Newsletter,
June 2011
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Ton Vreeken ❞Luckily, we're not all sick, but I've never experienced as many absences as this year...
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The worst is overWe have a sizeable team (now well over thirty people) so we're maintaining continuity, but this week I was scratching my head a bit (being slightly ill myself). It shouldn't get much crazier because certain important tasks are still being left undone... I hope (for my sick colleagues and for the business) that we only have to manage for another week at most and then we'll be back at full strength.
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Saturday, Mari Maris is coming!Who knows her books already? A joy to read: The Vegetable Bible was already a hit and with "Mari Plukt de Dag" (Mari Seizes the Day) she even scored a recommendation during the book review on the TV show De Wereld Draait Door. This coming Saturday, February 17th, Mari will spend a day with us to treat you, our customers, to some snacks. She will mingle among the seed racks and answer your cultivation questions based on her own experience. Of course, she'll be happy to sell her book and will certainly sign it upon request!
Mari was a chef in Amsterdam for many years before she decided to settle in Northern France 9 years ago. There she manages the Jardin des Étoiles, where she grows vegetables, cooks, and hosts people.
We sell both of her book titles. Take a look at the description here. I have a certain connection to these books, as I was allowed to correct the cultivation descriptions and provide additional tips. A fun little job with a red pen on the couch...
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Good news from Sweden: the PluggBox is coming back!It took a while, but we were able to purchase a few more pallets full of these "Smartest Seed Starter Kits" in Sweden! They should be rolling in this month, and I'm as happy as a child about it. It's always frustrating when you're very enthusiastic about a product but can't supply it. Read the (long but fun) story about all the clever features of this compact and beautiful seed starter kit.
New Raatakkers
One of my growers (and also a customer) Jan Bulthuis is active in a beautiful project. Read about it in the following piece written by him:
De Nieuwe Raatakkers in Wiesel (near Apeldoorn) has a number of small plots of 500 m² on a 1.3-hectare plot where organic farming is practiced. These small fields are separated by natural strips with grains and wildflowers for butterflies, birds and insects. The goal is to increase biodiversity, grow healthy crops and have a lot of fun doing it. We grow vegetables for ourselves, but also seeds for Ton Vreeken, as I do with the sweetcorn "Zoete Jan" and the (branched and unbranched) sunflower "Op Zwart Zaad". There are still a few plots for rent for enthusiastic and driven enthusiasts! On the website www.nieuweraatakkers.nl you can see more details, including how to sign up. We call this project "Raatakkers Klein" and we did well with it last year.
In the future, we want to set up a 5-hectare plot with honeycomb fields and nature strips and a farm(house) or shed for tool storage, toilet facilities, coffee, and shelter. In such a large area, nature will have even more opportunities. We hope that the field flora will flourish again and that field birds will be able to breed there, that the Partridge will walk through the grain fields and the Skylark will sing above our heads... The entire area will then become a beautiful small-scale agricultural landscape where hikers can also enjoy nature. This project (of course renamed "Raatakkers Groot") is still in its infancy and everyone who wants to participate is very welcome. We want to realize this somewhere in Gelderland and if there is anyone who has land available for this, we would be happy to discuss it...!
Personal Afterword from the Seed Man
In the previous Newsletter, I mentioned that my wife was with our foster children in London. That was 4 weeks ago. This week, we were shocked by the terrible news that our oldest foster grandchild (23 years old) suddenly passed away. His name is Pateh, a young man in the prime of his life. Full of responsibility and with the dream of becoming a pilot. And many more dreams, of course. It seemed like he had the flu, we are still awaiting an autopsy to find out what happened. Great sorrow and devastation for his parents and both brothers. My wife Marry is with them, I will go there for a day next week. It feels so strange to be here amidst the seeds while my family is grieving...
Our children are, of course, also empathizing. The bittersweet thing is that we also get to enjoy ultrasounds of 2 happy pregnant women: my daughter-in-law was the first, and now my oldest daughter is also pregnant. Grandpa Vreeken should start thinking about his retirement soon...
Fortunately, as a family, we can talk well with each other and share each other's joys and sorrows. If necessary, we are there for each other. On days like these, WhatsApp is a blessing for communication!
Until the next writing!
Ton Vreeken, February 16, 2018