The garden came before the guest rooms
Shaped by the vision of a former magazine editor, the working farm has a garden at the heart of everything.
Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch farm in the South African winelands, on land granted to Pieter van der Byl in 1692. Karen Roos and Koos Bekker bought it in 2007. Roos was then editing ELLE Decoration South Africa, and she asked French architect Patrice Taravella to design the garden. Today it covers 5 hectares, or 12 acres, across 15 sections. It contains more than 300 edible or medicinal plant varieties. The first hotel guests arrived in November 2010.
The paths, canals and pergolas were already in place by then, and much of the garden had been planted.
Plan the room around daily life
Babylonstoren began with the garden, then built the guest experience around it. At home, that means planning the room around the way you live. Keep drinking water within easy reach, leave a clear path for fresh air and store food where you are likely to use it. Choose the furniture after that, so it supports those habits. This is how I read a house, and why my principles start with water and air.
Only plants you would use
Every plant in the garden is edible or has medicinal value.
Use the same rule on a windowsill and choose a plant you already cook with or use for tea. I use that rule when I choose food, supplements and practical swaps too.
Where the water comes from
Water reaches the garden by gravity, flowing from a stream through open channels between the beds.
You can see where the water comes from and how it moves through the beds. In every home I work on, I ask where the water came from and what happened before it reached the tap.
| Plant | What it wants | What you use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | A pot of its own, since it spreads. Bright light, damp soil. | Tea, salads, yoghurt |
| Parsley | Bright light, soil kept damp. Cut the outer stems first. | Almost everything |
| Chives | Sun or part shade. Cut them and they grow back. | Eggs, potatoes, soup |
| Rosemary | Full sun. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. | Roasting, tea |
| Thyme | Full sun and well-drained soil. Water sparingly. | Roasting, stews, tea |
| Basil | Keep it warm and give it plenty of light. Move it away from cold glass. | Add it at the end of cooking |
| Lemon balm | Give it bright light or part shade. Keep it in its own pot because it spreads. | Tea, especially in the evening |
| Bay | Give it a bright, cool spot indoors or keep the pot outside. | Stocks, stews, pulses |
The short answers
What is an edible garden?
An edible garden grows plants you can eat, make tea from or use as medicine. Babylonstoren has more than 300 varieties, and every one is edible or has medicinal value.
What is a medicinal garden?
A medicinal garden grows plants traditionally used for teas and simple remedies. Chamomile, lemon balm, calendula, sage and mint are familiar examples. Many are useful in the kitchen too.
Which herbs are easiest to grow indoors?
Chives, basil and mint are good places to start indoors. Rosemary and thyme need a sunny window and soil that drains well. Mint needs its own pot because it spreads.
How much light does a windowsill herb need?
Most herbs need around 6 hours of direct sun each day. In the northern hemisphere, a south- or west-facing window usually gives the strongest light. Chives and lemon balm can manage with less.
Can you grow herbs indoors in winter?
Yes. Chives, mint and parsley can grow on a sunny windowsill through winter. Their growth slows as the days shorten, so they need less water and less cutting. Basil needs warmth and should stay away from cold glass.
Why grow plants you will use?
You tend to check a plant more often when you cook with it. You also know where it grew, what went into the soil and when you picked it.
How can a room support daily life?
Keep drinking water within easy reach, leave a clear path for fresh air and store food where you are likely to use it. Choose the furniture after that, so it supports those habits.
How does Babylonstoren water its garden?
Gravity carries water from a stream into the garden through open channels between the beds. At home, rainwater can be caught from a roof in a water butt or guided across a slope with a swale.
The property. Babylonstoren's media fact sheet gives the garden as 5 hectares, or 12 acres, across 15 sections. Its garden page confirms the 2007 commission, the water channels and more than 300 edible or medicinal varieties. Country Life and Hotel Online confirm the November 2010 opening. The Garden History Blog records the farm's 1692 grant and 2007 sale.
The plants. The windowsill advice was checked against Penn State Extension and the Royal Horticultural Society.
The photograph. Nina R, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Reuse. Quote any part of this page with a link back to it. This page is for education and does not replace medical advice.