[Cape Town, South Africa – March 2022] – ​​​​​; Late summer at Boschendal Farm is a time of abundance and, right on cue, the plum orchards have offered up their yield and harvesting of the plump Magentas has begun – ready to welcome you and yours to enjoy this special season.

As always, while our chefs and bakers are conjuring plum-inspired dishes and delicacies, our entertainment wizards have been curating a number of dynamic events and experiences to extol the annual Month of Plums.

After last year’s delightful puppet walk, we will once again be celebrating the farm’s fruitful bounty with another festive walkabout on Sunday, 13 March at 11h00. It will begin on the picnic lawns at the entrance, continuing through the main grounds and ending with a short performance in front of the iconic Boschendal Manor House. The latter now houses exceptional art exhibitions, a collaborative venture between the estate and the Norval Foundation, another fine reason to visit the farm.

The year’s show with three enormous puppets, is presented by the puppeteer artists and musicians from Net vir Pret in Barrydale, a non-profit that has been working with children from disadvantaged communities in the Overberg and beyond. The procession this year aims to raise awareness about endangered aquatic life found in rivers, ponds and dams on the farm and surrounding area.

The lifelike puppets were originally made by the award-winning Ukwanda Puppet Company from the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), specifically for the Barrydale Giant Puppet Parade regularly held in the Klein Karoo.  One of the creations is a highly endangered redfin minnow, an indigenous fish common in the Cape Floristic Region that is teetering on the brink of extinction. The procession also serves to throw focus on water sustainability and hopes to inspire a new generation of eco-warriors.   

PICKING

Another popular immersive experience is the orchard walkabout on 6, 13, 20 and 27 of this month from 08h30-10h30 where guests are invited to pick plums from the trees.

This year, in keeping with Covid protocols, Boschendal’s farmers will host only twenty-five persons at a time. Pickers only pay for their gathered bounty and because there is no cost to take part, pre-booking is essential. For those wanting to commit their plum experiences to tangible memories, the recently opened homeware store next to The Werf will be selling locally made fabric napkins beautified with plum prints.

FOOD AND DRINK

Throughout the month, gourmands can take advantage of Lazy Sunday Lunch specials at The Werf, available throughout the Month of Plums. The spacious restaurant, located in the reimagined original Manor House cellar, hosts contemporary soil-to-fork dining using the finest and freshest ingredients, sourced locally and from the organic farm garden situated right alongside the eatery. Expect plum inspired desserts like plum crumble as a finale to your midday feast.  Oenophiles can book a wine and chocolate pairing at the Cellar Door, another premium tasting experience available only on weekends. The heavenly confectionery has been made by the Belgian-trained chocolatiers of Huguenot Fine Chocolates in Franschhoek.

For Press and Media assistance, contact Ian Hamilton Manley of ManleySocial via email news@boschendal.co.za or +27 (0) 82 826 0456.

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