The Field Guideby Moss & MarrowHerenboeren de Vlinderstrik
- Organic methods: no synthetic pesticides or fertiliser, not certified
- Regenerative farming
Herenboeren de Vlinderstrik is a cooperative farm on the north side of Rotterdam, owned by about 250 households who share out everything it grows.
The farm was set up from 2019 as a small mixed farm together with the city of Rotterdam, Natuurmonumenten and Herenboeren Nederland, and two professional farmers employed by the cooperative do the core work. No synthetic fertiliser or pesticides are used on the land. Their website names the organic guidelines as one of its starting points. The farm holds no organic certificate; what qualifies it here is that the vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown without synthetic fertiliser or pesticides. Eggs and occasional meat are also part of the share, though how the hens and other animals are kept on this farm we couldn't yet confirm.
Joining means becoming a co-owner: each household pays a one-off buy-in, which single-person households often pay half of, and then a monthly contribution per person. You start by registering as a prospective member, after which you are invited to a tour and an introduction meeting. Members collect their share at the farm each week in the season, and anyone can help on the land or join a working group, such as animal care, hoeing or the mushroom group, although helping isn't compulsory.
Nothing the farm produces is sold; whatever members don't take is fed to the animals, swapped with other Herenboeren farms or given to a good cause.