Food Forest Pickensteeg
Food Forest Pickensteeg
Esch, Limburg
8 hectare
Peter van Oort (Groendoener) and Jan Hein Ruijgrok
First planting: February 2022
Inspired by Brabant’s countryside
With Forest Farm Pickensteeg, Celine de Gast and Lino Veassen intend to develop an eco-friendly concept in which their love for farm life, nature and developing creative food concepts comes to life. They aim to develop a gastronomic food forest with which they intend to serve top restaurants with special, lesser-known and exotic species. The ultimate goal is to create an outlet for restaurateurs, caterers and other relevant players in the region. The couple also would like to create dedicated spaces in their food forest, where there is room for culinary experiences. A part of the food forest will have a romantic character, where visitors will be able to see and experience "in miniature" what a food forest can look like. The design of the food forest is inspired by the sightlines and typical shapes that characterize the Brabant landscape.
The first plants were ordered in early 2022. The design is inspired by the surrounding wooded banks in the area, which enable the creation of different themes in the food forest. First, a main structure is created in the field, then the plant rows are drawn into it. Based on the principles of a food forest, among other things, a species-rich fruit orchard is laid out in a long strip with a meeting place in the middle. In the northern part of the food forest, wind hedges will be planted. Here an "Arena" in a subtropical atmosphere will be created with the most extra ordinary species found in the forest. The lower part of the food forest will be focused on production, with species that can tolerate more wetness. At places where the field has higher water levels, specific species will be planted that can withstand "wet feet”. Planting will be done in several phases.
