Biologische tuinderij 't Struykgewas

't Struykgewas is an organic market garden of 1.7 hectares on the former kitchen-garden fields (overtuin) of Landgoed Scherpenzeel, where vegetables are grown in narrow strips for the weekly crates of a partner farm in Voorthuizen.

Each strip, 1.5 or 3 metres wide, carries a different crop from its neighbours, which makes the crops less vulnerable to pests, disease, drought and heavy rain. No crop-protection products or synthetic fertiliser are used, all seed and plants are raised organically, and the garden uses no animal manure at all: the soil is fed with green compost from mown grass and leaves, plant-based fertiliser pellets, green manures and grass-clover in the rotation. Since spring 2024 more than 200 apple trees have stood between the vegetable strips. The garden has been certified organic since 2023, and we found its SKAL certificate in the register under the name Boerderij 't Struykgewas.

The vegetables are sold only through the weekly crate subscription of the organic farm De Elzenkamp in Voorthuizen. Each crate holds about five vegetables, enough for three or four meals, and is ready every Wednesday at pickup points in Achterveld, Scherpenzeel, Woudenberg, Leusden, Amersfoort, Voorthuizen, Kootwijkerbroek, Barneveld, Nijkerk, Putten and Garderen; you subscribe through De Elzenkamp.

The two growers plan their crops together, and between them they fill about 400 vegetable crates a week.