The Field Guideby Moss & MarrowKoningshof
- Organic methods: no synthetic pesticides or fertiliser, not certified
Koningshof is an urban farming project on the Koningsweg at the eastern edge of Utrecht, in the old market-garden area along the Kromme Rijn, where since 2012 volunteers have grown vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers in a greenhouse, orchards and garden plots on Saturdays.
On Saturdays a market stall on the yard sells vegetables from their own greenhouse, alongside products from other local initiatives. Koningshof also keeps several beehives, and the beekeepers leave part of the honey for the bees to overwinter on; whether the honey is sold isn't confirmed.
Apart from the Saturday stall, you can rent a garden plot and grow your own vegetables with professional guidance, or buy a harvest share. From June to October the flower-picking garden is open every Saturday, and you pay for your bouquet at the stall. The café, De Keet, serves coffee and drinks in the orchards in good weather, and volunteers are welcome on Wednesday evenings.
The project started when a group of landscape architects held an exhibition in a disused greenhouse complex on the Koningsweg and joined with the owner of the farmland to bring the area back into food growing.