Our Story
For over three decades, the family-run business has handcrafted cheese on the Klein River Cheese Farmstead — a place where time slows and tradition endures.
Tucked just outside the heritage village of Stanford, the farm is surrounded by a meandering river, lush pastures, and the jagged grey cliffs of the Overberg mountains.
This land has been home to generations of families who share a deep respect for nature, craftsmanship, and community. Every day, they strive to live and work in harmony with the environment and the people who make this valley so special.
The Farmstead has also been a boutique working dairy and cattle farm for over 60 years. The focus is on crafting artisanal cheese within the context of regenerative agriculture. This includes pasture-living-loving beef cattle, heirloom pigs, bees, compost production, and a passion for dendrology (trees).
Now into a third generation, the family that owns and runs the farm and cheesemaking retains a deep commitment to being stewards of the land and enhancing the unique ecosystem that surrounds the Farmstead.
Alongside alien invasive vegetation management, over 6,000 indigenous trees have been planted in the last decade in efforts to restore and protect the last remaining riverine forest system in the Klein River catchment. Water and energy sustainability are also core pillars to this stewardship. For example, over half the Farmstead & Cheesery’s comes from the sun – that’s solar PV in every second bite of cheese!
Mags and Pete Baleta with founding head cheesemaker
Jacko Van Buuren (centre)
Top row: Raymond, Nick, Emmah
Bottom row: Mags, Pete, Hannah
Trees for Tourism
The Trees for Tourism rehabilitation site on the Klein River Cheese Farmstead, 7 km outside the village of Stanford, is a dedicated project to restore one of the few remaining riparian forests on the Klein River.
The forest is 8 ha in extent and includes a wooded kloof on its southern boundary. Over the years, the forest has been degraded by settlers planting Blackwoods, Poplars and Oak for harvesting. There are areas of original forest which remain and include a swathe of Milkwoods along the eastern boundary which also act as a good fire barrier. Berg River Yellowwoods are naturally present in the forest. The forest is bordered by sensitive Fynbos and Renosterbos, as well as agricultural grazing on the opposite bank of the river which forms its one boundary.
The Klein River Cheese family have declared it their lifetime legacy to restore the forest and kloof. Working for Water were initially involved with the removal of all the exotic Blackwoods. All the thirsty invasive Bluegum trees were also removed to increase the flow of the river. Because of their natural occurrence and fire-retardant properties, Milkwood trees were planted to replace felled Blackwoods.
The natural regeneration of Kiggelaria, Gymnosporia, Sideroxylon and Olea Africana as pioneer species has been encouraging. The reforestation project involves planting indigenous species under the canopy of remaining exotics until they have established themselves and more of the exotics can be removed.
The sensitive nature of the riverine banks and the unpredictability of the rain make this the most feasible manner of rehabilitation to minimize erosion. However, increasing sections of the originally cleared riverine zones are also being rehabilitated and reforested.
Want to donate a tree or buy one for a loved one?
You can purchase a tree on the Trees for Tourism website and we will plant it for you!
