Author: Martine

An idea that has been ripening for months…

The grieving process that has been going on since Frank’s death is a huge and intense transformation process for both me and Plukrijp. This place requires a new purpose. For months my only possible answer was “I don’t know”.

A few days ago the possible future was revealed to me: Plukrijp would become a center where people on their way to Growth can meet/encourage/support each other. Plukrijp would provide the infrastructure and space for organizing all kinds of workshops/coming together.

The garden would remain an important part of the project, both as a place for inner peace and as well as producing the fruit and vegetables needed for communal meals.

The members of the non-profit organization could still come and harvest themselves for a free donation.

This week I made an important decision concerning the fields: I will leave them for one year to rest in order to bring back fertility to a high quality level. This year almost no compost was added because the compost heap at Hei has “suffocated”. It will be turned over soon by a large digger to re-kindle the ripening process.

Through a soil analysis, we will understand better what is needed to add to the soil before we leave it to rest under a thick blanket of straw.

The tunnels will be removed temporarily so that direct sunlight and rain can fall on these areas once again. Perhaps in a later stage we will replace all the tunnels with just one wider one.

This will require a lot of contemplation and preparation. It is a beautiful challenge that we will meet with courage! Help is welcome!

In the meantime, we have started with a thorough clean up of the farm. The plan is to utilize the time that will become available to have a new wind blow through, allow more light to come in and to create space by bringing things that are damaged or broken to the recycling center. Also the buildings will need some love and repairs.

Because of this break, we will be able to give more attention to the food forest which has become overgrown.

All the perennials will still be treated with care: all the berry bushes and fruit trees need to be pruned, rhubarb plants need to be divided,…

Soon, we will harvest the remaining bigger crops, like the pumpkins, butternut, potatoes, jerusalem artichokes and parsnips.

We are looking for volunteers that will help create
the new Plukrijp in joy and in collaboration

Plukrijp was founded in October 2007. A great 15-year adventure, rich in many encounters and experiences in various fields. The result is there: a magnificent no-nonsense permaculture garden and an increasingly harmonious and joyful community life.

Since Frank’s death, I have invested myself in better positioning Plukrijp in the local landscape. More and more local people find their way to our gardens and it makes my heart sing.

The wonderful volunteers who accompany me have done their best to keep the gardens abundant and cared for the general upkeep of the greenhouses and buildings. Through them, the transmission of knowledge received from Frank is guaranteed. They are the guardians of a good basic social dynamic. Thanks to their enthusiasm and dedication, Plukrijp continues to inspire.

Together we have already reorganized a lot to set up the-Plukrijp-after-Frank. This great adventure brings us closer and teaches us to live better and better together on a daily basis.

Today, we need to recharge our batteries and rest because the last 5 months have been physically, mentally and emotionally trying. The garden only requires basic maintenance.

From 1/11/2022 till 28/02/2023 we have decided to take a big winter break. We take a step back to take stock, to realign ourselves. We jump into the void trusting the process. We will let ourselves be guided by our desires, by joy. We will spend time with the people we love. We are going to do and not do a lot of things by allowing ourselves to take time for ourselves.

Practically, what does this mean for you?

• Our gardens remain open and await you to come and harvest the abundance they offer
• During our winter break, the newsletter will be limited to the list and some photos of the vegetables that are ready to be harvested
• We cannot offer volunteer work for the moment

I would like to thank the many people who have shown me their support and affection. I feel blessed to be surrounded by so many beautiful people!

It is with fresh energy and new inspirations that I will be happy to meet you again in the spring for new adventures to share.

I wish you all the best!

With deep Love

Martine

In January, Frank and I announced a sabbatical year in 2022. This allowed us to create the necessary cocoon so that Frank’s departure towards the Light could take place in full consciousness and smoothly.

His death invites me to rethink the organization of Plukrijp and its garden.

The incredible fertility of the garden thwarted our plans to not cultivate the entire area and that fills me with joy. Thanks to the devotion, the loving attention and the quality of presence of Jojo, Joshka and Anthony, the garden offers a superb panoply of vegetables, aromatic herbs and berries in abundance.

During the summer, Plukrijp will welcome some additional volunteers to meet the needs of the garden. Do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested!

For the moment, I am investing myself so that Plukrijp is more anchored in the local landscape. This seems important and appropriate to me in the context of permaculture. More and more local people find their way to our garden and become familiar with the system of free donations. In my view, this new form of economy is part of our common future.

What I find important on a personal level is to continue to build a network and to maintain it in order to be able to live a life of quality, in simplicity, in generosity and in abundance.

My desire is to keep the essence of Plukrijp alive: a no-nonsense place allowing deep encounters, in honesty and authenticity. A place that inspires with its lifestyle of service and simplicity. Permaculture remains central and is transmitted in the form of a philosophy lived on a daily basis and gardening practices.

More later.

With Love

Martine

Plukrijp is a PERMACULTURE GARDEN, WITHOUT SUBSCRIPTION, where you are invited to participate and/or to come and harvest  yourself.

Our beautiful 1ha garden was founded in 1972 by Frank Ruymen (1947-2022), a pioneer in organic farming, who has tirelessly taught the principles of permaculture since his retirement in 2007.

50 years of sustainable fertility results in a wide range of “purely natural” fruit and vegetables that can be harvested weekly. The list can be found on our website under the heading “Current Harvest”.

We operate on the principle of FREE DONATIONS. This is the new economy. This means that you decide for yourself what you think is a fair price for what you take with you, with respect for the people who have taken care of it and in accordance with what your wallet allows. Generosity brings abundance…abundance brings generosity. A positive feedback loop!

Eat healthy, fresh and local! Just pop in, you are most welcome for a guided tour.

Bye Bye Frank

For 15 years, Frank and Martine have welcomed, accompanied and taught all those who wish to live according to the principles of permaculture.

Hundreds of motivated people have enriched this place. We thank those who offered their quality of presence and put their talents at the service of Plukrijp.

It is time for us and for the earth to rest a little. In 2022, we are not going to cultivate the whole area. Some fields will be sown with cereals so that the land can regenerate in depth.

Abundance will remain at the rendezvous: as usual, there will be a beautiful panoply of vegetables, aromatic herbs and small fruits to harvest in exchange for a free donation in our magic hat.

Our enthusiasm to share our knowledge based on our long experience is unchanged. Contact us if you would like a guided tour (martine.plukrijp.be@gmail.com)

For those who wish to learn no-nonsense permaculture, we still offer training based on daily activities. Theory is learned and understood through practice. The number of volunteers will be limited this year. If you want to join us, send us an e-mail with your motivation and come and spend a few weekends with us first so that we can get to know each other better.

With love

Frank & Martine

This is a message, an invitation, to all people who feels as if they’ve seemed to pass by that stage in life where we integrate what we’ve learned, face the world steadily and humbly, all the while keeping our inner child alive.

Our day and age lacks any form of initiation into this natural phase of life in which we pass into ‘Adulthood.’ It is characterized by responsibility, self respect, and humility. (amongst other things)

This creates a global culture of Man-boys and Woman-girls that never ‘grew into their boots’ and stay in a state of ignorance, decadence, and arrogance.

To approach this transition, we begin with humility. We see where we are at, we see who are for what we are, and we see what we can be if we just listen to what our ancestors, our community, and that deep feeling inside share with us.

This text, ‘Becoming an Adult,’ is a Plukrijp collaborative text approaching this transition with inspiration from beautiful minds, and beautiful hearts. We wish that you too, can see the beauty that hides within. It is there, though it may be veiled. In taking each veil off one by one, we get closer to the essence, and of becoming an adult.

We’ll see you there?