Plukboerderij Grondig, where four young farmers choose for a short and local supply chain, together with nature.
Plukboerderij Grondig
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Natuurboerderij Het Bolhuis
An organic livestock farm
Making production and consumption net-positive for biodiversity
The project
Nature farm the Bolhuis is an organic livestock farm that works closely with nature managers Natuurpunt and Agency for Nature and Forests in managing 100 ha of valley areas, natural grasslands, heathland and forest. The Bolhuis keeps rare old local breeds: Kempen red-furred cattle, Ardennes Voskop sheep and Kempen goats. These animals graze in the nature reserves. The hay from the nature reserves serves as winter feed. The farm closes all cycles. The feed is sourced in-house, no pesticides or artificial fertilisers are used. The farm works in the same way as the centuries-old Kempen heathland farm, with outfields (the nature areas where the animals graze) that are attenuated so that the enriched infields (the farm’s own arable land with protein crops) can be used to grow healthy and vigorous feed for the cattle.
Project location
Diest
Contribution(s)
6000 kg/year crops and/or animal products
Project costs
50.000 - 100.000 €
Participant(s)
- Natuurpunt vzw (beheerteams van Dassenaarde, Catselt, Demerbroeken en Zammels Broek)
- Agentschap Natuur en Bos (Vlaamse natuurreservaten Webbekoms Broek en Vallei van de Drie Beken)
How are the criteria of the objective met?
Crops and animal products
Sustainable use and preservation of biodiversity and its components: Bolhuis manages nature reserves where top nature is realised. Nature-inclusive work is also carried out on the company’s other land so that biodiversity is at least preserved or even improved. On these grounds, only herb-rich grasses are grown without using pesticides or artificial fertilisers.
Reduction of harmful effects of farming and agricultural practices on biodiversity: the company closes the material cycles within its own land, no pesticides, fertilisers, GMOs, etc. are used. Anthelmintics and veterinary medication are used sparingly. No negative land use change occurs: land with nature values is preserved and additional land with nature values is even developed.
Integration of biodiversity considerations into agricultural and farming practices: through cooperation with nature managers, grazing and mowing in nature areas is done primarily in function of nature goals. On the farm’s other lands, biodiversity considerations are taken into account by providing additional flowering herbs in the grass-clover lands, planting hedges and wood edges, no use of harmful substances for nature, fertilisation in balance with the environment, …
Promoting local seasonal production and short supply chains: The Bolhuis sells the meat of cattle and sheep grazing in the nature reserves on the farm itself or through the Buurderij van Diest. The farm also offers organic vegetable packages with seasonal vegetables from local organic farmers.
Increased availability of local seasonal produce on the Belgian market
Possible initiatives in which the project is involved :
EU organic label, Biogarantie label
Long-term maintenance
Management in collaboration with Natuurpunt and Agency for Nature and Forests
Benefits
- Nature managers have a reliable partner to realise nature goals in their nature reserves in an inexpensive way.
- There is no negative environmental impact due to land-based livestock farming, closed cycles, net nitrogen removal, no use of fertilisers or pesticides, sparing water use, …
- The herb-rich grass-clover fields have an economic added value (cheap source of protein for livestock) but also provide a positive biodiversity contribution: soil biodiversity, attractive to insects, small birds and mammals but also to predators such as owls, stork, buzzard, horned tern, …
- Visitors can come and experience nature and farm life at the Bolhuis through the farm’s tourism offerings.
- Through contributions to research and education, dozens of researchers and hundreds of students come into contact with nature-inclusive, agro-ecological, circular agriculture.
- Increased availability of local seasonal produce on the Belgian market
Other projects linked to the objective: "Crops and animal products"
