Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2021 i go! Platteland

We all know the classic combination of cheese and wine, but cheese and tea? Indeed, visitors to Babylonstoren between Paarl and Franschhoek can now try this combination at Babel restaurant. The flavours harmonise, treating your mouth to a symphony of flavours. The warmth of the tea accentuates the earthy sharpness of the cheese, and the cheese balances the astringency and bitterness of tea. Like wine, tea contains tannins, which vary according to the terroir and tea variety. White and green teas pair well with softer cheeses such as Brie, whereas the robust flavour of black tea is better suited to the sharp taste of mature or smoked cheeses. The main reason for adding milk to tea is to balance its slightly bitter-astringent taste – but that’s not an option at…

Enjoy spoiling your four-legged friends? Give them new designer collars by Snoet and they’ll be turning heads. Laetitia Avenant and Chizelle Viera came up with the concept for Snoet during last year’s lockdown. The spark and inspiration were provided by Laetitia’s rescue cat, Alaska. “I wanted a unique collar that would suit his wonderful personality, and then discovered a surprisingly big demand for stylish pet collars – for cats as well as for dogs,” Laetitia says. Their first products were launched last year. The Snoet range also includes leads, bandanas and clothing, and each unique design is locally made by hand. “We aim to keep everything – from the design process to the packaging – as sustainable as possible,” Laetitia says. “And we want to use our platform to raise…

WESTERN CAPE Knysna Oyster Festival 9-18 JULY The 2021 Oyster Festival promises to be a big event this year – both online and in the flesh! The programme is still to be finalised, but the organisers promise that there will be something for everyone, including sporting events such as cycle races and marathons, art classes and entertainment. Where? Knysna Contact knysnaoysterfestival.co.za info@knysnaoysterfestival.co.za Three-day flower tour, Namaqualand 12-14 AUGUST, 16-18 AUGUST, 20-22 AUGUST AND 27-29 AUGUST After the blessing of winter rains, people flock to Namaqualand in early spring to marvel at one of nature’s greatest miracles. This is your chance to sit back and enjoy a three-day tour of the spectacle. You will visit places such as Vanrhynsdorp, the farms Matjiesfontein and Papkuilsfontein near Nieuwoudtville, and Langebaan Lagoon and West…

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On a Friday afternoon, when campers gear up for a weekend of diving, Bass Lake is packed. The admission fee is R150 per day – while patrons heading to the restaurant enjoy free entry. Karen and Alan Pepper, the owners of Bass Lake, provide a facility with endless adventure activities. “Diving and snorkelling schools come here from all over. We do 4x4 driver training and visitors can swim, paddle, cycle, hike, trail-run, mountain-bike and fish.” Bass Lake is a reservoir for a dolomite mine. “In 1986, Alan and a friend flew over the quarry and observed a lake of crystal-clear water. He had been looking for a site from which he could run a diving school,” Koos van Eck writes. “The property was originally managed by the mine, and then…

Carlien van Staden Riverview Stables Carlien has lived here at the southern end of the village for 16 years. Today, she shares a charming thatched house with her husband, Corné, and their three-year old son, Liam. Her parents also live on the 8 ha plot. “I grew up in Henley. We lived in Meyerton for a while and I spent a year at an equestrian academy in Summerveld, KwaZulu-Natal. I came back and started working for the owners of this property and stables. When they emigrated to England, we had the opportunity to purchase it.” Riverview Stables is known as “livery stabling”, Carlien explains. “We look after the horses, and their owners can use the facilities. We also have our own horses and we bring in others for rehabilitation.” Carlien…

“Farmers around here don’t make jam – it’s just not done,” says Ernst Marais. The momentary mischievous look on his face disguises the worry lines that come with being a farmer in these parts, in times of drought. He is the fourth generation of Marais to work the farm Hartjieskraal, between Matjiesfontein and Sutherland, which has been in the family’s possession since 1896. Like his ancestors, Ernst has long farmed with merino sheep, and nowadays onion seed too. He happily admits, though, that it’s his largescale jam-making that, since 2000, has helped him overcome depression. Moreover, the several thousand jars of preserves that he’s made – plus his wife Amarcia’s range of baked products – have helped them survive a severe drought that brought not only financial strain, but also…

PRESERVES “The whole green figs, three-fruit marmalade, apricot jam and ripe fig jam make the tills ring. The weakest seller is probably the whole pumpkin pieces, which you serve with cheese, like preserved green figs. We think it’s because very few people are familiar with it, but it’s still worth making because there are enough customers who like trying out new things,” says Amarcia. BISCUITS “The coffee, custard and ginger biscuits, as well as the oldfashioned soetkoekies, remain the top sellers. Interestingly, coconut biscuits are not as popular as you would expect, and the weakest seller is the Maizena biscuits – I suspect people are put off by the name!” RUSKS The traditional buttermilk and health rusks remain the most popular; they’re now sold in 400 g packets. PIES The…

Lentil and mushroom pâté I serve this pâté with the very best glutenfree bread I have ever tried – you’ll find the recipe on the blog The Loopy Whisk. theloopywhisk.com – search for “the ultimate gluten free bread recipe” Serves 4–6 Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 20–30 minutes YOU NEED • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil• 1 shallot, chopped (or use 1 medium white onion)• 2 garlic cloves, minced• 2 cups (± 250 g) button mushrooms• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) each chopped fresh rosemary, thyme and sage• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Cognac or brandy• 2 cups (500 ml) cooked brown lentils• 1 cup (250 ml) walnuts, toasted (we have also tried it with pecan nuts)• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) tamari (Japanese gluten-free soya sauce)• 2 tablespoons (30 ml)…

1 Trees, trees, trees! Arthur explains that the trees planted by Joane Pim 70 years ago have gradually transformed the garden into the oasis it is today. “The lesson for all of us is to plant trees now for future generations. From a design point of view, it was masterful of Joane to plant two trees that divide the beautiful view of Benfontein Pan into two lookout points. The trees are now fully grown and connect the garden to the veld.” Joane primarily planted white stinkwood (Celtis africana), African holly (Ilex mitis) and river bushwillow (Combretum erythrophyllum) in the garden. 2 Garden rooms A garden of Mauritzfontein’s size should include surprising features; visitors shouldn’t see the entire garden at a glance, Arthur says. “That’s why I divided it into roughly…

YOU NEED • A glass container We used an old candleholder, but you can use any glass container – popular options are Consol glass jars and fishbowls. • Stones I bought one packet of pink and one packet of grey stones at Crazy Store (R29,99 per 1 kg packet.) You need them for drainage, and they form part of your terrarium design. • Hydro clay (optional) I bought the Brockytony brand at Builders (R65 for a 2 ? packet). This provides good drainage, looks great, is eco-friendly and can also be used for hydroculture. • Sphagnum moss This moss, also known as peat moss, protects and retains water and nutrients. It has antibacterial properties and looks attractive (R23 for 100 g at Builders). • Activated charcoal powder This absorbs chemicals…

– Kleinmond, Western Cape – Kleinmond lies on the edge of a lagoon at the small estuary – hence the name – of the Bot River, on a strip of land hugged on the one side by the Palmietberg range and on the other by the Atlantic Ocean. It is within easy driving distance of Cape Town along the scenic coastal road known as Clarence Drive, the R44. The tranquil town is endowed with some of the coast’s most pristine natural beauty. It lies within the UNESCOdeclared Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, which supports more than 1 600 fynbos species, of which 150 are endemic. For all its natural beauty and relative serenity, Kleinmond is the largest of the four coastal towns that fall within the biosphere and, as such, serves as…

Babylonstoren recently launched a book that pays tribute to tea as a wonderful natural ingredient. An Invitation to Tea was compiled by Maranda Engelbrecht, and the herbal tea recipes are by herb specialist Gundula Deutschländer, who is also Babylonstoren’s head gardener. “I grew up in a house where we only drank tea,” Maranda says. “It was always made with love and served in fine, delicate cups. Tea is about flavour, but ultimately nothing else is quite as relaxing and uplifting. When things go off the rails, make a cup of tea!” An Invitation to Tea costs R490 and is available at the Babylonstoren farm shop or online. Contact shop.babylonstoren.com…

Stellenbosch wine estate Tokara made history when its Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2020 won the Dubourdieu trophy for the Best Sauvignon Blanc of the Competition at the 12th Concours Mondial du Sauvignon in Brussels. It is the first South African wine to win this coveted title. The judging panel tasted more than 1 200 wines over four days, and South Africa won a further 11 gold and 9 silver medals. Tokara winemaker Stuart Botha says they decided to delay release of the 2020 vintage in order to give it more time on the lees – and are now reaping the rewards. “The wine has a fantastic mouthfeel – precisely the X-factor people are looking for.” Contact tokara.com…

Workshops at Babylonstoren Babylonstoren offers a variety of one-day workshops throughout the year. Each costs R700 per person, lunch included. • 2 June Unlock the diversity of indigenous succulents with Ernst van Jaarsveld • 9 & 17 June Get cultured with our cheesemaking workshop, presented by Alta Eybers and Simoné Rossouw • 23 June Keeping chickens at home, presented by poultry farmer Christo Botha • 30 June Explore the magic world of mushrooms, presented by Liesl van der Walt • 7 & 14 July Break bread with our master baker, presented by Tina Jewell and Peachy Jacobs • 4 August Sharpen your fruittree pruning skills, presented by Anton Roux • 11 August Create beautiful tree shapes with espalier, presented by Anton Roux • 18 August Craft your own homemade soaps,…

Property in Henley on Klip is much more affordable than in the affluent suburbs of Johannesburg, with land close to the river being the more expensive. Get in touch with Annette Cloete Properties in Henley Drive. annettecloeteprop.com 016 366 0680. We found the following properties advertised on property24.com: R1,8 million Build your dream farmhouse on this 7,6 ha property with 182 m riverfront. It is ideal for livestock and there is a borehole on the property (no council water). Low rates and taxes of R1 000/month. R3,1 million There is a four-bedroom double-storey house with stone walls on this 4 683 m² property on the Klip River. The house has a large patio, a lounge with an anthracite heater, a TV room with a fireplace, a dining room, a kitchen…

The purpose of their tours, say the Vloks, is to introduce people, who wish they could stop the clock, to the Great Karoo – in all its simplicity – and to discover its stories and secrets. “When one is silent for long enough in this land of space, you can once again hear the earth’s heartbeat. It is a place where time does not exist.” There are two trails, a Karoo hike and a full-moon hike. You take your own tent, bedding and camp chair, as well as drinks and snacks. Your luggage is transported daily to the next overnight stop, and you walk with a daypack. The Vloks supply three meals a day, and evenings around the fire are known to be memorable occasions. Heuningland Karoo Hike This is…

It all began with a good old road trip more than 20 years ago. Two creative people, who walk the path of life together, packed their yellow 3.0-litre Ford Cortina, called Die Piesang, and set out from Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, heading north. Destination: Karoo. At the time Cobus van Bosch was a full-time arts journalist at Die Burger newspaper, and Madeleine Barnard was the internal communications officer at Old Mutual. For three years prior to that she was a publicist for the Artscape drama department. Two journalists and free spirits, living life in the city’s fast lane. And here they find themselves in the platteland today… in Prince Albert. Two artists, entirely freelance now, older and wiser. And they love working and pottering about on their 1 000 m2 patch…

• Fruit-sugar ratio “Making preserves is one of those things where someone can, at best, show you the ropes, but you learn the most important lessons only by doing it yourself. I was taught, for example, that the basic sugar-to-fruit ratio was 1:1. But over time I learnt that this ratio is only right for tomato jam, because tomatoes are not at all sweet. The sweeter the fruit, the less sugar you have to use, but for commercial purposes you have to be cautious not to use too little, since sugar serves as a preservative.” • Small quantities “We can cook at most 1,4 kg fruit per pot, which is why we sometimes have up to 20 gas burners running at a time in peak season. Working with small quantities…

To most motorists, the town of Laingsburg, 274 km north-east of Cape Town, is a place for overnighting or to stop for a “pee, petrol and pie” while travelling the “road of death” – the treacherous stretch of N1 between Touws River and Beaufort West. Of course, this Karoo dorp is also synonymous with the flood disaster of 25 January 1981, 40 years ago now, in which 104 people lost their lives – 72 bodies were never found. Only 21 homes remained intact in Laingsburg after the Buffels River burst its banks. The frightening level reached by the floodwaters is indicated on the orange wall of the Flood Museum in Voortrekker Street – at the turnoff to the Flood Museum complex in Meiring Street. Just after turning left at the…

They used to say there are three things you should never talk about in “polite company”: politics, religion and money. Nowadays, “vegan” can be added to the list of taboo topics of discussion – social media offers daily examples of carnivores throwing a fit when outspoken vegans express their views. Brett Bard is a vegan and animal rights activist, but not the in-your-face kind – even though his bakkie has window stickers on the canopy bearing messages such as, “Humane milk/meat is a myth; don’t buy it”. There’s also a picture of a cow pleading, “Have courage, be kind, go vegan”. The main house on Tortoiseback farm is a stone’s throw from the R407 – about 15 km from Klaarstroom and 40 km from Prince Albert. And it’s on the…

beef Biltong-cured picanha I was introduced to picanha by my Portuguese butcher, who describes it as the rump cap or top part of the loin. It is a lovely whole meat cut with a thick layer of fat on the outside and very little marbling. The Spanish version, tapa de quadril, is sliced. Rump steak, topside, silverside or aitchbone can also be used for this recipe, and I have used gemsbok, kudu and eland meat. Serves 6–8 Preparation time 15 minutes plus 3½ days’ marinating, curing and drying Cooking time 20–35 minutes, to taste YOU NEED • 2 kg picanha FOR THE MARINADE • 10 tablespoons (150 ml) Worcestershire sauce• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) balsamic vinegar• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil FOR THE DRY-CURING MIX • ¼ cup (60…

Who doesn’t get all nostalgic about familiar brands such as Black Cat, Lucky Star, Steri Stumpie, Marmite and Bovril? And Chocolate Log, Smarties, Zoo biscuits and Wilson’s toffees! (Pity our teeth can’t handle them these days. – Eds) These beloved brands are featured on Kaatjie Produkte’s backpacks, cross-body bags, scatter cushions, pencil bags and coin purses. There are also tea towels, aprons, oven gloves, reusable shopping bags, soft pots and more. Former journalist Malani Venter makes them all by hand at her home in Banhoek Valley near Stellenbosch. For some time now, Malani has painted “unrealistic” custom acrylic portraits of people and animals in her spare time, paving the way for her enterprise called Kaatjie Produkte – named after her fat black cat. So when she lost her job as…

Hidden Karoo by Patricia Kramer and Alain Proust One constant about the Karoo is change. For that reason, the creators of Hidden Karoo explain, this fourth instalment of the Hidden series can only capture, through words and photographs, a “moment in time” as it happened in the towns, villages, farms, churches, public buildings and private homes of this awe-inspiring landscape. The lovely hardcover book consists of a series of photo essays that celebrate the people, history, geology, scenery and architecture of the region, and don’t shy away from the decline. R490 Penguin Random House 011 327 3550 penguinrandomhouse.co.za WIN 1: Hidden Meat: The Ultimate Guide by Annelien Pienaar Every single meat cut, where it comes from and how to cook it is on the menu in Annelien Pienaar’s new book.…

Distance from the big city Henley on Klip is 50 km from the Johannesburg city centre and 30 km from Alberton and Vereeniging. Shops There is an OK Mini Market in the main street, and speciality shops such as Henley Deli at About Time Corner. Local residents also drive 8 km to Meyerton for grocery shopping. Nearest hospitals The closest private hospitals are Midvaal Private Hospital in Three Rivers (23 km), Mediclinic Vereeniging (25 km) and Netcare Union Hospital in Alberton (37 km). Nearest Woolies Vereeniging (22 km) Municipality Henley on Klip falls under the DA-led Midvaal Local Municipality, which is ranked the bestperforming municipality in Gauteng. It had its sixth consecutive clean audit in 2020.…

Browse and shop About Time Corner At this complex and garden on the corner of Henley Drive and Ewelme Road you can order breakfast at About Time Gift & Coffee Shop, buy cold cuts and cheeses at Henley Deli, find pine furniture and decor at About Pine, and get a blouse at The Retail Hub. About Time Gift & Coffee Shop 064 762 1519 Henley Deli 072 032 7595 About Pine 076 441 3810 The Retail Hub 082 887 6789 Rabbits Hole Here you can buy clothes, jewellery, books and decor items, enjoy breakfast and have your hair styled. “That is why we call it Rabbits Hole,” Cornia van Coller says. She and her husband opened shop in October 2019 and recently began offering breakfast. “I also bake artisan breads…

This rare chromosomal abnormality affects the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the parts of the brain that control functions such as appetite. Liezl’s eldest son, 25-year-old Ruan Burger, was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome at the age of three. As a baby he had no muscle tone and was unable to suck. “Doctors diagnosed him as a ‘floppy baby’, but I also knew from the start that something was wrong, because he didn’t cry and didn’t move. Instinctively I knew this was something else. “Then one day I saw a pamphlet about the syndrome at a doctor’s consulting room. The doctor sent away a blood sample and it was confirmed: a deletion on chromosome 15 as a defect.” Those were difficult times. “He has the mental capacity of a…

Cobus made his first knife about 10 years ago after attending a course with Victor Harley. Now, the knives that come out of his workshop are real masterpieces. He uses mostly reclaimed materials, and the delightfully dusty, intriguing workshop is packed with things like confiscated sheep’s shears donated by the police, old files, and various bits and bobs, like warthog teeth and the horns of sheep, eland, gemsbok and fallow deer… even the femur of a giraffe. You’ll also find leather and skins, and shelves and crates full of wooden blocks – including thorn tree, peach, wild olive and she-oak. Cobus does it all himself, from the grinding of the blade to the finishing of the hilt. And the leather sheath into which the knife fits. It’s a far cry…

• Start small, work with what you have for as far and as long as possible – and grow with your business. • Cost control is crucial, but it’s a difficult balancing act because you have to work as economically as possible without sacrificing quality. It’s amazing how much you can save by buying in bulk, even if it’s more effort to scoop up and weigh out smaller quantities. • Don’t incur (unnecessary) debt – not everything has to be the shiniest or latest or best. In most cases it is better to save up and buy something for cash; we’ve seen all too often over the years how quickly debt can shatter dreams. • Treat your employees well and never lose your temper with them, or with a client.…

In the book Mauritzfontein: The Story of a Karoo Garden, journalist Paul Duncan and landscape designer Arthur Mennigke share the joyful journey of the rejuvenation of this 9 ha garden on a farm near Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The book is beautiful enough to display on a coffee table, but any gardener would also want to use it. In its pages you will find tips about gardening and conservation, along with a 12-month vegetable garden calendar and recipes inspired by the abundant produce harvested from the garden's abundant harvests. Not to mention some wonderful photography. After the diamond rush of the late 19th century, almost no trees or plantlife remained here: all usable wood had been stripped from the area. In 1945, Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer bought Mauritzfontein and,…

Surine and Peu Bezuidenhout have lived on a farm on the banks of the Orange River near Upington for 35 years. They cultivate roses and table grapes – and it has turned out to be a good way to wrestle with the extremes of the Northern Cape climate. Why a grass garden? I had a commercial rose and herb garden for 12 years, but the needs of our Friesian horses made us replace the garden with a lucerne pasture. Just behind our house is a rocky outcrop of half a hectare that has remained untouched for 35 years – a playground for monitor lizards and southern tree agamas. Since our grandchildren take an increasing interest in nature – and I wanted to scale back – Peu and I decided to…

When I started working as a young reporter in the former Natal, it didn’t take me long to understand the advice my older colleagues had shared: in a small town, the bar at the local golf club is an endless source of myths, dramas and stories – with, on the odd occasion, a smattering of wisdom thrown in. So I proceeded to join a golf club, where I was welcomed into the fold straight away. After finishing work late one evening, I arrived at the club and took up my position at the corner of the bar counter with a beer in front of me. Andries and Koedoe immediately beckoned me closer. Their group had clearly been at the 19th hole for a long time already and, with great bravado,…