De Groenhof is a self-picking garden, beekeeping operation, and food garden, inviting visitors to experience sustainable agriculture firsthand. During the summer months, guests can pick a variety of unsprayed produce, flowers, and more, in an environment suitable for all ages. Everything grown here is cultivated environmentally friendly and sustainably, without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides.
The process is simple: visitors select a basket or container, follow signs to identify what is ripe, and then pick their desired fruit, vegetables, or even a wild flower bouquet from the designated meadow using shears. After picking, items are weighed at the garden shop, which also offers fresh fruit smoothies, herbal teas, and other delightful treats made from garden produce.
Depending on what is ripe on a given day, visitors can self-pick a wide array of produce, including:
- Summer fruits: Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, plums, gooseberries, mirabelle plums, redcurrants, whitecurrants, and blackcurrants.
- Flowers: A diverse mix of annual and perennial wildflowers, along with various bulb and tuber crops.
- Vegetables & Herbs: Different types of picking vegetables and an assortment of fresh garden herbs.
In addition to the self-picking garden, De Groenhof features a recently established food garden. While focused on creating a resilient ecosystem similar to a food forest, this area also emphasizes active maintenance to ensure a high yield of food. The food garden promotes biodiversity and nature-inclusive horticulture, incorporating numerous native plants and shrubs that bloom year-round to support pollinators like bees and other insects. It employs a natural water system, such as a wadi, and avoids deep soil cultivation to maintain a healthy soil structure. This area is designed to produce abundant, healthy food while also fostering social cohesion on the island, with local schoolchildren and volunteers actively participating in its development and upkeep. During harvest months, visitors are welcome to explore and pick ripe vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit from the food garden.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm offers a delightful and unique experience, consistently praised by visitors for its wonderful concept and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It’s considered a must-visit spot, especially for families with children, providing a fun and engaging outing.
Guests can enjoy picking a wide variety of fresh, organic, and unsprayed produce, including seasonal fruits like strawberries, cherries, plums, and various berries (such as blueberries, redcurrants, gooseberries, and whitecurrants). They can also harvest vegetables like beans, chard, and zucchini, alongside beautiful field and cut flowers. While the selection is seasonal and popular items can run out quickly, the farm typically provides daily updates on what’s available, advising early visits for the best choice.
Beyond the picking experience, the farm serves as a beautiful and spacious place to relax. It features comfortable seating areas in both sun and shade, offers free-to-borrow picnic blankets, and encourages guests to linger. Visitors can refresh themselves with delicious, freshly made fruit smoothies, homemade muffins, lemonade, coffee, or tea. There’s also a charming on-site shop selling local, organic products like jams, honey, and soaps. The owners are noted for being very friendly and hospitable, contributing to the overall pleasant and convivial ambiance on the island.