U-pick farm De Tovertuin' (zelfoogst groenten)

De Tovertuin is a self-pick vegetable garden located in Epe, offering a membership-based experience where people can come and harvest their own fresh, organically grown produce. The garden focuses on community building around food and cultivates a wide variety of vegetables using natural and ecological methods, without the use of chemical pesticides. The season runs for approximately 33 weeks, typically starting in early May.

Members can self-pick a vast assortment of produce, including: potatoes, strawberries, endive, eggplant, basil, beets, kale, wild garlic, spring onions, broccoli, broccolini, Chinese cabbage, zucchini, capucijner peas, celeriac, cucumber, kohlrabi, kohlrabi, pak choi, palm kale, parsnip, snow peas, leek, rapeseed, rhubarb, radicchio, radish, red cabbage, lettuce, spinach, pointed cabbage, chard, green beans, Brussels sprouts, sweet corn, fava beans, lamb’s lettuce, fennel, yacon, sweet potato, and winter purslane.

The garden is open to members on:

Tuesday: 08:00 - 20:00
Wednesday: 08:00 - 20:00
Friday: 08:00 - 20:00
Saturday: closed for non-members, but members are welcome from 08:00 - 20:00 It is closed on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday. The business is located at Papenstraat 10 in Epe and has a perfect rating of 5.0 out of 5 from 10 reviews.

What visitors say

This self-picking farm, affectionately known to some as “De Tovertuin,” consistently receives glowing reviews from its visitors. Guests are universally impressed by the beautifully designed and well-maintained gardens, which offer a diverse selection of organic and wonderfully fresh produce, including vegetables, flowers, and plants, with cuttings also available. The owners, identified as Bram and Lieuwe, are frequently praised for their passion, enthusiasm, and extensive knowledge, as well as their admirable perseverance, particularly during challenging growing seasons.

Beyond the high-quality, self-harvested goods, the overall atmosphere is described as incredibly inviting, fostered by kind and dedicated individuals, making it a truly delightful experience. One returning visitor even highlights its broader appeal as a “perfect place” for a relaxing B&B stay, offering healthy self-cooked meals and opportunities for activities such as cycling, swimming, and fitness, suggesting a comprehensive wellness and vacation destination. Many visitors describe it as a “wonderful” or “perfect” spot, with some expressing a desire for it to remain a cherished “secret” gem.

Facilities in this u-pick farm

Pluktuin Apeldoorn

9.5 km — gelderland

Pluktuin Apeldoorn is a foundation-run pick-your-own garden located in the hamlet of Wiesel, in the Wenum-Wiesel area near Apeldoorn. It is operated entirely by volunteers and focuses on providing an accessible, nature-oriented experience for visitors of all ages. The garden offers a variety of seasonal produce for self-picking. This includes a wide selection of summer flowers, which can be picked to make your own bouquets, as well as small fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, and various types of currants from the bessentuin (berry garden). Vegetables are also available, though these are typically harvested by the volunteers upon request rather than picked directly by visitors starting the 2025 season. The garden is open for picking from June onwards, reopening for the season on Wednesday, June 11, and remaining open until the start of October (the garden closes on Saturday, October 4, 2025).

Wenum Hoeve

9.7 km — gelderland

Wenum Hoeve is a farm located on 25 hectares of land in Wenum-Wiesel, Gelderland. It combines agriculture with a care farm, a farm shop, a tea room, and meeting and event facilities. The farm is home to Hereford cattle and also raises Holstein Friesian calves for dairy rearing. Products from the farm, including vegetables, flowers, and meat, are sold in the on-site farm shop. Visitors can self-pick vegetables, fruit, and flowers from the farm’s own vegetable and flower garden. Available produce includes fresh vegetables, strawberries, herbs, and a variety of cut flowers, such as dahlias, depending on the season. The pick-your-own garden is open during the growing season; it is advisable to check the farm’s Facebook or Instagram pages for the exact opening dates each year.

De Oosterwaarde C.V.

11.5 km — overijssel

De Oosterwaarde is a biodynamic farm located in Diepenveen, just outside Deventer, on a centuries-old esdijk. Established in 1994, the farm operates on 13 hectares of land and is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative. The farm grows a wide variety of vegetables, along with small fruit and grains that are milled into their own flour. It serves up to 250 member households, with produce distributed year-round via pick-up points in Deventer, Olst, Wijhe, Diepenveen, and Schalkhaar. A small farm shop on-site also sells products, primarily from the farm itself.

StadsAkkers

11.7 km — gelderland

StadsAkkers is a non-profit organic farm located on 2.5 hectares in Apeldoorn, growing a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, and herbs. The farm also has an orchard with 200 apple and pear trees. Beyond food production, the organization focuses on providing a meaningful outdoor work environment for people who may face barriers to the regular job market. Visitors can purchase produce at the on-farm shop, ’t Akkertje. For those who want to participate directly, a self-pick subscription allows weekly harvesting. The self-pick season runs from May through October. Each week, subscribers can pick 4 to 5 different types of vegetables and fruit (when available), plus a bunch of herbs and, regularly, flowers. The expected yield averages enough for 3 to 4 meals per week, based on 200 grams per person. Self-picking is scheduled for Wednesday afternoons (13:00-16:00), Fridays (10:00-18:00), and Saturdays (09:00-12:00). During holiday periods, a friend or family member can pick on the subscriber’s behalf.