Strackxhoeve

Strackxhoeve, a regenerative community farm, is working on a future-proof agricultural model. We ensure a resilient ecosystem through increased biodiversity, habitat diversification, integrated water management and flourishing, undisturbed soil beneath our feet.

The farm is located in the Merode area in the Zuiderkempen, in Veerle-Laakdal. Vegetables, fruit, edible flowers and herbs are grown on the seven hectares of land according to a regenerative agricultural model. This means that we increase the land’s life-supporting capacity while farming. People in the neighbourhood can enjoy the harvest through vegetable boxes and individual sales.

We currently grow vegetables for around 60 families (60 vegetable boxes per week).

Crops and animal products

• Follow the natural production seasons: no heated and/or large-scale greenhouses; follow natural growing/milking/breeding seasons, …;
• Promote short and local supply and production chains, with as few imports as possible.
• Use biodiversity-inclusive production methods: rotation of crops/fruit trees, mixed cropping, agroforestry/ecology, no pesticides or chemicals, organic/rational production, nature-based solutions, …;
• Develop the land by incorporating biodiversity and provide an area dedicated to biodiversity (e.g. additional flowerbeds, permanent plant cover, no tillage/mowing/management in specific areas, insect hotels);
• Have respect for and/or improve the environmental and ecological characteristics of the area;
• As much naturalness as possible/as little alteration as possible of the surrounding environment (landscape, quality of water, of soil);
• Stimulate the preservation of green and blue areas by limiting the expansion of land use (e.g. rooftop agriculture, eco-grazing);
• Incorporate these practices into the surrounding environment (e.g. promote ecological continuity) to reduce their negative impact on the land.

The focus is on manual labour on the land, which means we use virtually no fossil fuels.