Our greenhouse is located in the centre of The Netherlands near the town of Utrecht just to the south of the “Utrechtse Heuvelrug”. Only few greenhouses are to be found in this area. The majority of the surrounding farms keep livestock in open pastures. Historically this land used to be an old river bed, which means that the soil is very fertile.

My father, Wim van Dijk started in 1964 to farm fruit and vegetables. When he discovered organic, he decided to change his agricultural practices and soon thereafter he adopted bio-dynamic principles on his farm. In fact, my father was the very first organic greenhouse grower in Europe! In 1995 I took over the farm from him and started with 1,000 m2 greenhouse production to extend the season for his vegetables. Over the years the greenhouse has been gradually extended to 21,000 m2. The main crops today are tomatoes, two varieties of aubergines, bell peppers and Ramiro peppers. A small area of plum trees remains by the entrance to the greenhouse.

To avoid the spread of diseases between crops, the greenhouse has been subdivided into four units, which makes it more manageable, but it requires extra work and attention. The greenhouse has been equipped with an insulation shield, a horizontal curtain, which is closed every night to keep in the heat and thus preserve energy.

In 2007 we set up a second operation in Andel with 2 ha of greenhouses, where we grow the same products as in Schalkwijk

I currently work with a team of about twenty full time employees.

Interview

N&M: You have been an organic grower all your life. What fascinates you most about organic?
Ron: When I say ‘to farm in harmony with Nature’, then it sounds like an old cliché, but that is exactly what I mean. I am most fascinated with the ongoing challenge to understand nature and to ajust my growing practices according to what I experience in the greenhouse. Life is continuously changing and living and farming in this ever changing context allows me to learn and improve. Conventional farming is like following a recipe: there is just little room for creativity and that is not for me. Even my specialization in organic aubergines, peppers and tomatoes, provides me with something new to think about everyday.

N&M: That sounds pretty philosophical, can you give us some concrete examples?
Ron: Look at it this way: Conventional farming is curative. Once you have a disease or insect infestation, there are substances which can be applied to cure such diseases. To me, organic farming is preventative. It tries to avoid the problems from occurring in the first place. Organic farming is about growing plants which are able to resist diseases.

N&M: And how do you achieve that?
Ron: Healthy soil is the most important basis for organic farming: (points towards a poster on the wall in the lunch room). As I have already stated years ago “A healthy soil is the foundation for a healthy plant to produce a healthy product”. Rather than feed the plants, we have to feed the soil and stimulate the life processes in the soil. The soil is full of micro organisms, which keeps it alive. Understanding the life of the soil is a first step to becoming a good organic farmer.

N&M: That sounds all very straightforward and easy. Have there not been moments in your life when you had doubts about being successful as an organic farmer?
Ron: Of course, about 5 years ago there were more organic greenhouse crops than the market could handle. Prices were low and we could not afford to do everything which is necessary to sustain a healthy soil. We reduced the use of compost and everything seemed fine – at least in the beginning. Eventually I noticed that the plants did not resist diseases anymore and did not yield as much. I had no idea, at first, but as soon as I applied compost again in adequate amounts the problems disappeared. I am convinced that soil fertility and plant health are connected.

N&M: What advice would you give a farmer deciding whether to change to organic practices?
Ron: It is important to consider all the options and the larger context in which one farms. There is a lot of information available now about organic farming, but I cannot stress soil fertility enough. Organic farming requires a long-term strategy. Having trustworthy employees helps a lot, because they, too, need to adapt to organic practices instead of following a mere recipe. Maybe the most important aspect is a good understanding of how nature works and a healthy dose of self-confidence; because organic farming is a challenge to continuously make decisions as Nature demands.

N&M: I understand that you also employ bio-dynamic principles. Some people consider that a little esoteric and hard to understand. What is your opinion?
Ron: It does not matter what other people think – nor what I think myself. The fact that the effect of the various preparations can be observed in our yield speaks for itself. I use specific bio-dynamic preparations, because I observe that they benefit the development of my crops. I also schedule various agricultural activities based on planetary rhythms for the same reason. It may be difficult to understand, but we can all train ourselves to be more sensitive to these realities.

N&M: What motivates you most to be an organic farmer?
Ron: To show that it is possible to grow an abundance of healthy crops with simple means, which can be adopted accordingly all over the world. Once we understand that agriculture does not have to be expensive and complicated, but rather affordable and simple, we will be able to feed the world.