Stichting Groninger voedseltuinen wants to make locally produced food natural and accessible to everyone. They are working hard to make food gardens the most normal thing in the world and aim to realise 100 food gardens in the province of Groningen. An example of such a food garden is nursery De Stadsakker on the outskirts of the city.
Groningen's backyard
On Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat sits De Stadsakker, where they have been trying for years to get people to grow their own food, even if it is only on one square metre. Merlijn Albering's passion goes beyond that. She also wants to grow vegetables for people who don't have green fingers. Or no space or time. Nine years ago, she therefore started nursery De Stadsakker on the edge of the city. Together with her husband, a number of volunteers and interns, they grow all kinds of vegetables. Local, sustainable, small-scale and unsprayed.
Once upon a time, Merlin had a small vegetable garden of his own. But soon it was more than a hobby. Every year, the fence of the vegetable garden went up another few metres. And she began to delve deeper. She thought, "I have a vegetable garden. If I just make it a hundred times bigger, I can grow for a whole neighbourhood." And so nursery De Stadsakker was born. Groningen's backyard garden. The municipality was also keen on more local food in the city and they got a piece of land in Hoogkerk. A former football pitch lined with trees. The perfect place for a food garden. Everything they grow here they sell directly to customers. From vegetable packets to unsprayed bouquets.
Vegetables with a story
In this food garden, they grow about 40 varieties of vegetables. From winter cabbages to mini-courgettes. All varieties that do well in the Netherlands. And different for each season, of course. They also have a tunnel greenhouse where they grow tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, an orchard with delicious sweet fruit and a field full of flowers. Good for biodiversity, but also for cheerful bouquets. And not all produce looks perfect. "Sometimes they are pre-tasted. Then a snail has run over it and the leaves are a bit off. No reason to throw it away. If you can explain that, people don't mind at all." says Merlijn. At De Stadsakker, you choose your vegetables yourself. Whether you want a small, large or crooked courgette. After all, vegetables are not perfect by shape, but for their taste.
" " You have to immerse yourself completely in it and sometimes you have to sit on your hands. Then nature is not so difficult." "
Help from nature
Besides the volunteers and future growers, there are more helping hands. Or rather: helping paws. There are cats who help them get rid of moles and mice, walking ducks who love snails and chickens who are very good at weeding. Nature is happy to cooperate, and since they don't use poisons, pesticides and fertilisers at the nursery, they have to be creative here and make clever use of it. "Take the nasturtium. Lice find this tastier than tomatoes. If there is an infestation of lice, the lice will sit in this. This distracts them and so they leave the tomatoes alone." says Merlin. Besides creativity, patience is also very important at the nursery. "There are black lice in broad beans. If you just sit on your hands and wait a week, ladybirds will come naturally. After two weeks, you are rid of the lice."
Tastier, fresher and healthier
Merlin himself hopes there will be many more small-scale food gardens. "The moment food is grown locally, you become independent. Apart from the fact that it's tastier, fresher and healthier." Fortunately, there are more and more food gardens in Groningen. You can also get involved yourself. So Merlijn hopes to get as many people as possible to take up a vegetable garden of their own. Even if it's just small on your balcony or in your city garden. And when asked if Merlijn has any tips for getting started herself, she doesn't have to think long. "Just start. Put a seed in the ground with love and start small. Now if everyone starts one square metre of vegetable garden and spends a few hours a week doing this, we will have 200,000 square metres of vegetable garden in the middle of the city."
" " With very small steps, we can make the world a little greener. If we all do a little bit, then I do believe in it." "
Fresh from our own food garden
Feel like getting started yourself? At De Stadsakker in Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat, they have everything you need to start growing your own vegetables. From tools to seeds and pots to fertiliser. You'll also find all kinds of books to help you do this. "On the internet, you find what you are looking for. In a book you find something you weren't looking for, which you think: hey, that's handy." There are also things to attract birds or give insects a nice spot. And, of course, you can get the delicious vegetables and cheerful bouquets here. Using a solar-powered van, they bring the latest harvest to the shop. So you have vegetables in your home that were still in the ground three hours before. Opt for a weekly vegetable pack or just drop by and see what this week's harvest has brought. You can't get fresher. And you can taste that.
