Mooi Weerdinge is a self-picking farm and food forest located on the outskirts of Weerdinge and Emmen. It operates on natural principles, cultivating flavourful vegetables and fruits without artificial fertilizers or pesticides, and using organic seeds and planting material to promote a healthy soil and environment.
Visitors can participate in several ways:
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Model:
- Harvest Freely (Oogst Vrij): Members can pick their weekly vegetables from Wednesday to Sunday, from sunrise to sunset, choosing what and how much they need. This option supports local biodiversity.
- Harvest Together (Oogst Samen): Participants gather to pick 6-7 different vegetables per week, often with others on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays. This provides a varied selection, including popular and forgotten vegetables.
- The picking season for CSA members typically runs from May 1st to mid-November. Members receive a weekly email detailing what’s ready to harvest, along with unique recipes.
- Pick a Day (Pluk een Dag): For casual visitors, the farm offers specific “pick a day” sessions every Wednesday in July and August (except August 20th), from 10:00 to 16:00. No prior registration is required for these sessions.
- Vegetable Stall: A farm stand is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 16:00.
Produce available for self-picking from the self-harvest garden and food forest includes a wide variety of seasonal items:
Vegetables & Herbs:
- May: Paksoi, beets, various lettuces.
- June: Beets, broad beans, lettuce, peas.
- July: Lettuce, beans, zucchini, cutting celery.
- August: Spring onions, cucumber, tomato, pepper, corn, zucchini, Swiss chard, cutting celery.
- September: Potatoes, beans, marrowfat peas, corn, zucchini, Swiss chard, onions.
- October: Potatoes, beans, parsnip, celeriac, cutting celery, Swiss chard.
- November: Pumpkin, zucchini, onions, beets.
- December: Sprouts, kale, celery, potatoes.
- Additionally, on “Pick a Day” visitors can find potatoes, beans, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, fennel, collard greens, various cabbages, beets, and carrots. Special herbs like rosemary and Szechuan pepper are also cultivated.
Fruits: The food forest features berries, raspberries, plums, and other small fruits. There is also a “French onion soup tree.”
Mooi Weerdinge is run by Sabijn, Kay, and their child Juno. Beyond self-picking, the farm also offers catering services led by chef Kay Krijnen, specializing in vegetarian and vegan dishes prepared with fresh, local produce, often cooked live over fire. The farm frequently hosts community events such as harvest festivals, tree planting days, and volunteer days.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm provides a delightful experience for collecting fresh produce. The managers are notably friendly and helpful, greatly enhancing the overall visit. A recent visitor particularly enjoyed the potatoes, corn, and bell peppers gathered, describing them as delicious. The farm is highly recommended for its fresh offerings and pleasant atmosphere.