Utrecht

This website details the story of the Erebloem self-picking garden and community association in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. The initiative began at a neighborhood day in 2020, with the idea of creating a pick-your-own garden on a small patch of unused green space. After positive community feedback and discussions with the local municipality, the project was nominated in December 2020 and entered the planning phase, using Sketchup 3D to design the garden.

Moestuin de Haar is a 1.5-hectare self-picking farm located on the former production grounds of Kasteel de Haar. Visitors can become ““oogstdeelnemers”” (harvest participants) and harvest their own vegetables and flowers weekly, making the garden a community space. The farm cultivates vegetables, flowers, berries, and herbs using organic farming principles. The website mentions that the farm relies on harvest participants buying a share at the start of the year to support the farm with plant and seed purchases, as well as the maintenance of the garden. The farm uses composting and crop rotation, to improve the soil structure, and promote healthy produce without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

The Tuinen van Kraaybeekerhof is a biodynamic farm and estate in Driebergen, Netherlands. The farm includes: A self-harvest garden (CSA), where members can pick their own biodynamic vegetables, fruits and herbs. A flower garden, where members can pick their own bouquets. A tea garden. The farm also has a nursery where you can purchase plants. The landgoedwinkel (estate store) is closed for the year but will reopen in spring 2025. Volunteers are welcome to help with the work on the farm. The farm regularly organizes activities and workshops.

Tuin Kansrijk is a biological self-picking farm located in Groenekan, The Netherlands. They focus on positive impact, from the ground to the consumer. They do not use pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or artificial fertilizer, for the benefit of the environment and the consumer. The farm offers fresh, locally grown produce with no storage or transportation involved, which provides the farmers with a fair price. The farm allows visitors to harvest their own produce, offering a connection with nature and a sense of community. Visitors can enjoy picnics, relax, and engage in conversations with other harvesters.

Pluktuin Stoutenburg is a self-picking farm and tea house located in the Utrechts Landschap area. The tea house is open from May 1st, Thursday to Saturday, from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, offering coffee, tea, homemade cakes, and ice cream. They also offer high tea by appointment for groups of 4 or more, featuring homemade sandwiches, quiche, scones, and cakes. From mid-April to early May, visitors can pick tulips. After that, summer plants are planted, and from July onwards, visitors can pick their own summer bouquets. The farm grows a variety of flowers, including dahlias, ammi majus, lathyrus, marigolds, cornflowers, and zinnias. There is also a children’s picking garden with flowers in various colors. In the fall, they sell pumpkins.

The Hof van Gunterstein farm is currently rebuilding its website. The farm shop is open during the winter on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For those interested in a harvest share in 2025, they can send an email with their contact information. The self-picking garden is currently closed. For updates on when it will reopen, follow their Instagram and Facebook pages. The provided text does not mention what crops you are able to self-pick.

Boer Erik is a fruit farm located between Amsterdam and Utrecht. Visitors are welcome to see how the fruit grows. In the spring, you can view the blossoming trees and bees. In the summer, you can pick and eat cherries directly from the trees. You can also enjoy ripe strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and red berries. In September, the farm holds apple-picking days where people can pick their own apples. School children visit annually to pick apples as well. The farm has a Landwinkel (farm shop) located between Utrecht and Amsterdam, offering products like self-picked apples and homemade honey. The Landwinkel is open year-round on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. In the winter, the orchard is quiet, and the trees are pruned to ensure sunlight and wind reach all parts of the tree. Visitors are welcome to walk around the farm in winter, especially when it is covered in snow or frost. During the summer, Boer Erik also sells produce at different locations that are open during the cherry season, and some locations are only open on Saturdays. They also offer custom-made gift baskets with regional products.

The Eekhoeve is a farm offering a variety of activities and products. It features a farm shop (““Landwinkel””) with local products and a tea house serving fresh treats. Visitors can harvest their own fruits and vegetables in the ““moestuin”” (vegetable garden) and pick flowers in the ““pluktuin”” (picking garden). There is also the possibility to interact with animals. The farm shop sells, among other things, cheese, fresh meat from their own Hereford cows and ““Veens Kaatje”” (a local egg liquor).

Nieuw Slagmaat Farm in Bunnik welcomes visitors to its farm store, terrace, and playground on Fridays and Saturdays. The farm grows kiwis, apples, pears, plums, cherries, and kiwiberries, as well as vegetables in a large garden, including beets, pumpkins, and zucchini. It is known for its innovative and environmentally conscious fruit cultivation, which has received awards. All produce is sold fresh in the farm store and is also processed into jam and juice without additives. Visitors can see farm animals and enjoy coffee/tea or farm-made juice with a view. The farm is located in the Kromme Rijn area, bordering Nieuw Wulven forest and Fort Vechten, offering opportunities for cycling, walking, and skating.

Utrecht Natuurlijk manages five city farms and six city gardens throughout Utrecht, open year-round (except for some holidays). These locations offer daily enjoyment of animals, opportunities to work in gardens, nature education centers, farm shops, and cafes. Activities and nature programs are available for all ages, focusing on strengthening urban nature and biodiversity. The farms feature animals, playgrounds, and various activities. They also offer opportunities to rent space for events and birthday parties. The farms often have farm shops and cafes where fresh, local products are sold.

Très Jolie is an ecological small fruit farm located in De Glind, Netherlands. The farm cultivates various types of small fruit, including berries, blackberries, and raspberries. It aims to be a ““sensory garden”” where visitors can relax and enjoy nature. Très Jolie offers a wide range of berries, available for self-picking on designated days or for purchase in various health food stores during the season. They also process the berries into products such as fruit preserves, syrup, vinegar, juices, chutney, jelly, and dried fruit, which are sold at markets and in shops.

In de Boomgaard Kleurt je seizoen (In the Boomgaard, Colour Your Season) is a location on the Den Treek-Henschoten estate in Leusden, run by Marieke Nolsen. She offers atmospheric flower workshops and courses inspired by the season. During the courses, participants learn to create flower arrangements in a natural way, gathering the materials themselves. Materials are provided for the workshops. The approximately 1600 m² garden, which can be visited in groups by appointment, is designed as a picking garden. There are borders with perennials and shrubs, and flowers, berries, and greenery are grown for floral arrangements. Specific examples include malus apple trees, rosehip varieties, ivy berries, and hydrangeas. In addition, various books and online content are available about Marieke’s picking garden and flower arrangements.

Utrecht Natuurlijk is an organization with five city farms and six city gardens spread throughout Utrecht, Netherlands. The farms are open year-round and offer various activities for all ages, including animal interactions, gardening opportunities, nature education, and farm shops/cafés. They also work on projects to enhance urban nature and biodiversity. Visitors can pick fresh products from the Oogsttuin, bloemenpluktuin and permacultuur tuin. The garden offers diverse groups such as schools, organizations and citizens to work in the garden.

Utrecht Natuurlijk is an organization with five city farms and six city gardens in Utrecht, open year-round. They offer a variety of activities and educational programs focused on nature, biodiversity, and sustainable living for all ages. Visitors can enjoy animals, participate in gardening, play, learn, and shop at farm stores and cafes. Here’s what the different locations of Utrecht Natuurlijk offer: Farm Stores and Cafes: Many locations sell fresh, local products. They provide coffee, lunch and homemade pastries. Some even provide vegetables, eggs and honey. Animals: Most farms have farm animals, where visitors can interact with pigs, cows, goats, chickens, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, birds and cats. They also house rare farm animal species. Playgrounds: Some locations have playgrounds, where kids can climb, build, and experiment with water. Here’s what the different gardens of Utrecht Natuurlijk offer:

Tuinen van Kraaybeekerhof is an old estate located in Driebergen-Rijsenburg, Netherlands, with biodynamic gardens. The estate’s shop is closed for the year but will reopen in Spring 2025. The nursery remains open for purchasing perennial plants. During the season, you can become a member of the self-harvest garden and pick your own biodynamically grown vegetables, berries, and herbs every week. Additionally, a flower subscription is available for picking your own bouquets.

Utrecht Natuurlijk is an organization in Utrecht, Netherlands with five urban farms and six urban gardens. These locations are open to the public and offer a variety of activities and services. What They Offer: Activities: They provide a range of activities and nature education programs for children, youth, and adults, as well as working on projects to enhance nature and biodiversity in the city. Farms & Gardens: Visitors can enjoy animals, participate in gardening, play, learn at nature education centers, and visit farm shops and restaurants. Specifics on Self-Picking and Produce:

This website promotes a self-picking garden (pluktuin) experience. It offers advice and workshops on how to create your own self-picking garden, even for beginners. The owner also provides garden design services to help customers create their own personalized gardens. Specifically, you can pick flowers to create bouquets and even edible flowers. The website also emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and supporting bees and butterflies in your garden. It mentions the Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea) and dahlias as flowers that are part of the self picking experience.