Boerderij Groeizaam is an organic care farm located in Emmeloord, dedicated to 100% biological and sustainable farming practices across its 5.5 hectares. The farm operates with a focus on delivering fresh, local produce directly from the garden to the table at fair prices, and is officially SKAL certified. As a care farm, it provides a supportive environment for participants who assist with various tasks, including cultivating crops in the cold greenhouse, sowing, harvesting, and working in the farm shop.
The farm features a well-stocked farm shop offering a diverse range of 100% organic products. Available items include fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, cheese, sausages, and other regional products like apples, pears, bread spreads, and rice. Produce harvested from their own land encompasses potatoes, onions, kale, celeriac, leeks, and pumpkins. The cold greenhouse yields additional vegetables such as lettuce, beans, peppers, cucumbers, and red beets. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the farm animals and can explore the shop virtually through a 360-degree tour.
For a direct, hands-on experience, the farm offers several self-picking opportunities. Guests can visit the flower picking garden to create their own bouquets, with scissors and materials provided, for €8 per bunch. During seasonal events like the annual harvest festival, visitors have the chance to dig their own potatoes and pick flowers. The pumpkin harvest festival specifically invites guests to select pumpkins directly from the field.
Boerderij Groeizaam also processes and packages 100% organic olives, sourced from Southern Italy and Greece, for both wholesale and direct purchase in their farm shop.
The farm’s opening hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 to 17:30, and Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00. It regularly hosts various events, including picking evenings, harvest festivals, and pumpkin festivals.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm and garden consistently garners high praise for its diverse selection of beautiful, honest, and high-quality organic and biodynamic products, including gluten- and lactose-free options. Visitors frequently commend the exceptionally friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic staff, who are noted for their attentiveness and excellent service, even accommodating requests outside regular opening hours. The owner is also celebrated for her hospitality, contributing to the overall welcoming atmosphere.
It’s considered a delightful destination, particularly for families with children, offering an enjoyable experience in the picking garden, though it can occasionally be a bit sparse. While some customers acknowledge that the products might be slightly more expensive, they generally agree that the superior quality justifies the cost. The farm is also recognized for its social impact, employing and guiding individuals in both the shop and the fields, showing dedicated attention to those in their care.
Isolated incidents include one user’s experience with picked bouquets leading to a subsequent fly issue at home, and a singular, highly negative but unspecified, review.