NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS - ‘Tot Hier Toe’ Padstal can’t be missed as you rise out of ‘Sam’s Drift’ at the start of the famous pear avenue just outside the village of Nieu-Bethesda.
This once run down little stone house has been transformed into a touch-farm, restaurant and padstal that is packed to the brim with an incredible assortment of comestibles, meat products and Karoo styled crafts.
The team consisting of Tom and Chrissie Swartz, Riel Malan, Rosalie Geswind and Poppie Block are not afraid of hard work.
Tom speaks proudly of the menagerie of interesting animals including some fascinating chickens, cheeky pot-bellied pigs, beautiful Ngunis, cute donkeys and a magnificent black horse.
He laughs as he says one family from far were so enamoured with the baby donkey that they wanted to pack it up and buy it!
The padstal is a perfect venue for children’s parties with a difference – just 35 minutes from Graaff-Reinet and you are transported into a rural environment with access to these charming animals!
Inside the sheer volume of product in the padstal takes your breath away!
Rows and rows of shiny green fig preserve, makataan, apricots, quinces, guavas and oranges provide a tempting takeaway to even the most hardened buyers!
Chrissie speaks fondly of her team who work all the fruit themselves – much of it sourced in Bethesda.
She speaks passionately about developing a recipe for the old fashioned Catawba grapes that are bountiful at the moment that taste just like berries when made into jelly.
The pear trees drop fat fruit right at the door of the padstal and these are transformed into silky preserved pears and dried fruit.
Bethesda’s quince hedges drip with golden yellow orbs that result in the unusually textured preserves that makes one hanker after the Karoo.
If you stop for a little longer, you will be treated to homemade roosterkoek, pancakes and tramezzinis as well as traditional fare such as gingerbeer, moerkoffie and rooibos.
The team at the padstal are happy to cater for casual birthday parties and functions for adults and children alike, and also offer Sunday lunches (by arrangement) where either a potjie, braai or carvery is offered.
Booking is essential and Chrissie can be contacted on 082 579 7460.
Riel Malan works the meat in the butchery where one can buy Karoo lamb, sosaties, wors and biltong to braai if staying in the village.
The team consisting of Tom and Chrissie Swartz, Riel Malan, Rosalie Geswind and Poppie Block are not afraid of hard work.
He has developed the property to the impressive stopover that it has become, and is in the process of building a playcentre for visiting children.
Karoo crafts including painted enamel ware, teddy bears, tablecloths and the like also provide part time work for many people in Nieu-Bethesda and are supplied to 102 other farmstalls around the country.
In a pretty corner, knitted wares made by pensioners in the area are sold at no profit.
‘Tot Hier Toe’ Padstal is a culmination of hard work and passion by a dedicated team who are committed to making a success story in Nieu-Bethesda.
It makes for an interesting addition to the unusual businesses and tourist attraction that make Nieu-Bethesda a worthwhile destination with lots to keep one occupied!
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