Archive for the ‘Activities’ Category

a healthy chance for development?

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Quínoa is gaining a lot of attention lately: it is a healthy protein rich pseudo grain, and very tasty. The FAO has even coined 2013 the International Year of the Quínoa. With surging demand the price of Quínoa has however risen. Many people that relied on Quínoa as their staple food now have trouble purchasing it. What can be done to make it work? Join this evening, learn about the ins, outs and dilemmas surrounding Quínoa and get a taste of it.

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with:
Lucienne Berenschot en Marisabel Pardo – Stichting Hoogland Indianen
Saskia Leenders - Natuurvoedingskundige in opleiding
Roberto Calzadilla – Ambassador of Bolivia
Giel Ton – Development Economist

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What: meal (optional, €10, please subscribe), and lecture and informal discussion (free admission)
When: Tuesday May 28 at 18:00 (meal) and at 20:00 (lecture/discussion)
Where: Vreemde Streken Wageningen
Organisation: Stichting Hoogland Indianen, Buys&Ko, Boerengroep, Otherwise, Tinku

Less agrochemicals and deforestation through local action? Can your town make the difference?

Can local organic farmers guarantee that their products are GM -free? What can you do,  if you do not agree that your town facilitates  GM- soy imports?  Can you change global value chains by local spatial planning?

Discussion about how you as a citizen and your town have an impact on agriculture on both a local and global scale.

with:

What: public discussion
When: Saturday June 8 at 19:00
Where: at Duivendaal in Wageningen
Organisation: Boerengroep and Independent Critical Student Group Wageningen

Source Picture: Burgerpanelrotterdam

This evening is part of the GM Free Agriculture Days 2013, Wageningen. Check out the day program! There will me thematic workshops, food, and music throughout the day.

What happens if you stop using antibiotics? If you do not vaccinate your cows at all? And what happens if you make cheese from raw milk?

Farmers Jan Dirk and Irene van de Voort asked these questions, since they don’t believe in technical solutions which they see as causing more problems. When in 2004 they quit using antibiotics they discover how bad the cows are. The beginning of a long search towards a natural cycle.

New questions arise like how to make soil, grass, and cow healthy again. For their answers they start from the idea that everything can be found in nature and solutions will have to be found there. With experiments, recovering lost knowledge, innovations, and with learning by trial-and-error, they manage to recover the natural cycle.

The result is a unique farm, free of antibiotics, where healthy cows live without vaccinations, in an ecological balanced field which keeps surprising scientists, and where cheese is made which restaurants offer as exquisite food.

“Dancing with Horned Ladies” is an intriguing portrait of a farmers’ couple that makes a difference in a world of money, rules and procedures.…

Farmers Irene or Jan Dirk van de Voort will be present to answer some of your questions.

What: Documentary, by Onno Gerritse, 2013, 54 min, Dutch spoken, English subtitles, with one of the two farmers present to answer questions.
When: Saturday June 8 at 19:00 and Monday June 10 at 20:30
Where: in Movie-W Wageningen
Organisation: Movie-W, Boerengroep and Buys&Ko

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Dansen met Gehoornde Dames

Wat gebeurt er als je stopt met antibiotica? Als je zelfs de koeien helemaal niet meer vaccineert? En wat gebeurt er als je van rauwe melk kaas maakt zoals vrijwel nergens in Nederland meer voorkomt?

Jan Dirk en Irene van de Voort vroegen zich dat als boerenstel ook af, want ze geloven niet meer in de technologie oplossingen die ze als een opstapeling van problemen zien. Als ze in 2004 stoppen met antibiotica wordt pas echt duidelijk hoe slecht de koeien er voor staan. Het begin van een lange zoektocht op weg naar een oorspronkelijke kringloop.

Nieuwe vragen worden hen opgeworpen als hoe krijg je de grond, het gras en de koe weer gezond. Voor het zoeken naar antwoorden hanteren ze de stelregel dat alles in de natuur zit en daar dus de oplossingen gevonden moeten worden. Met experimenteren, verloren kennis ophalen, met innoveren, maar vooral met vallen en opstaan weten ze de kringloop te herstellen.

Het resultaat is een uniek antibioticavrij-bedrijf waar gezonde koeien leven zonder inentingen, een ecologisch evenwicht weiland waar de wetenschap versteld van staat en waar een kaas gemaakt wordt die bij de beste restaurants als delicatesse op het menu staat.

“Dansen met Gehoornde Dames” is een indringend portret van een boerenstel dat het verschil maakt in een wereld die overgenomen is door geld, regels en procedures.

Wat: Documentaire, door Onno Gerritse, 2013, 54 min, Nederlands gesproken, Engels ondertiteld
Wanneer: 8 en 10 Juni
Waar: in Movie-W Wageningen
Organisatie: Movie-W, Boerengroep en Buys&Ko

• Preparation (5 days): 11 to 15th of August
• Farm Experience (12 days): 16 to 27th August
• Evaluation (3 days): 28 to 30th of August

Questions and subscribing can be done via farmexperienceinternship@gmail.com

During the agroecology events, more people were informed about the Farm Experience project. And many showed their interest to get involved.

• Wednesday June 5: Grote Voort Lunteren and Ecofields, afternoon
  Innovative alternative Dairy farm and Cheesemakers – Organic calf producer and local slaughter

• Tuesday June 11: Rondeel Barneveld, morning
  Innovative and modern chicken farm, developed together with scientists

• Saturday June 15: Foodforest Ketelbos near Nijmegen, during the day
  Permaculture farm run by former Friends of the Earth/Milieudefensie campaigner
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• Saturday June 22: Farm Excursion Series: Hemmen, during the day
  Three co-operating organic farms: arable, dairy, and horticulture

The world’s first “Earthship district” is currently constructed in the Netherlands.

The earthship concept is a prime example of environmentally friendly and sustainable building and living.
All environmental aspects are taken into consideration in this innovative yet simple (low tech) building concept. The reuse of existing materials in the construction phase as well as clean energy usage with zero or near-zero CO2 emissions, minimizes environmental impact. more about the project

On this evening in Wageningen, we will hear what it means to set up such an Earthship community: what are the technical challenges, the spatial-economic challenges, not to mention the social challenges… Next to
the experiences in Olst we will also discuss similar Ecovillage experiences elsewhere.

With:
Estella Franssen – Board of Earthship Association Olst
Janneke Tops - Healthy Garden and Velt, Association for ecological living and gardening
Fedde Jorritsma – TWIST, the turning wheel: education for sustainable living

What: informal lecture/discussion evening
When: Friday May 17 at 19:30
Where: Forum building, room C103
Organisation: WEP, Aktief Slip, Boerengroep, Otherwise
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This evening is part of Grassroots Science

successful farmer-scientist co-operation

Innovation from the field: farmer Niek Vos wanted to develop a potato resistant to Phytophtera. After years of efforts of him and his son, working together a.o. with scientist Edith Lammerts van Bueren they managed: Bionica! Together they went through a number of procedures, and now their product is in the market. This story shows us how “grassroots science” can work, and will inspire (future) scientists for working with farmers.

With Loes Mertens (analysed this process of participatory breeding for her Msc internship) and Michiel Vos (organic farmer, son of Niek Vos).

Here you find an information poster about the project, with thanks to Edith Lammerts van Bueren.

When: Thursday March 28 at 19:30
Where: Forum building Wageningen
Register: Please register at www.grassrootsscience.nl
Organisation: Boerengroep and Otherwise, as part of the Grassroots Science series

Grassroots Science Workshop

This workshop is a follow up on the brainstorm session of the day before (Agroecology initiatives and the Netherlands), although you are also welcome if you didn’t manage come to that session. In an interactive manner, working groups will elaborate on existing ideas and initiatives, and ways to strengthen the movement for agroecology. Depending on the day before, the focus will be either on defining what agroeology can mean in the European context, or on new initatives related to the topic.

What: workshop
When: March 20, at 17:15
Where: Forum Wageningen, room C317
Organisation: ILEIA, Otherwise, Boerengroep

This workshop is a follow up on the discussion evening The Potential of Agroecology, and of the brainstorm session agroecology initiatives and the Netherlands

Find results of this and the previous workshop here: report of Wed March 20, report Tues March 19

Spring is approaching in big leaps and screams for you to get outside. Are you interested in farming and would like to get to know and organic fruit tree nursery?

We will visit Floris Natuurlijke Bomen (Floris’ natural trees) near Den Bosch. Floris is a former MOA student. He will show us around his fruit tree nursery and teach us how to engraft trees. After that, you have lots of opportunity to get skilled at engrafting, because we will help Floris to prepare lots of young fruit trees so that they can be planted on Floris’ new field. Of course, there will be some lunch for you and we can finish the day with a camp fire.

In short: You will have a fun day outside helping on an organic farm and Floris gets some help with his work. What are you waiting for?

Dates: Tuesday March 19 and Friday March 29.
Time: Whole day, transport (probably) available
If you want to join, please send an email with you name and for which date you would like to subscribe to st.boerengroep@wur.nl. If possible, we want to carpool instead of traveling by train, because it is cheaper. Therefore also write in your email if you have access to a car and how many people could go with you. We can refund the fuel.

Grassroots Science Brainstorm Session

Always wanted to know what agroecology really is? What it can mean for you? If it can be of any use for the European context? Get inspired by existing agroecology initiatives, that are happening in Brazil, India and just around you. What shape is agroecology to take in the Netherlands? What existing initiatives are already agroecological? Feel invited to be involved in one of the initiatives, share your ideas, suggest a new initiative, or simply come and listen.

With presentations of Supraba Seshan (on the Indian experience: Cooperation between farmers, scientists and students in protecting biodiversity in India), Irene Cardoso (Reflection of how the movement started in Brazil, and the role of universities), Heitor Teixeira (on the role of students in the agroecological movement in his hometown, an introduction of the farm experience internship), an introduction of the Agroecological PhD Network and plenty initiatives connected to agroecology. 

After that we discuss:

• what is agroecology in the Netherlands according to you?
• What are ideas for new or existing initiatives that you see as agroecological?

What: brainstorm session
When: March 19, at 17:15
Where: Forum Wageningen, room C321
Organisation: ILEIA, Otherwise, Boerengroep, as part of the Grassroots Science series

This brainstorm session is a follow up on the discussion evening The Potential of Agroecology, and is followed by the Workshop: Making agroecology work!

Find results of this and the next workshop here: report of Wed March 20, report Tues March 19