You have got to love Babylonstoren’s regular workshops that invites locals for a creative and meditative experience. Starting with a walk through the garden, the workshops are usually full day affairs with a delicious lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant included. Hotel guests are invited to also take part in any of the workshops during their stay at no extra cost.
Going nuts with Babylonstoren’s nuts
01 February 2022 l 10:00 – 15:00
From their striking flowers in early spring to our harvest in autumn, we’re nuts about nuts here on Babylonstoren! Nonpareil, meaning “without equal” in French, is the main almond cultivar grown on the farm. We also cultivate Ferragnes and Peerless almonds, as well as macadamias and pecans.
The first stop in this workshop is our Lekker Room, where we’ll pop in for a taste of freshly roasted almonds and macadamias. Here, our love for all things nutty is celebrated daily with mouthwatering varieties of nuts, brittles, rusks, pastries and granolas. Next, you’ll visit our nut orchards with farmer Ian de Villiers and get a behind-the-scenes look at how our almonds, macadamias and pecans are grown and harvested on the farm. Our food scientist Debora van der Merwe will share some health benefits of eating nuts. She’ll explain how we make our nut milk on the farm, followed by a tasting. You’ll be surprised by some creative ways to use nuts that you’ve never thought of.
Steaming coffee from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Spice House is included.
Presented by Ian de Villiers, Debora van der Merwe, Shani Krige
Please meet us at the Farm Shop
R850 p.p.
Book here.
Craft your own homemade soaps from the garden
02 February 2022 l 10:00 – 15:00
Only 10 places available
Learn how to make your own natural soap using Babylonstoren’s fragrant garden as inspiration. The class kicks off with guests harvesting their own aromatics (like lavender, rosemary or lemon leaf) from the fields and orchards on the farm. In the Babylonstoren Scented Room, you’ll learn how essential oils are distilled from natural ingredients before using these in your own soap. Practical advice on the intricacies of natural soapmaking, such as infusing, preparing and casting soap, will be discussed by Babylonstoren’s in-house compounder Gavin Hendricks. Creating and blending different products like bath oils, balms and moisturisers may also be explored if time permits. Guests get to take home their own creations at the end of the day.
Steaming coffee from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Tasting Room is included.
Presented by Gavin Hendricks, Shani Krige, Maranda Engelbrecht
Please meet us at the Farm Shop
R850 p.p.
Book here.
Learn how to make sun prints
08 February 2022 l 10:00 – 13:00
Only 10 places available
When the sun is at its brightest and the sky an endless blue, we present a workshop that harnesses these elements on paper through the photographic process known as sun printing. This workshop is fun and experimental. Inspired by the cyan-blue prints invented at the dawn of photography, we will be exploring the Babylonstoren garden to collect natural objects to make our compositions. Each participant will paint their own papers or fabric 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 printing process that occurs 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.
Children are welcome to be accompanied by an adult.
Steaming coffee and a croissant from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Presented by Gundula Deutschländer
Please meet us at the Farm Shop.
R600 p.p.
Book here.
Weather the water scarcity with waterwise gardening
09 February 2022 l 10:00 – 15:00
Only 20 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 our ever popular waterwise workshop, top botanist Ernst van Jaarsveld will share his own tried-and-tested waterwise tips. We start with a stroll through the Babylonstoren garden to inspect the different mulches and waterwise plants used here. Once settled in the garden lecture room, Ernst will give an illustrated talk, during which you will have the opportunity to ask him any questions. Just before lunch, Ernst will guide you in propagating easy-to-grow waterwise plants from seeds and cuttings to take home.
Steaming coffee from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.
Presented by Ernst van Jaarsveld
Please meet us at the Farm Shop
R850 p.p.
Book here.
Discover the secret life of insects
15 February 2022 l 10:00 – 15:00
Only 15 places available
Insects are vital for the functioning and survival of our ecosystems. From pollination and seed dispersal to decomposition, pest control and more, they fulfil many ecological roles in our gardens and our food supply sources. They might be tiny, but they should never be overlooked!
Grab your magnifying glass and come and explore different insects in our garden with entomologist Arné Stander. Have a closer look at insects on display and learn more about warning colours, camouflage and mimics of both terrestrial and aquatic insects. Learn how to attract beneficial insects to your garden to turn it into a thriving microcosm of your greater environment. Love them or hate them, you’ll be fascinated by the secret life of insects!
Steaming coffee from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.
Presented by Arné Stander
Please meet us at the Farm Shop.
R850 p.p.
Book here.
Juice jamming
16 February 2022 l 10:00 – 15:00
Only 15 places available
Our signature green, red and yellow juices have become a staple at Babel and the Greenhouse Restaurants. Using the cutting-edge technology of high pressure processing (HPP), we are proudly able to produce cold-pressed juice with an extended shelf life – nothing added, only goodness. This workshop is a unique opportunity to follow this process from farm to bottle. First, join us on the lookout deck to see how we make our cold-pressed juice in the juicery. We will then walk through the garden to harvest fresh fruit and vegetables, which you’ll blend to create your own seasonal juice.
Steaming coffee from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.
Presented by Debora van der Merwe, Louis Karsten
Please meet us at the Farm Shop
R850 p.p.
Book here.
Indoor gardening: bringing succulents into your house
22 February 2022 l 10:00 – 15:00
Only 20 places available
Ox tongue, horse’s teeth and elephant’s foot … South Africa’s unusual collection of succulents may sound daunting to grow, but they’re true die-hards. In fact, some are even called “kanniedood”, meaning “can’t die”! Their quirky shapes range from compact rosettes to cluster-forming knobs. Some are thickset dwarf trees, while others cascade with stringing pearls – an indoor gardener’s dream.
The Succulent House at Babylonstoren is the mecca of dwarf cacti found in South Africa. Here, master botanist Ernst van Jaarsveld and the garden team will show you how to assemble your own miniature succulent gardens. The practical workshop addresses different terrains, pot preferences, watering needs and rock selections for mini gardens, to ensure plants are always grouped together in the same climatic conditions.
Steaming coffee from our Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.
Presented by Ernst van Jaarsveld
Please meet us at the Farm Shop
R850 p.p.
Book here.
