A couple of weeks ago, we made a flying visit to Babylonstoren to update ourselves on all the changes that have taken place since we last visited the Farm.
Farm ife back in the 19th Century
It was wonderful to see the new rooms and the new pool area, to try the new olive oil tour and to dive deep into the scented oils, to taste the buffalo ice cream and the new lekker rosé lollies but the highlight for us this time was the visit to Soetmelksvlei.
On neighbouring land, we jumped into a safari style vehicle to make our way there, listening in on headphones as we drove which pointed out various parts of the Farm and several points of interest. We arrived at Soetmelksvlei in about 20 minutes and were welcomed by staff dressed in 19th century costume and invited to hear a short video about how Soetmelksvlei came about and what to expect during our visit.
Soetmelksvlei has been years in the making, as you would expect from Babylonstoren. The once neighbouring farm has been transformed into a unique historical experience set on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountains. We got a glimpse of farm home life as it was in the 19th century, when farmers were self reliant; flour was milled using a waterwheel, wood and iron were fashioned into tools, milk was separated from cream using a hand cranked device and butter was laboriously churned.
Learning to separate milk from cream in the 19th Century
As it was in the 19th Century
We entered the farmhouse which was set out exactly as it would have been then with original props from clothing to bedding, from crockery to leather boots. It was a real journey though time and we enjoyed the recording of the history of life in the house from an audio talk which could be taken in any language.
A warm welcome awaits with freshly made bread and butter
We ended up in the kitchen, as you do, tasting the warm, homemade bread and butter with the berry jam and a pot of tea. It was the perfect place to get out of the rain for a few minutes, to chat to other visitors and warm ourselves by the open range.
The whole experience is very immersive and staffed by a delightful, helpful team who are also passionate story tellers about their own skills/areas of expertise.
A complete and rare replica of the Flour Mill
Outside, we went down to the water mill to see how the flour was milled and then back up to the farmyard to see how milk was separated from the cream and were able to taste the results! There are lots of little workshops that take place during the day and you can learn about herbs being used for medicinal purposes and see the heritage fruit and vegetables being grown.
One barn housed an incredible museum (again which can be audio led) which included an old cart and a play area for children and this was next door to a working carpenter, leather worker and blacksmith who made cast iron pans, oven dishes and cooking tools. The attention to detail was amazing – on the bookshelf, there was even a shopping catalogue from the era and you could literally order anything from England from a bed to a pair of earrings, a pair of leather boots to a toilet!
Never one to miss a shopping opportunity!
Never one to miss a shopping opportunity, Helen was right in there at the Jonkershuis Farm Shop which had an amazing array of local and traditional handcrafted goodies for sale. We even met a couple of the crafters when we were sitting chatting in the kitchen who had come to see where their wares were on display. Helen dutifully bought a beautiful, crocheted heat mat and this was made all the more special having met the artisan.
We had a quick look around the farmyard – fuzzy, horsey noses poking out of stables, sheep, cows, a couple of miniature donkeys, chickens scratching around and ducks clearly the only ones really enjoying the wet weather!
Suddenly, the warmth beckoned, so we took ourselves off to the restaurant where there was a large, open range with big, cast iron pots offering delicious soup and a steaming curry. There was a beautiful array of delicious foods, as only Babylonstoren knows how to display, that would have been available 200 years ago from veggies to seeds and nuts, freshly baked bread, pickles, preserves, home-cured meats, cheeses and salads. A bit of a help-yourself-all-you-can-eat type scenario. Wholesome and delicious and totally charming set in an old barn with ancient wooden farmyard tools on the walls, a full sized horse and haybales with sheepskin rugs to sit on.
Haybales and sheepskin rugs
It was a wonderful and slightly unexpected experience. There was so much to take in, so many things to see and do. Soetmelksvlei offers activities, history, play, learning and just something completely different and there are regular shuttles to take you back to the Farm when you are ready.
A remarkable addition to the ever-growing activities to do at Babylonstoren.
Helen & Sally – September 2024
Soetmelksvlei appeals to all ages
