die bye boere

So we were sitting at Maurits' farm browsing through my favourite magazine, County Life S.A. and came accross an advertisement for a bee-keeping course. Reinier & I started chatting, and he says that it's something he's always wanted to do. The course was in Capetown, and costs alot of money, so he started doing his own research. We mentioned it to Hans & Marjolein and he said its also something he's always wanted to do! We went out there Friday afternoon and stayed over until late saturday. The boys got stuck into building 'organic top-bar bee hives'. I was so impressed at what they achieved in one day! Now to buy some bees wax to attract the bees, and hopefully the bees will find their homes nice and cosy! Hans & Marjolein have a mini farm (plot) with a huge organic veggie garden. You can see her blog here: Ntlokwe Farm. 

I offered to make dessert - delicously choclatey, gooey, and crunchy all in the same mouth full..mmm

the wobbly house that Hans built, haha, love it!!

Felix is still alive in case you're wondering...

die bye boere. (the bee farmers) - researching some more

wild cucumber, quite an unusual taste

Cassava it smells a bit like coconut!

Seed sprouters (haha, its only when we go here that its perfectly normal to bring along your seed sprouter. Here they are hanging out together). We're only slightly nutty. 

Pure organic home-grown veggie juice! Njum!

cant get much healthier than that!

These two have a weird addiction to eating chillies. These are some that we grew. Seriously hot! Its more of a competition I think. Apparently it releases ceretonin which becomes addictive. Say.no.more.

Joshua 'helping' to make pizza dough. I forgot to take a photo of the finished pizza, so yummy! Piled with fresh rocket & basil after it comes out of the oven. Really good!

Trying to take Felix for a spin ;-)

checking measurements for the bee box

after Friday nights wine and whisky we all needed a smoothie...

Dankie Oom Hans, dis lekker!

helping Marjolein harvest bean seeds. So relaxing just sitting there in the early morning sun.

"a geometrical footnote (only for the mathematically inclined)" haha

 the very intelligent bee farmer. (oooh I'm in trouble now...) wahahahaa

 I've never seen such a big radish!

 we got busy with some weeding - a never ending job

 radish on organic steroids! delicious!

 what?? a chilli? its HUGE!

 wheat grass

the men with their supervisor

the yummiest snack ever...cheese, my quince paste, radish, basil and chives. 

while the men were busy, M & Josh & I popped out to a nearby bee farm

varnishing the almost completed bee-boxes with Linseed oil. No chemical treatments here!

Almost complete! Now they just need legs to stand on. 

If you want to read more about top-bar bee hives, go to this website:  Biobees