Groningen

The Blije Bodem (Happy Soil) is a self-picking farm initiative located in the Westpark in Groningen, Netherlands. Their mission is to make Groningen healthier and more beautiful by creating a regenerative self-harvest garden. The farm cultivates healthy and flavorful vegetables, unsprayed flowers, and fresh herbs, all intended to be affordable and accessible to a broad audience. Participants can harvest their own produce at their convenience, ensuring local and super-fresh ingredients. The Blije Bodem aims to be more than just a vegetable garden, with the goal of creating a green oasis, full of life and open to everyone, offering a place for rest, inspiration, and education for future generations.

Tuinderij Klein Alma is a self-picking farm in Bedum, run by Aukje Stoffelsma, her husband Stefan, volunteers, trainees, and picking participants. Aukje Stoffelsma started the farm in 2019 after graduating from Warmonderhof, a school for biodynamic agriculture. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) principle, where customers buy “harvest shares” for the season, allowing them to harvest their own produce weekly. This supports healthy agriculture and the local economy.

’t Plukgeluk is a self-harvesting garden located just outside Bedum, Netherlands. The garden promotes a vision of free and self-sufficient living. Visitors can pick their own organically grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs on Wednesdays and Saturdays for a reasonable price. The farm also hosts workshops, tours, lectures, and dinners. A roadside stand is open 24/7, offering fresh produce from the land. The founder Lars, aims to provide locally grown produce while living as self-sufficient and energy-neutral as possible. All products are produced with respect for people, animals, and the environment using only ecologically responsible methods, such as no artificial fertilizers or pesticides and only organically grown seeds and seedlings.

Pluktuin Lageweg is a local, nature-friendly flower farm that is currently closed but plans to reopen in the summer of 2025. In the spring they offer tulips. Visitors will be able to pick their own flowers. The farm is owned by Hero and Joke Beukema, along with their son Guillaume. Their mission is to create an oasis for flowers and insects and to address the decline in nature. The farm uses no pesticides, relying on compost and biological soil. They are always looking for natural methods of pest control. Visitors can pick from a variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and grasses, chosen for their appeal to bees and butterflies and their suitability as cut flowers. The farm provides baskets and scissors, and charges per stem, with slightly higher prices for dahlias and sunflowers. Assistance with picking is available, and visitors can enjoy the garden with tea or coffee. Card payment is accepted.

The Cosis website provides information about their services for individuals with intellectual or psychological disabilities. They offer support in Groningen and Drenthe, including assisted living, at-home assistance, daytime activities, and help with raising children. The organization also has job and volunteer opportunities. The website includes news, stories, and blogs related to their work, as well as details on how to register for their services and contact them. The website contains a story about the Klimroos farm in Sappemeer where, clients can enjoy working outdoors, especially growing and picking flowers. Customers can pick their own bouquets.

De Mikkelhorst is an ecological care farm located in Haren, Netherlands. It offers various activities and facilities including a petting zoo, playground, pick-your-own garden, tea room, and a shop selling regional products. The farm provides day activities for people with disabilities, focusing on meaningful work and social inclusion. Volunteers also contribute to the farm’s operations in areas like gardening, building maintenance, the shop, reception, and animal care. Visitors can enjoy picking their own ecologically grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the garden. The farm also has a bee colony managed by volunteers, and sells frozen meat in their shop.

Tuinindestad is a community garden located in Groningen, offering various activities and services. Every Thursday, they host a communal dinner, often followed by an activity. The space can be rented for parties, meetings, or other gatherings, with or without catering. The plant sale starts on April 3rd, open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 2 PM to 5 PM. Due to freezing temperatures, the water is currently shut off, so only the “trekkershut” (hiker’s cabin) can be rented, potentially with the “pipowagen” (tiny house) and/or tipi.

Landwinkel Ol Diek is a fruit and arable farm in the Oldambt region, known for its grain fields. In their orchard, they grow apples, pears, and cherries. The Landwinkel (farm shop) sells their own fruit, as well as regional products, farm delicacies, gifts, and Christmas packages. They offer gift baskets and fruit baskets. Visitors can enjoy coffee, tea, apple pie, or ice cream on their terrace. In September, they organize apple-picking days where visitors can pick their own apples. You can self-pick apples in the orchard. They have 10 different varieties of cherry trees, and you can pick cherries in July and August. They also have pear trees and pick pears in September.

De Biotoop is a vibrant community located in the former Biological Center of the University of Groningen. It’s a place where people live, work, and various social functions are accommodated. The community features studios of artists and workspaces of entrepeneurs. Pizza Paul will be open from March 14, 2025, serving authentic Neapolitan pizzas. The community offers a variety of creative services and products, ranging from art and handmade furniture to yoga sessions and logo design.

Zelfoogsttuin Ten Boer is a self-picking garden where you can harvest fresh, locally grown vegetables. As a member, you’ll receive a weekly update on what’s ripe for picking, along with a recipe. The produce is grown from organic seeds and plants, with respect for the soil and without pesticides. The garden offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, and organizes activities like harvest and spring festivals. Zelfoogsttuin Ten Boer is located on the Wolddijk in Ten Boer, next to Innersdijk. You can find them on Facebook under the name Zelfoogsttuin Ten Boer.

This self-picking farm allows visitors to harvest their own unsprayed vegetables, herbs, and flowers from May to December. The crops are grown naturally and in harmony with the environment. Each week, participants receive an “harvest agenda” via email, detailing what is ready to be picked. The farm offers benefits such as reduced environmental impact due to the lack of distribution and packaging, cost savings compared to supermarket prices, increased knowledge of local, seasonal produce, healthy eating without pesticides, and the opportunity to relax and meet other people. Currently, the farm has reached its maximum capacity, and interested individuals can join a waiting list.

De Mikkelhorst is an ecological care farm located on the edge of the green village of Haren, Netherlands. It offers a variety of activities and services, including a petting zoo, playground, pick-your-own garden, tea room, and a shop for local products. The farm provides day care and guidance for people with various disabilities and backgrounds, focusing on meaningful work and social participation. It offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor workplaces to accommodate individual needs and abilities.