Meet the Grower: Little Organic Farm Elverdinge

In our blog “Meet the Grower,” we regularly speak with individuals and companies who grow, farm or otherwise engage in (organic) growing. This is how we came into contact with
Little Organic Farm Elverdinge
.

This small, diversified farm produces local and organic food in the soil of Elverdinge, Belgium. We spoke with owner Cheela Oldenburger.

Cheela also manages the Facebook group “Grow Peppers, Peppers & Tomatoes” where more than 2,500 members actively share photos and tips on growing chilies, peppers, tomatoes and many other edible plants, among other things. We had members of this group ask Cheela questions, and along with the questions from
The Grow Supplier
Cheela came up with these answers:

Who are you and what can you tell about your farm?

I am Cheela, 39, married and mom of five young children ages 3 to 12. As a little girl, I already enjoyed all the beauty of nature, both flora and fauna. I also liked to help my mother in the garden. When I was 11 and went with my class to take a look at the agricultural school, I was instantly in love! I then thought “this will be my future school!” Botany and floristry were my favorite subjects in school. My love for plant cultivation has always stayed with me and running an organic farm was always a dream until recently that has now become a reality with Little Organic Farm Elverdinge! My vision has always been to work hand in hand with Mother Nature and increase biodiversity in the field.

When did you start?

Season 2022 is my first season and is an experimental season. This to see;

• What is my capacity?
• How to plan
  • When to sow?
  • How do I take care of the plants?
  • What are the customer’s interests?
  • Which vegetables are popular?

This, and many other things to try out!

Why did you start this farm?

By coincidence actually, we were lucky enough to be able to rent a beautiful farmhouse with our family and coincidentally it comes with a nice plot of land, so double luck!

What are you all growing?

A lot of goodies!

Vegetables:

Peasant toes, also called priest beans – Green beans – Peas – Garden beans – Zucchini – Squash – Cucumber – Eggplant – Swiss chard – Beets – Radishes – Onions – Carrots – Tomatoes – Peppers – Chilies – Sweetcorn – Chives – Coriander – Parsley – Dill.

Cabbages:

Broccoli – Savoy cabbage – Brussels sprouts – Cauliflower – Kale – Omsoi – Taisai – Tat Choy

Fruit:

Strawberries – Watermelon – Blueberries – Currants – Blackberries – Raspberries – Figs – Plums – Apples – Pears

Why these products?

Very simple really: these fruits and vegetables are loved by almost everyone and are often used in cooking.

What do you do with the harvest?

We sell these to the local community, people from our village and surrounding villages. And, of course, we use a small portion for our own family.

Photos from Little Organic Farm Elverdinge

With an incredible passion for organically grown fruits and vegetables, and a keen eye for biodiversity, Little Organic Farm Elverdinge is an incredibly fun farm, run by a very enthusiastic family. Should you ever be near Elverdinge, Belgium, I highly recommend going there to pick up some fresh vegetables or fruits.

From The Grow Supplier, we interview growers to give you an inside look at their business. Want to read more blog articles? Then check out our blog page.

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