Food Forest "Beheerlyckheid"
Food Forest "Beheerlyckheid"
Den Osse, Brouwershaven, Zeeland
14 hectare
Maarten Epskamp and Max de Corte (Co-operation "Underground")
V.O.F. Gaia Impact
First planting: February 2021
From a bare farmland to a rich food forest
Together with Trees for All and Gaia Impact, the Food Forestry Foundation is planting a food forest in Brouwershaven (Zeeland). A bare field is making way for a diverse and rich food forest, from which in time a variety of fruits and nuts can be harvested. A group of local entrepreneurs have joined forces to contribute to sustainability and climate improvement. Initiators Vincent Dellebeke, Anniek Riseeuw and Connie Schoenmakers have united in V.O.F. Gaia Impact, partly with the ambition to develop a business model based on a food forest.
To achieve this ambition, they are collaborating with an insurance company, which has purchased over 14 hectare of farmland for this purpose. Gaia Impact leases this land from the insurance company. The aim is to develop the food forest into a location that will inspire farmers, schoolchildren, agro-professionals, businesses, tourists and residents. The ambition is to plant more than 750 species of trees and plants, with the aim to harvest a wide range of products throughout the year.
Eventually, more than 24,000 trees and shrubs will be planted. That means that hundreds of products will grow in the food forest, such as pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts, as well as plums, berries, pears, apples, cherries and peaches. In addition to the “harvest forest”, there will be an “herb forest”, where herbs, such as thyme, sage and mint, will grow. Moreover, 1.3 hectare will serve as an “inspiration forest”. This part is open to visitors and will be used for education, research and training. Several activities, such as tours, workshops and picking days, will be organized for representatives of business and government.
The ambition is to plant over 750 species of trees and plants with the aim to harvest a wide range of products throughout the year
After the preliminary design was ready, the wind hedges were planted in February 2021. In the Summer of 2021, the design was further developed and in the Winter of 2021-2022 - in addition to edges and tree lines - large quantities of edible species were planted. Thus, more than 9,000 trees were planted in the “harvest forest”. Of all trees planted, as many as 90 percent have taken root, and biodiversity has also increased. In fact, due to planting, other species of trees, plants, shrubs and herbs are also thriving in the area. Furthermore, the variety of insects, birds and small mammals, such as hares and deer, has improved. A marten also made his appearance. In the meanwhile, a final design and planting plan has been made for the “inspiration forest”. About three-quarters of this section have been planted. In Spring 2022, the design of the “production forest” was further developed, in order to start the planting of the first production crops could in the Winter of 2022-2023.
