heritage kitchen of Soetmelksvlei to make the best and most versatile all-butter pastry to use with seasonal heirloom tomatoes.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, master baker Martjie Malan will teach you the art of making her very best butter pastry. Using our own pastry, we’ll create a beautiful free-form galette with fresh heirloom tomatoes, and a quiche with oven-dried tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella. Our heirloom tomato grower, Elzé Bresler, will also showcase the best of her summer crop to enjoy with our pastry party.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Pickle & preserve summer’s abundance at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Grandma’s pickles and preserves are part of a new revival of eating seasonal food and minimising food waste. Join us in the heritage kitchen of Soetmelksvlei as we unpack this traditional South African practice.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured. Here, we’ll join Rina van Velden for a hands-on morning of making our own pickled and preserved foods.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Bake your own savoury breads at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Join master baker Martjie Malan in the heritage kitchen of Soetmelksvlei to learn how to bake festive breads that will gather friends and family around the table.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured. Here, Martjie will guide you through the steps of kneading and allowing the dough to rise. Herbs are added, and the dough is cut and twisted into shapes for easy pull-apart loaves – all inspired by the seasonal abundance from the garden.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Waterwise gardening 101

Only 15 places available

We all need to do our bit to help preserve our precious natural resources, but sometimes we can be stumped as to how. In this ever popular waterwise workshop, our top botanist, Ernst van Jaarsveld, will share his own tried-and-tested waterwise tips. We start with a stroll through Babylonstoren’s garden to learn more about the different mulches and waterwise plants used here. Ernst will guide you in propagating easy-to-grow waterwise plants from seeds and cuttings to take home.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Bake your own at Soetmelksvlei: teatime treats with choux pastries & almonds

Only 10 places available

Try your hand at versatile choux pastry to create numerous variations, from classic eclairs filled with pastry cream to salty treats of choux puffs with gruyère cheese and biltong filling.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured. Here, master baker Martjie Malan will teach you the art of making her tried-and-tested choux recipe.

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll also celebrate the seasonal Babylonstoren almond harvest with Martjie’s famous macaroons. Martjie will demo and guests will get to taste.

After an exciting morning, a hearty lunch will be served at the Old Stables Restaurant.

Discover & grow cycads

Only 15 places available

Did you know our garden is home to some of the rarest cycads on earth? Join us in the Babylonstoren garden for a stroll among the living dinosaurs of the plant world. Wear your sunhat and comfy walking shoes for this one as we’ll explore the Babylonstoren cycad collection on foot, and get some interesting background on SA’s unique cycad species.

Expert Basie Dreyer will share his tips on the propagation of the plants, pollen collection and handling. We’ll also discuss basic pruning principles, seed treatment and germination collection, treatment and planting of cones.

_Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.

Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included._

Join us for healing herbal tea

Only 15 places available

Some like it hot

Some like it cold

Some like it in the pot

To share in the fold

This workshop is the ultimate tea party!

Join us for a meditative day of picking, steeping and sipping teas in the Healing Garden. Gundula Deutschländer, the guardian of the herbal garden, will give you the grounding to concoct tantalising teas and tisanes to suit any taste, easing a range of ailments. You’ll conclude your tea journey by making your own tisane using fresh clippings from the Healing Garden.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Traditional needlework: the basics of colourful quilting at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 places available

Join us for a hands-on quilting workshop at Soetmelksvlei and learn two fundamental quilting techniques.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical Soetmelksvlei farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, renowned quilting master Doortjie Gersbach will share her extensive knowledge of the art of quilting. Guests will try their hand at two different techniques, the beautiful Grandma’s flower garden and Japanese fold. This class will focus exclusively on hand-quilting, where there is no need for a sewing machine.

A hearty lunch will be served in the Old Stables Restaurant before guests return to Babylonstoren.

Unlock the diversity of indigenous succulents

Only 15 places available

Drought-tolerant, hardy and amazingly diverse in shape, colour and type, succulents have taken the gardening world by storm. Learn to cultivate, propagate and design a succulent garden under the keen and knowledgeable guidance of Ernst van Jaarsveld, our resident botanist.

After walking through our cycad garden to look at various succulent ground covers and species, Ernst will share his top tips with some hands-on experience in the nursery on how to grow your own collection of succulents from seeds and cuttings.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Master meat: make your own salami at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Observe our master butcher in his element at this hands-on workshop. Come and make your own salami at Soetmelksvlei.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical Soetmelksvlei farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, you’ll join master butcher Jaco Koegelenberg and master charcutier Shelvin Jacobs in the Meat Room for a butchery masterclass. The team will demonstrate how to take apart and debone select pork cuts to use for making salami. The class focuses on a nose-to-tail approach, and we use the large intestine as an all-natural casing. Did you know, the use of natural sausage casing is an age-old skill used to create sausages and salami? This is still the option we prefer as it consists mainly of naturally occurring collagen.

_A hearty lunch will be served at the Old Stables Restaurant before guests return to Babylonstoren. _

Pampoenpret (in Afrikaans aangebied)

LET WEL: Slegs 50 plekke beskikbaar (maksimum 2 kinders per 1 volwassene). Volwassenes moet ook vir hulself plek bespreek.

Ons verwelkom kinders, ma’s en pa’s om saam met ons pampoenfees te vier. Kom saam op die skattejag: ons spring oor die reusepampoen en kruip tot binne-in die Slak, oortrek met rankende kalbasse in allerhande vorms en groottes.

In die Pofadder se maag vertel ons jou meer van verskillende pampoensoorte: Turkse tulband, die plat wit ou boerpampoen, oranje Cinderella, heerlike goue hubbardpampoen, gespikkelde swaan, smullekker muskaat en natuurlik Halloween. Ouers sal hul kinders help om te sny, skep, kap en druk.

Ná al die harde werk steek ons ’n kersie binne-in die pampoen aan. Jy kan dit saamneem huis toe.

Nota: Omdat daar met skerp voorwerpe gewerk word, moet kinders deur ’n volwassene vergesel word. Maksimum twee kinders (tussen vyf en tien jaar oud) per volwassene. Hierdie werkswinkel word in Afrikaans aangebied.

Sap en peuselhappie is ingesluit.

Pumpkin fun (presented in English)

NOTE: Only 50 places available (maximum 2 children per 1 adult). Adults need to book a space for themselves as well.

We welcome kids, mums and dads for some fun exploring the bountiful pumpkin varieties in the garden! With a hop, skip and jump we’ll go on an exciting pumpkin treasure hunt – exploring the enormous Atlantic Giant pumpkin and crawling into the Snail that’s covered with climbing calabashes and gourds.

As we walk through the belly of the Puff Adder, children of all ages will learn about the different varieties of pumpkin: Turk’s turban, flat white boerpampoen, deep orange Cinderella, delicious golden hubbard squash, speckled swan, best-to-eat muscat and, of course, Halloween. With the help of their parents, children can cut, scoop and hammer their own pumpkins into shape.

When all the pumpkins are shipshape, we will light a candle inside each creation, and you’ll be able to take it home as a fun souvenir.

Note: As we’ll be working with sharp objects, children must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum two children (between five and ten years old) per adult. This workshop is presented in English.

Juice and a light snack are included.

Capture the season’s scents with fragrant herbs

Only 15 places available

Nose your way through the world of fragrance and discover the joyful varieties grown at Babylonstoren. Join Gundula, guardian of our Healing Garden, in harvesting and exploring various ways in which natural fragrances can perfume your everyday living.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Craft your own homemade soaps

Only 10 places available

Learn how to make your own natural soap using Babylonstoren’s olive and essential oils as inspiration. The experience includes a visit to our farm’s aromatic fields to harvest rosemary, lavender, Cape may or whatever’s in season.

In the Scented Room, you’ll learn how essential oils are distilled before using these in your own soap. Practical advice on the intricacies of natural soapmaking, such as infusing, preparing and casting soap will be shared by Babylonstoren’s in-house compounder, Gavin Hendriks. Creating and blending of iconic Babylonstoren products such as moisturisers will be explored. Guests get to take home their own creations at the end of the day.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Tasting Room is included.

Master meat: make boerewors & droëwors at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Nothing beats making your own boerewors and delicious frikkadelle from scratch, especially when you’re using our farm-reared, prime Chianina beef.

The day will start with a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg to Soetmelksvlei, a historical farmyard set in the late 19th century – a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, in the contemporary Meat Room, master butcher Jaco Koegelenberg will first demonstrate the carving and mincing of meat, before making traditional boerewors. Under Jaco’s guidance, guests will make their own droëwors and taste some of the dried delicacy as well.

After a hands-on morning in the Meat Room, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch including frikkadelle at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Young artists: drawing in the garden (for kids aged 7–12)

Only 15 places available

We welcome children between the ages of seven and twelve years old to join our master gardener, Gundula Deutschländer, for a hop and skip down the garden path, exploring the natural world from their perspective.

This workshop is a fun day for curious kids who enjoy doodling and mark making. We’ll focus on having fun, so don’t expect any masterpieces! This will be an exercise in observation skills and marking the journey on paper. All materials will be provided. All that children need to bring are hats and a desire to get mucky with paint and pastels.

Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum two children per adult.

Juice and gelato are included.

Fishing on the farm: a family affair (for kids aged 7–12)

Only 20 places available

Note: his workshop is for children between seven and twelve years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults need to book a space for themselves as well.

Bring your little ones to experience the joy of fishing on the farm. In this hands-on and family-orientated workshop, we’ll guide youngsters with their parents to create their own fishing rod from natural materials found in the garden. We’ll also dig for worms and insects to use as bait before heading out to our farm dam to cast the lines.

Family man and farm fundi Morné Olivier will share the fundamentals of fishing as we try our luck to haul out tilapia.

Juice and gelato are included.

Explore a bug’s life (for kids; 4-7 years)

Only 20 places available per session

Note: All children must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum two children per adult. Adults need to book a space for themselves and cover the applicable fee.

Explore a bug’s life at Babylonstoren and live in your own Disney animation for a day! In this exciting class for little ones, we’ll take a closer look at the critters and creatures that frequent our farm. Babylonstoren’s very own bug lover, Arné Stander, will help you seek out different insects in the garden, sharing his secret superpowers to attract and study them up close. We’ll also learn about the different and important roles various insects play in our ecosystems, like pollination, pest control, decomposition and more. We simply cannot live without them! If you love bugs, or even if you’re a little scared of the funny-looking ones, get Mom or Dad on board for this day of garden fun. By the end of the session, you could know more about insects than they do!

Juice and gelato are included.

Grow your own winter vegetables

Only 15 places available

Babylonstoren prides itself on the seasonal fruit and vegetables that abound in our garden, and we are happy to share our secrets! Join Babylonstoren’s vegetable team, York Steyn and Tenecia Stevens, in the vegetable garden where they will demonstrate their top growing tips and tell you more about crop rotation, no-dig soil preparation, compost, mulches, propagation and planting.

The workshop includes in-depth info on seed saving and sowing cover crops.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included

Sketching in Babylonstoren’s garden

Only 10 places available

Inspire creativity by discovering the botanical wonders of Babylonstoren in this explorative workshop. Master gardener Gundula Deutschländer will guide guests down pathways, focusing on various natural forms that inspire closer observation. The aim is not to create botanical illustrations, but to have fun on the journey, and to find your personal interpretation of curiosities in the natural environment.

The class includes all paper and materials needed. All you need to bring along is a sunhat and a keen eye for form and colour.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Risotto 101: a celebration of our farm-grown rice

Only 15 places available

Always dreamed of making risotto like a true Italian nonna? Join head chef Schalk Vlok for a practical workshop on making the best risotto – from the farm to your table. Farmer Ian de Villiers takes us on a stroll to Babylonstoren’s rice paddy where we grow our own carnaroli rice, traditionally used for making risotto. The intricacies of rice cultivation will be discussed, including the plant’s interesting life cycle, flooding methods and hand-harvesting.

Back in the kitchen, chef Schalk will demonstrate how to create lip-smacking risotto in the traditional Italian style, from scratch. From this basic recipe, different styles and risotto variations will be made and tasted. The emphasis of the class will be on local and seasonally produced risotto rice and how to elevate this quality in every bite.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Old Bakery is included.

Explore the world of Babylonstoren’s olives

Only 15 places available

Put on your hat and slip on a pair of comfortable shoes – we’re going to the orchards! Take a stroll through the olive orchards with farmer Ian de Villiers who will explain how to grow, maintain and harvest olives.

We then move from orchard to press as Petrus van Eeden, our resident olive man, explains the production process. Once you understand how olives are grown, you’ll delve into different olive oil varieties for cooking and dunking. A tasting of this season’s fresh olive oils will follow in the newly renovated Babylonstoren olive tasting room. Finally, Petrus will share his tried-and-tested methods for preserving your own olives.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch in the Tasting Room is included.

Combat garden pests, naturally

Only 15 places available

Toss out the pesticides! Our botanist, Ernst van Jaarsveld, and entomologist, Arné Stander, will teach you how to plan a garden ecosystem that encourages predatory birds, insects, spiders and other garden animals to restore the balance in your garden – the way nature intended.

_Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.

Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Bank on it! Seed saving and swopping in the Soetmelksvlei garden

Only 10 places available

If you’re a collector or enjoy experiencing the full cycle of life, pop over for this workshop to get down to the nitty-gritty of seed saving.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, master gardener Gundula Deutschländer will provide an overview of the marvellous mechanics of seeds and how best to cultivate them. We will be discussing ripeness, sifting, sorting and storing of these precious seeds of hope, and share tips on how to sow once the time is right. Gundula will guide you into the Soetmelksvlei heritage garden to collect various seeds. We invite you to bring whatever viable seeds you might have to this communal seed-swopping circle.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Break bread with our master baker

Only 15 places available

Flour it up and learn to bake bread with our master baker, Peachy Jacobs, and her team. Guests are invited to dust their hands and put their backs into some kneading and impressive shaping. Peachy will share her secret recipes and sourdough starter for each guest to nurture at home.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Tasting Room is included.

Master meat: all about venison & biltong at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

A springbok, a meat master and 10 eager learners in a masterclass presented at Soetmelksvlei.

If you’re serious about venison preparation and making your own biltong from scratch, this workshop is for you. The day will start with a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg to Soetmelksvlei, a historical farmyard set in the late 19th century – a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, in the Meat Room, master butcher Jaco Koegelenberg will demonstrate how to cut a springbok into primary cuts and help the group get to grips with their own knives. Jaco will then demonstrate how primary cuts are processed into secondary cuts for guest to turn the meat into one of South Africa’s favourite delicacies – springbok biltong. The class also gives a comprehensive overview of which cuts to use for different dishes.

After a hands-on morning in the Meat Room, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Love the taste of culinary herbs at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Have your tastebuds tantalised and green fingers inspired as we explore the wide range of tastes and textures found in a bunch of green leaves. Herbs express their unique uses in their distinct taste – some bitter, some sweet, some pungent and some peppery.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured. We’ll kick off the workshop in the Soetmelksvlei heritage garden with guidance from herb expert Gundula Deutschländer.

Here, we’ll gather some herbs from the garden to chop and pound in the kitchen and incorporate these into fresh and seasonal treats to enjoy. Remember to bring along a hat for a fun day in the garden.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Cape cookery: traditional melktert, melkkos & koesisters at Soetmelksvlei

Only 10 spaces available

Milk tart is the unofficial national dessert of South Africa. It features at any self-respecting home industry store and in many South African home bakers’ recipe books – with a liberal sprinkle of cinnamon. Join us in the heritage kitchen of Soetmelksvlei to celebrate and enjoy this delicacy in all its delicious glory.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, master baker Martjie Malan will teach you the art of making traditional milk tart using the simplest of farm ingredients. We’ll also explore a variation on this recipe named melkkos (meaning “milk food”) and learn to bake traditional Cape Malay-inspired koesisters infused with sugar syrup and spice.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

International Bee Day

Only 15 places available

Cape honeybees are honoured workers at Babylonstoren Farm – not only do they produce an abundance of honey for the breakfast table at Babel Restaurant, but they also play a key role in pollinating many of our garden fruits, herbs and vegetables. In honour of International Bee Day on 20 May, we’d like to invite you to our farm to see these incredible worker bees in action.

The workshop includes a guided walk through the garden to explore the bees’ favourite spots. We’ll then invite you to view our collection of diverse beehives – including the traditional woven skep, the practical Langstroth with moveable frames, the flow hives and our observation beehive. Beekeeper Arné Stander will share the story of the indigenous Cape honeybee.

We’ll have a taste of the golden goodness, of course. Natasha Lyon, South Africa’s first and only internationally certified honey sommelier, will guide us as we discover how the terroir shapes and influences the flavour, aroma and colour of honey. Natasha will lead the tasting of four unique and rare South African honey varieties in liquid and crystalised form.

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
A refreshing lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Bake your own: make butter & buttermilk scones

Only 10 spaces available

Butter was considered the golden commodity of the 1900s and today still, every knob is worth its weight in gold – and rightfully so! Join us on the historical farm of Soetmelksvlei to see how butter is made from scratch – from milking the cow to the separation of the cream and, finally, churning real farm butter.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured. Here, master baker Martjie Malan will teach you the art of handmade butter. With buttermilk as by-product, you’ll also learn to create the fluffiest scones.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Inside scoop: the secrets to buffalo mozzarella and gelato

Only 15 places available

Observe Babylonstoren’s head cheesemaker, Alta Eybers, and learn a thing or two about making cheese and gelato. The class kicks off with meeting the farm’s herd of water buffalo that produce the milk we use to make our traditional-style water buffalo mozzarella.

Back in the Cheese Room, Alta will demonstrate the craft behind making this creamy delicacy – from cutting the curds to stretching them into balls. When the mozzarella is ready for stretching, guests can feel and experience this unique cheese before it is placed in brine.

Guests are treated to a lunch of cheese, meats and gelato – fresh from Babylonstoren’s deli store – the perfect end to a cheesy day!

Steaming coffee from the Farm Shop is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Tasting Room is included.