Oogstland is a regenerative community food garden located at the Esweg in Zuidlaren. The garden cultivates vegetables, herbs, and soft fruit using no-dig methods, avoiding pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. The focus is on strengthening soil life and biodiversity while fostering a connection between people, their food, and nature. The initiative operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, where members purchase a seasonal share to receive a portion of the harvest.
As a member, you can self-pick crops directly from the land. The picking season runs from approximately mid-May to mid-December. Each week, members receive a harvest email detailing which produce is ready for picking, typically offering between 4 and 10 different types of vegetables. The variety includes familiar options like carrots, lettuce, beans, zucchini, pumpkin, and cabbage, as well as less common choices such as turnips, radicchio, and Chioggia beets. Members are asked to bring their own bags or crates, as no packaging is provided on site.
The garden is open for picking from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, throughout the growing season. Oogstland also offers a social food garden program, providing free weekly harvest shares to households with an income up to 120% of the social minimum. This initiative is supported by the Stichting Sociale Voedseltuin Oogstland foundation and funded through grants and subsidies. The garden is suitable for children.
What visitors say
Visitors have expressed strong enthusiasm for this self-picking farm, hailing it as a truly wonderful initiative. They particularly appreciate the opportunity to gather fresh vegetables directly from the land. Many have enjoyed their initial harvesting experiences, finding them to be exceptionally rewarding, and frequently comment on the beautiful setting of the farm itself.