The Martinushoeve is a self-picking farm and small-scale agricultural project located on Keeskesweg in Ossendrecht. It operates on a community-supported agriculture model where individuals and their entire households can participate by becoming “harvest shareholders” through an annual donation. Members gain year-round access to the farm, from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, to harvest their own produce.
The farm emphasizes sustainable and responsible practices, cultivating crops biologically without the use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, or heating and lighting greenhouses. It focuses on biodiversity, promoting beneficial insect populations and healthy soil life.
Members can self-pick a wide variety of fresh produce, including:
- Vegetables: Leeks, garlic, onions (red and regular), shallots, various types of peas (including runner beans, princess beans, and butter beans), potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, red beets, turnips, radishes, celeriac, a range of tomatoes (Roma, cherry, yellow), chili peppers, bell peppers (yellow and red), aubergines, cucumbers, sweetcorn, pumpkins, zucchinis (green, yellow), butternut squash, carrots (yellow, purple), parsley root, horseradish, parsnips, diverse lettuce varieties, spinach, endive, mustard greens, turnip greens, rucola, purslane, Swiss chard, cauliflower, broccoli, savoy cabbage, white cabbage, red cabbage, kohlrabi, pointed cabbage, kale, and palm cabbage.
- Herbs: A rotating selection of fresh culinary and tea herbs such as parsley, rosemary, chives, thyme, sage, oregano, basil, dill, coriander, various mints, lovage, tarragon, and burnet.
- Fruit: Apples, pears, cherries, plums, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blueberries, rhubarb, and melon.
- Flowers: Both cultivated flowers and from a wild flower picking meadow, including edible varieties like nasturtium, borage, and calendula.
- Animal Products: Fresh eggs laid by non-hybrid chickens, and fresh honey from on-site beehives.
Participation requires registration for the entire household, with an annual fee paid in advance. This grants access to share in the harvest for a full year, typically running from May 1st to April 30th. Members are expected to follow specific house rules, including respecting crops, only walking on designated paths, and harvesting responsibly in consideration of other participants. Communication regarding harvesting schedules and available produce is often shared via an online platform or WhatsApp group.
What visitors say
Visitors consistently praise this self-picking farm as a wonderful and incredibly calming destination. Members express immense satisfaction with the opportunity to personally harvest a diverse array of fresh produce, including eggs, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Reviewers highlight the evident care and attention given to everything grown, noting the joy of picking at one’s own pace and returning home with healthy, high-quality products. The experience is described as a delightful outing that leaves one feeling refreshed and happy, making it highly recommended for anyone who appreciates nature and honest, fresh food.