Makers on the land

Full of love, Hero talks about the landscape. And he likes to share his love for Groningen. "We have set out a walking route across our land. Everyone is welcome. There are signs telling you all kinds of things about the landscape and the crops. Near the old dyke, you'll find a little hut. You can sit in there in pairs and enjoy the view and silence. The landscape is really an experience."

Many arable farmers produce for the world market and supply their products in bulk, often through cooperatives. Land Gold very deliberately does not do that. "We trade and sell almost everything ourselves. That is unique for Dutch arable farming. We want to cooperate, preferably in the region." For instance, Landgoud supplies straw to dairy farm Waddenmax, a few kilometres away. They get it back as manure for the crops.

Landgoud's white currants are typical. Hero has the Landgoud Blanka wine made from them. Ice cream parlour Toscana in the city of Groningen sells ice cream from the juice . "That ice cream starts sweet and ends fresh-sour," Hero says. And then there is pasta made from spelt and bucket cereals, honey made from mustard flour, 'spelt risotto' and flour ground by local millers. By electric cargo bike, Hero often brings the products to shops and restaurants himself.

Where should you absolutely go when visiting the area around Landgoud? Hero doesn't have to think about that for long: the Dijksterweg towards Hornhuizen. But especially the salt marsh. "Go there at sunrise or sunset. Put on old boots or shoes and then just walk and watch. You see the landscape change every metre; different plants, different vegetation. Look at the horizon, at the rising and falling water. Also notice the grass. It is so totally different from the ryegrass you see everywhere. And if you stand on the dike: look at the sea. You can see Schiermonnikoog and Rottumerplaat. Then turn around and remember that that land too once looked like that."

You can buy and taste Landgoud products at various places in Groningen. For example, the restaurants Piloersemaborg in Den Ham and Onder de Linden in Aduard use the grain for their bread. Herberg Restaurant Molenrij also uses Landgoud products. You can buy the pasta, spelt risotto and Blanka wine at Fluitekruid in Winsum and the Groningen Store in the city, among others. Landgoud does not have a farm shop itself. For an overview, visit landgoud.nl.

Groningen has plenty of other unusual makers on the land. We highlight a few with a special story of their own:

• Distillery Alambik makes Eau de Vie, gin, fresh fruit liqueurs, gin and other exclusive drinks. Owner Zarko is the driving force. Originally from Serbia, now from Midwolda.
• Waddenmax is the van Tilburg family's biodynamic dairy farm. They make cheese, butter, quark, yoghurt and much more. The products are for sale at the farm shop in Hornhuizen, among other places.
• Horaholm in Hornhuizen grows winter carrots, potatoes, gluten-free oats, yellow mustard and more. The organic potatoes and carrots are for sale on the farm.
• Waddenvarkens is a small-scale pig farm. Animal-friendly and sustainable: that is paramount. The free-range meat is for sale at the farm shop, just above Uithuizermeeden, among other places.
• At the Eemstuin near Uithuizermeeden, vegetables grow naturally, i.e. biodynamically. The vegetables are always in season and from their own garden. The products are for sale in their own shop.
• At Groninger Genever Stokerij in Oostwold, gin, liqueur and whisky are distilled using traditional methods and local grain. The communist logo on the Genever's bottle is a nod to the region's rebellious past.
• Organic farm Landleven makes farm cheese, cottage cheese, cream and ice cream under the name Westerwolds Goud. At the Landwinkel in Onstwedde, they also sell regional products from other makers in the area.
• At AGF Holwierde everything revolves around fresh and local. In the shop, you will find a wide range of seasonal vegetables and fresh fruit straight from the land. From potatoes and apples to fresh juices and homemade products: everything comes from the region and is selected with care.
• At Damster Boerenzuivel you can taste the full flavour of artisanal dairy, fresh from the farm. In the shop you will find creamy milk, yoghurt, quark and custard, all made from milk from their own cows. Everything is produced on a small scale and with a lot of love.

Photography: Marcel van Kammen