Wegraakbosch Cheese Farm

Take the whole family and soak up the countrified charms of this quaint little dairy farm. Winners of the Eat In ‘Best Organic Producer’ 2008 award for their organic produce, Wegraakbosch Organic Cheese Dairy is well worth a visit. Take a tour, taste and watch cheese being made in the traditional way – it’s so good! Cows are milked by hand and curds are stirred in a big copper cauldron over a fire. Coach House Hotel & Spa is 52 km from this destination.

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Wegraakbosch Cheese Farm, located in Limpopo’s Magoebaskloof, is owned by Nipper and Sylvia Thompson. Drawing inspiration from their time spent working on a Swiss dairy near the Wandel Alps in Meiringen, they decided to put the art of organic cheese-making into practice in 1986. Today this off-the-grid farm uses solar energy for power, birds for pest control and microorganisms to enrich their soil and aid with cheese production – all while adhering to the Thompsons’ vision of “Healthy people, happy animals”.

The farm has been part of the Thompson legacy since it was bought by them back in 1918. It was at that point that they began using natural farming methods to reduce harm to the environment as much as possible – something which still continues today. Water comes from a nearby spring and no pesticides or fertilizers are used; industrially produced chemicals only come into play when absolutely necessary for animal welfare reasons. The Thompsons also employ holistic farming practices which put emphasis on treating each element (soil, plants & livestock) as one system rather than separate entities; an example being nasturtiums planted around vegetables as a natural insect repellent!

Minimal machinery is used on-site too – pigs help with manure distribution while cows provide milk for handmade cheese made over an open fire with copper cauldrons – no machines involved whatsoever! A biodigester has now been installed so gas can be created from waste material collected from around Wegraakbosch Cheese Farm and used as fuel for stoves/fridges/etc., further showing how committed Nipper & Sylvia are towards sustainability principles within their business model.

This truly incredible family-run operation not only supports its local community through employment opportunities but also provides delicious organic cheeses thanks to its ethical approach towards nature – check out Brigitte Wonchowski & Googoo Thompson’s ‘From Woodbush To Wolkberg’ book if you wish to learn more about Wegraakbosch Cheese Farm’s history!

 

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