“What a pleasure to be able to grow here”
Arched greenhouses are a valued figurehead of Tuinderij Land in Zicht.The new organic horticultural branch of care company Land in Zicht is a real asset to Amersfoort. It provides the company's clients in need of care with a fun and meaningful way to spend their days. And local residents enjoy picking sustainably grown vegetables and flowers for a small fee. "It's a resounding success, thanks in part to those wonderful greenhouses," says grower Nienke Boone with undisguised enthusiasm. "They extend the growing season by several months."
Tuinderij Land in Zicht is no ordinary horticultural business. The 6,000 m² site boasts a vast variety of vegetables and flowers. The small-scale and diverse layout makes it clear that maximizing yield and profit is not the driving force here. Nevertheless, everything looks well-maintained and professional, not least because of the four striking arched greenhouses, visible from afar.
"This is a new adventure for Land in Zicht, which I, as a grower, have the privilege of leading," says agricultural expert Nienke Boone. "I've really enjoyed starting this, and it's even more fun than I imagined. Every day is different, but it always connects me with the people we care for. And with local residents, who quickly realized you can buy healthy, delicious, and beautiful organic produce here. But they have to harvest it themselves first. Isn't that great?"
New adventure
"This is a new adventure for Land in Zicht, which I, as a grower, have the privilege of leading," says agricultural expert Nienke Boone. "I've really enjoyed starting this, and it's even more fun than I imagined. Every day is different, but it always connects me with the people we care for. And with local residents, who quickly realized you can buy healthy, delicious, and beautiful organic produce here. But they have to harvest it themselves first. Isn't that great?"
After graduating from Wageningen University, Nienke did development work for an NGO, which involved extensive international travel. Back in the Netherlands, she traded her "too boring" office job for a two-year practical training program in Biodynamic Urban Agriculture at the Warmonderhof Foundation. "There, I took courses in Greenhouse Horticulture, among other things, and first encountered Rovero polytunnels," she explains. "I often heard that name during field trips to horticultural businesses."
Calling found
After completing her training, the newly minted urban farmer was able to immediately start working for the care company Land in Zicht, which wanted to establish a green sector. Director Yuri Gohen gave her more or less free rein. "That's how I finally found my calling, and now I get to dig in the soil every day," says Boone with a broad smile. "First, however, plans had to be drawn up, starting with the construction of four greenhouses. After all, that would require a considerable sum of money. I really delved into it, and that ultimately led me to Rovero's arched greenhouses."
Anchored in concrete
They might not be the cheapest, but a greenhouse is something you buy for the long term. So you have to consider factors like the expected lifespan, annual interest, depreciation, and maintenance costs, and the total cost of ownership. Boone: “What I consider a real plus with Rovero is the solid construction. The greenhouses are not only well-braced but also anchored in concrete. You rarely see that with polytunnels. Moreover, the polytunnel is of good quality. Both aspects make the greenhouse storm-resistant, which is certainly a must in the Netherlands. We have four of them, each 19 meters long, equipped with single-sided ventilation on the sheltered side and wide roller doors in the gables.”
Heavily laden tomato plants
With a small team from Rovero, colleagues from the care company, and a large group of enthusiastic volunteers, the four 930R greenhouses were built in early spring. A week later, the first vegetable crops went into the ground, including several types of tomatoes and the tropical Malabar, a type of climbing spinach. During our conversation in September, the tomato plants, heavily laden with ripe and ripening fruit, were particularly striking.
"This makes you happy," the urban farmer asks rhetorically, holding up a giant cluster of cherry tomatoes. "What a joy to be able to grow in these greenhouses. And to work or shelter from the rain, because you're always dry here. The temperature can get quite high, but thanks to the good ventilation, it doesn't get too hot quickly. The best part is that the greenhouses extend the growing season by months in the spring and fall. That makes it even more attractive for residents to buy a subscription and come pick tomatoes every week. It has really strengthened our bond with the neighborhood next to the farm."
Ambitions
Boone is thrilled with the nursery's flying start. Every week, 65 households come to harvest healthy, organic vegetables and flowers, and that number could eventually reach 200. Plans for expansion next year, including an educational school garden and a tearoom, are already underway.
"The plot is exactly 1 hectare, so we can still use 4,000 m²," says the urban farmer proudly. "Socially responsible businesses are helping us invest in it, because financially it's quite a challenge."
It won't be due to a lack of involvement from the next generation. Boone: "Many children aren't fond of vegetables, but that's not the case for the children who come here regularly – usually with their parents to pick something themselves. They think our tomatoes are the tastiest in the world."