Werkplaats Agroecologie 1 4

- General information
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NameWerkplaats Agroecologie
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Year2021 – ongoing
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PartnershipToekomstboeren
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LocationNetherlands
‘Werkplaats Agroecologie’ (Workshop Agroecology) is a project I co-initiated with Toekomstboeren in order to develop and share practical knowledge amongst farmers. The project focuses on three major themes: development of new types of tools and mechanisation; making ecological principles applicable and empowering people to express their agroecological ideals.

The idea of forming an agroecological workshop originated from the observation by Toekomstboeren that many farmers and (market)gardeners were experimenting with new, sustainable and practical farming practices on a small scale. Such as, no-dig farming, construction your tools or growing seedlings in self created potting mixes. Such methods will become increasingly more important in future agroecological food systems, but have not matured yet. As a result, many experiments in the Netherlands happen under the radar, are often ad-hoc or underfunded. That is why, Toekomstboeren aims to bring experimental actors together and form a hub for practical agroecological knowledge.
Boerenwerkplaatsen
Farmers workshops are days, events and/or workshops in which farmers come together to work on a project, such as building a tool, an introduction to a practice (e.g. no-dig, agroforestry etc) or a communal work (e.g. constructing a hedgerow
Excursions
The ‘Werkplaats Agroecologie’ also organises excursions to farms that are developing experimental practices that contribute to food sovereignty. For example, farms that create their own potting mix from scratch or tree-nurseries for agroforestry systems.