Krispijn - Life below water

Krispijn grows a wide range of products in the Noordoost polder in the Netherlands. He specializes in colourful and rare varieties like purple and yellow carrots, wild potatoes, multi-colored beets, horseradish and other culinary varieties.

BIOROMEO, THE NETHERLANDS

This area of the Netherlands used to be part of the ‘Zuider’ Sea, until 1942, when the polder was drained. In the fertile clay ground of the polder, it’s possible to grow nearly everything. Like other organic farmers, Krispijn takes good care of the soil as they claim: ‘‘Without healthy soil there are no farmers and without farmers there is no food”!

Krispijn illustrates how organic farming methods keeps the water below and around their fields healthy:“Generally speaking we receive ample rainfall in this part of The Netherlands,- so water supply isn’t really an issue. In addition, due to the sandy soil and the way we manage it, we have created an effective drainage system, meaning that our fields won’t flood. One of the biggest headaches for the local water authorities is that due to conventional farming practices, the rain run-off is often polluted with artificial fertilizers and pesticides polluting the whole water system. Since we do not use these harmful products we are helping to keep the water below and around our fields healthy. There is no pollution and the clayey soil and green cover prevent washing out of nutrients. Because the soil is so healthy, it therefore has excellent water holding properties”.

To learn more about this grower click here.

You are here

Sustainability flower

Tabs

soil

Krispijn uses a very extensive crop rotation of 8 years, which makes for a very healthy, strong soil, full of life. He uses leguminous plants that provide nitrogen to the soil and he also makes his own compost. In this way Krispijn makes sure that the soil doesn’t lose any of its vitality over the years, on the contrary: it gets better and better.

True Cost of Food for these carrots*

Conventional cost: € 832
Organic benefit: € 317
=> Organic benefit for society: € 1.149

* Cost comparison per hectare per year

biodiversity

Apart from the farm pigs, who are occasionally taken for a walk, the diversity of this farm stimulates animal biodiversity in many ways. There is an “insect hotel” providing shelter and breeding places for all kinds of insects, wood fences, a stone wall built especially for small animals, beehives from a local beekeeper, a bat house, bird houses et cetera! The farm provides shelter for a rare kind of toad, moles, a church owl and numerous species of insects.

With 30 varieties of vegetables, this farm has great farm biodiversity. Apart from that there are many measures that stimulate natural biodiversity. There is a flower garden, a toad pool, and the sides of the water ditches are maintained in a way that stimulates plant diversity.

True Cost of Food for these carrots*

Conventional cost/benefit: unknown
Organic cost/benefit: unknown
=> Organic cost/benefit for society: unknown

* Cost comparison per hectare per year

individual

Parsnip is high in minerals and vitamins.
Pumpkins contain few calories and rich in fiber. Fiber is needed for good intestinal activity. Furthermore, pumpkins contain vitamin C, E, iron and calcium. In addition, pumpkins also contain beta-carotene, which is good for your eyes and skin.
Carrots are very important for small children in particular, because they help the blood circulation, dental development as well as the immune system.
Potatoes are actually vegetables but because they contain a lot of starch (carbohydrates) they are often placed in the same nutrition category as rice, pasta and bread.

Every year 20.000 to 340.000 farmworkers die of pesticide poisoning and 1 to 5 million farmworkers get sick from it. In organic cultivation no chemical-synthetic pesticides are used and significantly less pesticide residues are found on organic products in the store. Research indicates (Fantke & Jolliet, 2016) that this also has a health effect for consumers. In short, we can say with confidence that organic fruits and vegetables, on the average, are healthier. And that also goes for our organic pumpkins, parsnip and other products.

True Cost of Food for these carrots*

Conventional cost: € 4
Organic cost: € 0
=> Organic benefit for society: € 4

society

Freedom of the mind means the possibility for personal and cultural development. Krispijn’s farm is totally designed to stimulate just that for its health care clients. Every client has his own favorite product and task. Some love to wash the pumpkins, one client likes nothing better than turning the compost. And there’s one onion planter, Krispijn tells. ”He literally gives every onion a kiss, before he puts it in the ground.” The farm also educates its wider environment: it provides excursions to schools, an educational walking path and a yearly open house.

Solidarity is about acknowledging the basic needs of other people and helping them to fulfill them. The farm provides jobs to people who elsewhere often get very little to do. On Krispijns farm they have tasks that they enjoy, a safe and healthy environment and great organic meals. There is a lot of interaction with local restaurant and consumers who come to the farm store. Krispijn also frequently sponsors local events.

Justice is about treating people equally and with respect for human rights. In this farm all kinds of different people work together harmoniously. The social care clients are treated with great respect; everyone is stimulated to explore his own possibilities. In the client council they can vent their own opinions and wishes. Every client has a personal coach and they have regular conversations. Equality is really at the heart of this farm.

True Cost of Food for these carrots*

Conventional cost/benefit: unknown
Organic cost/benefit: unknown
=> Organic cost/benefit for society: unknown

* Cost comparison per hectare per year

climate

The farm use relatively little fossil fuel, because most of the work is done by hand by the social care clients. For example, the carrots and pumpkins are all washed by hand. Of course no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used, which also saves energy.

The green manure and compost (see “soil” section) work together to reduce methane emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the soil. Fossil fuel use is relatively low. All this makes for relatively low carbon emissions.

True Cost of Food for these carrots*

Conventional cost: € 1987
Organic cost: € 1862
=> Organic benefit for society: € 125

* Cost comparison per hectare per year

water

Holland has no water shortage. Krispijn uses rain water and water from a local source. There is no pollution and the clayey soil and green cover prevent washing out of nutrients. Because the soil is so healthy, it has excellent water holding properties.

True Cost of Food for these carrots*

Conventional cost: € 214
Organic cost: € 85
=> Organic benefit for society: € 129

* Cost comparison per hectare per year

Where to find?

Map