On April 3rd Mycelia of Hope organised another wonderful farming day at PLUK Groenten van West! We began the day gathering for tea and coffee where Ida – one of the farmers – welcomed us and explained the work planned for the day. With equipment and tools in hand, we headed to the fields to get started.
Our work for the day was to prepare the beds: we pulled out weeds, loosened the soil, added compost, and mulched the soil with straw. After some productive work we headed back to the shed to enjoy a shared lunch on the picnic table. Once we filled our bellies with delicious food, we began our discussion on the farms’ fertility practices and community engagement.
Ida shared with us PLUK’s philosophy on fertility: fertility already occurs naturally, so the best way for humans to support it, is by not disturbing the relationships already present in the soil. For example, the farmers use gentle practices and techniques like aerating the soil to help natural fertilisation processes thrive – this allows beneficial organisms in the soil to breathe, break down organic matter (eating, pooping, and transforming nutrients into a form that can be taken up by plants), and in turn further enriches the soil which supports seed germination. This results in strong and nutrient-rich crops that grow in balance with their environment.
As part of this philosophy, the farm has shifted to using less nutrient rich compost as an effort to avoid excess nitrogen in the soil and allow for more natural fertility cycles. For example, they plant cover crops, such as winter rye to protect the soil and retain its fertility over time. This has been an ongoing practice for the past 9 years! They also use tarps to protect the soil from eroding and as a way to weaken and kill weeds without disturbing the soil too much. Another practice they use to support the soil’s fertility is mulching: they cover the topsoil with special fungi and seaweed extract to support fertility as it enhances microbial activity, improves soil structure and enhances its water holding capacity.
We learned that the farm’s soil has a high clay content. While this means the soil is very fertile and holds water well, it can be difficult to work with – especially for newer beds where the soil tends to be quite compact. In contrast, older beds that have been treated over many years, have much looser soil with a higher percentage of organic matter that is much easier to manage, showing the positive effects of long-term care and treatment.
Additionally, to shifting to less compost use, PLUK has a two-wheel tractor, which is a low-impact tilling machine that aligns PLUK’s ecological values while also meeting its practical needs. Although efficiency for its own sake is not one of their core values, they still need to consider financial sustainability and the needs of the harvesting community. The use of the tractor is more efficient in terms of time and labour, where it can allow for less work hours and more pay. This could also help lower the barriers for participation at the farm by making it more accessible for people with lower incomes.
Then we moved into the discussion on PLUK’s engagement with the surrounding community of Nieuwe West. Ida shared how the farm is not yet as connected to the community around them as they would like to be. She expressed a desire to engage more with local shops and residents. At the moment, most harvesters come from farther away, and one of their goals is to increase local participation. Especially since COVID-19, it has been a little bit of a challenge for the farm to get consistent involvement and participation, and increasing the involvement of the local community could help address this challenge and create a long-term /stable and inclusive community around the farm.
After the discussion, we headed back to finish preparing the beds, and left tired yet fulfilled from a beautiful day’s work!
