Zelfoogsttuin Ten Boer is a self-picking garden located on Wolddijk in Ten Boer, adjacent to Innersdijk. Spanning approximately 6500 m², the garden is dedicated to providing fresh, locally grown produce that members can harvest themselves. It operates on principles of respect for the soil and natural cultivation, using biological seeds and plant material without the use of pesticides, though it does not hold a formal organic certification.
Members, known as ‘oogstgenoten,’ receive weekly updates detailing the available produce and accompanying recipes, allowing them to enjoy a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits. The garden aims to offer seven or more different vegetables each week during the harvest season.
Produce available for self-picking includes a broad range of common outdoor vegetables. Additionally, the garden cultivates lesser-known or ‘forgotten vegetables’ such as parsnip, Swiss chard, cavolo nero, and Chioggia beet. A large tunnel greenhouse further expands the selection to include southern vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers, chili peppers, and eggplants. The garden also features over 500 fruit trees and berry bushes, planted in 2017 to enhance diversity.
The garden is currently observing a rest year for its vegetable beds (mentioned as 2025 in one instance) to allow the soil to recover and restore its natural balance, with plans to introduce a new approach to cultivation in the following year.
What visitors say
Visitors consistently praise this self-picking farm, describing the experience of harvesting their own vegetables as “wonderful” and the location itself as “paradise.” The farm is also highly regarded as a valuable initiative for connecting people with ecological agriculture.