{"id":4160,"date":"2019-04-15T11:22:51","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T09:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discutafel.nl\/?p=4160"},"modified":"2024-07-02T10:56:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T08:56:37","slug":"herenboeren-dutch-csa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discutafel.nl\/en\/herenboeren-dutch-csa\/","title":{"rendered":"Herenboeren: Dutch CSA initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Pigs
Photo: pigs eating <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Eating together makes you happy and connects you to other people. Producing food together has about the same effect. It might be more sustainable, too. That\u2019s the thought behind the \u2018Herenboeren\u2019 initiative, here in The Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herenboeren:\ntaking back control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you\u2019re familiar with the phenomenon of community supported agriculture<\/a><\/strong> or CSA. People want to take back control of their food production and responsibility. Herenboeren are residents who start their own nature inclusive farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herenboeren is an old word for rich farmers, centuries ago, who employed people to work on their land. In modern times, it\u2019s the other way around. Herenboeren <\/strong><\/a>are farming communities, associated with a sustainable lifestyle. They see their communities as an alternative to the current food system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooperative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shared farming is not a hobby, it\u2019s serious business. People organise themselves in a local cooperative. Each household is shared owner of the farm. Most of them live nearby.
It\u2019s not very clear to us yet how they get farmland to their disposal. The province might be involved. The participants employ a farmer to work on the land. They ask the farmer to produce the products they want, in a sustainable way. So, at Herenboeren the customers manage the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Herenboeren Nederland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Initiator of the system is Mr. Geert van der Veer. He\u2019s chairman of Herenboeren Nederland<\/a><\/strong>. This organisation supports citizens in the development of farms and promotes the philosophy. They initiate research, educate farmers and propose amendments to laws and regulations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

500 mouths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The founding group of people consists of about 200 households, or 500 mouths to feed. Participation requires a one time investment of about \u20ac 2,000 and a weekly contribution of about \u20ac 10 per \u2018mouth\u2019 in the household. In return, the family gets a weekly portion of veg, fruit, meat and eggs. Vegetarians pay a little less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n