Groene Pluk is a self-harvest garden situated next to Burgerboerderij Oosterwold in Almere, Flevoland. It operates as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative, where members contribute through an annual subscription, known as a harvest share, to collectively support the garden and harvest their own produce. The garden is run by Hester van Donkersgoed and Juultje Joosten, who focus on organic cultivation, healthy soil, and biodiversity, avoiding pesticides and artificial fertilizers.
Visitors can self-pick a variety of organic produce, primarily available from Wednesday to Saturday between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
The produce available for self-picking includes:
- Vegetables and Herbs: From approximately May through November (around 32 weeks), members can harvest weekly. The early season typically offers an abundance of leafy greens such as arugula, spinach, turnip greens, chard, and lamb’s lettuce. As the season progresses, fruit vegetables, root vegetables, and cabbages become available, including zucchini, tomato, corn, pak choi, palm cabbage, kale, beets, carrots, parsnip, celeriac, and potatoes. Various herbs are also part of the harvest list, along with small fruits like strawberries for snacking.
- Flowers: From spring into autumn (roughly mid-June to mid-October for about 18 weeks), the flower garden allows for picking unsprayed field bouquets.
For the winter months, from December to April, Groene Pluk collaborates with other Flevoland farmers to offer a bi-weekly, varied organic vegetable package.
Membership for vegetables and herbs usually provides enough produce for one person per week and operates on a solidary payment system where members choose their price based on their financial capacity. For flowers, there are options for a seasonal harvest share or punch cards, as well as single bouquets. The garden also welcomes volunteers to help with tasks like weeding and planting, and trial harvesting sessions are available for those interested in experiencing the self-picking process. Additionally, the farm shop at Burgerboerderij Oosterwold offers a range of local Flevoland products.
What visitors say
Visitors consistently praise this self-picking farm for its exceptional quality and delightful experience. Reviewers highlight the weekly supply of incredibly fresh, flavorful, and often generously sized vegetables and herbs, noting a distinct improvement in taste compared to store-bought produce. The ecological garden, lovingly nurtured without pesticides and grown on sea clay, offers a wide variety of seasonal produce, from giant radishes and pak choi to robust red beets and aromatic arugula, with opportunities for harvesting treats like strawberries.
The farm is lauded for its excellent organization, providing weekly harvest updates and necessary tools like knives and rubber bands, meaning guests only need to bring their own basket. Beyond the high-quality yield, many appreciate the experience itself, describing it as a “paradise” and a weekly moment of ultimate relaxation. It also serves as a welcoming community hub, offering rewarding volunteer opportunities suitable for families, and is seen as a valuable addition to the local area.