Prisca Visser is a photographer with a love of the outdoors and nature. For the Biesboschlinie, she regularly goes out to capture stories. She visits during The Week of Our Food on the special children's day and Meet the Farmer day. She meets local entrepreneurs, tastes goodies from the region and gets guided tours of local farmers.
It's important to know what you're eating. We all realize that, but the grind of the day often makes you think less about it. Where did your piece of meat or your head of lettuce come from? And what route did it take before it reaches your plate? In order to draw more attention to this, 'De Week van Ons Eten' is organized annually in the Netherlands. In numerous municipalities there are activities around local food. So too in Altena, because if anywhere there is a lot of cooperation in the short chain, it is here. Moreover, the municipality of Altena is the initiator of The Week of Our Food Altena. The week starts on October 5 with a children's day and ends the following Saturday with the 'Meet the Farmer Day'. On both days, visitors from Altena and surrounding areas are welcome at various agricultural locations. As photographer and reporter, I get to tour the locations to get up close and personal with how these days go.
The week begins sunny, what a welcome surprise! Today children are welcome at several agricultural locations and there are all kinds of things to do. At each location they can get a stamp on their stamp card. The goal is to collect as many stamps as possible! Buffelgaard Verschure is organizing a buffalo bingo. When we arrive, I see that it is already quite busy. The buffalo are high in cuddles and attract plenty of attention from the little ones. In the stables, the big buggers get a lot of attention, their slow gazes following the children through their enclosure. Little hands gently raise hay to them. The farmer explains what buffalo like and how the milking robot works. At the beautiful garden Hof van Heden, on the outskirts of Almkerk, children can make a sowing paper. There is a lot of messing around with papier-mâché, while learning about seeds and edible flowers. For the adults, there will be coffee, tea and socializing among the greenery.
The tall, green flag points the way to the next stop. At Landgoed Clootwijck, it is clear to see that autumn has made its appearance. The leaves are coloring nicely and at the entrance are crates full of stewing pears for sale. Some children are enjoying themselves in the fallen leaves. Inside, a film about honey production is playing. In one corner is a crank used to extract honey from the combs; thick drops of honey are still seeping from the combs. Jars of honey from the estate are displayed on a neat white rug. You can taste and compare the different flavors. After a short visit to the ponies, it is time to go to Straver Farm. Here again, I receive a friendly welcome. Children are gathered around a rack where they can guess which crop belongs to which picture. Then we head out into the fields to look for worms! There are plenty to be found in the clay soil, according to a bucket full of swarming specimens.
There is a festive atmosphere at Zo'ndag restaurant; sandwiches are baking outside on an open fire. The smell of smoldering wood and fresh dough hangs in the air. Children impatiently blow on their buns to make them cool faster. Ron from Bieschcraft soon runs out of supplies and starts making new dough. For something tasty, you can also visit the Fisheries Museum in Woudrichem today. Outside, fish are sizzling in hot oil on traditional ovens. You eat them right out of your hand. At the fair trade store Fair van Ver children learn about food that is not produced locally. Think about bananas, for example. We are so used to having them in the supermarket, but where exactly do they grow? Today's final green flag points to Food Forest Robijn near Sleeuwijk. This food forest, hidden behind the dike, offers all kinds of edible nuts and berries in autumn. During a scavenger hunt and picking walk, children will learn all about what grows in this beautiful forest!
A week later, it's "Meet the Farmer Day" and visitors can learn about the farmers and their products in Altena. Again, I head out to get a look behind the scenes. At several livestock farms such as Altena Rund and The Black Angus Farm, I hear about raising cows and what's involved. I join tours of the farms. At Uppel's Meadow Meat there is a big show. For the children there are the favorite farm games, such as hanging jeans and racing with wheelbarrows. It is harvest time, the potatoes from the Martine Hoeve have been removed from the fields. In the first fields, the plowed furrows gleam in the autumn light. Ready for winter. Geitenboerderij Lekker Gemekker is, as always, very popular for the delicious ice creams on sale. Afterwards you can take a look at the goats if you like. At Pixelfarming there are still plenty of vegetables in the garden. During an extended tour, I get an explanation of the invention that has seeding and weed control done by robots. An impressive machine can almost independently and with great precision take over the seeding process.
Things are very different at Collectieboomgaard Den Hill, where four hundred different varieties of apples and pears are picked by hand. The harvest goes in large crates to the press, from which delicious juices are made. So Altena Juice contains a unique blend of apples and pears! After the tour, I get a glass to taste - what a delicious, fresh taste. You can taste the fruit immediately without it being too sweet. On the grounds is a canopy where artful paintings are on display. Near a large table full of nuts and seeds, a friendly lady helps young children string necklaces. "Nature offers us so much more than just food. It also inspires us creatively," she says as I admire her artful necklaces hanging on a rack. I can only agree with her.
Finally, I visit "The Honey Bin. Albert and Anita have been running their honey store here since 2013. As I enter, I am overwhelmed by the soft scent of honey in the room. All sorts of products are displayed on wooden shelves, from sweet honey candies to heavy jars of dark, liquid honey. In the adjacent room, Albert gives a demonstration on honey extraction. He shows how the wax is scraped off the combs and how the honey is then swirled in a centrifuge. Anita has displayed on a large table different types of honey for tasting. What a variety of flavors!
Did you miss the activities during Our Food Week? Not to worry, because you can visit these participants for fresh and local food all year long:
Altena Beef
The cozy home farm store offers a modest selection of fresh vegetables, homegrown meats and delicacies.
Black Angus Farm
In this spacious farm store, meat from their own Black Angus cows is waiting for you. Quality from the farmer straight to your plate.
Buffalo Verschure
Take a tour of the barn and take a look at the buffalo. The farmer will be happy to tell you more about these special animals. In the farm store you can buy delicious buffalo products, such as fresh milk, cheese and sausages. Something for everyone!
Collectieboomgaard Den Hill
This special orchard houses old fruit varieties that were once found in Altena. Here you buy the delicious Altena juice on Fridays at home.
The Martine Hoeve
The potatoes here are so fresh that the clay still sticks to them. There are also free-range eggs, jars of honey and bottles of fruit juice for sale. All these goodies can be found in the green-and-white-painted gazebo in the yard of De Martine Hoeve.
Court of the Present
Every day it is a surprise what fruits and vegetables are for sale in the stall at this garden. Of course everything is unsprayed and straight from the land.
Landgoed Clootwijck
Looking for honey from their own estate or a bag of stewing pears? Then visit Landgoed Clootwijck and take a walk past the animals after shopping.
Delicious Meals
For delectable goat ice cream in every flavor imaginable, this is the place to be. Our favorite? The strawberry variety, of course!
Pixelfarming
At this innovative company you can take out a vegetable subscription. Each week you pick up a box full of crisp fresh vegetables.
Farm Straver
For your weekly supply of potatoes and onions, drive by Straver Farm. Fill your bags with these honest, homegrown products.
The Honey Bin
Honey candies, jars of golden honey, honeycombs and candles - you won't get lost in this charming little store full of sweets!
Uppel's Meadow Meat
Whether you're looking for minced meat, stew or beautiful cuts of meat, you'll always find top-quality fresh produce at this farm store.
Cycling for my food Altena
For all home selling points, check out the Cycling for My Food website.
Flagship The Week of Our Food Altena: circular food system program municipality of Altena.
Text and photos: www.priscavisser.nl. Here you will find all of Prisca's blogs.
