Zoöp Nieuwe InstituutZoöp Nieuwe Instituut

Bodemzicht ('soil perspective') is a regenerative farm right next to Nijmegen. The farm wants to provide a realistic circular alternative to current agriculture and create a long term future for farmers in the Netherlands.

Anne van Leeuwen en Ricardo Cano Mateo started the regenerative farm Bodemzicht on the Grootstal estate, right next to Nijmegen. Regenerative agriculture grows living soil, captures CO2, increases biodiversity and makes a profit.

Bodemzicht will radically change the perspective in Dutch agriculture: from far-reaching, exhausting monocultures to well-founded, resilient farms. The farm departs from 21st century themes such as climate change, biodiversity loss and farming crisis and translates this into a carbon positive, biodiverse and profitable agriculture.

The bodemzicht farm measures 5 hectares.

Sint Jacobsweg 13a, Malden, the Netherlands

None, awaiting a permit for a workstation and polytunnel.

One-man Business

Ricardo Cano Mateo and Anne van Leeuwen are the co-founders of Bodemzicht and are present on the farm every day. In addition, there are two "no-dig market gardeners" for 2/3 days a week: Jesse Opdam and Merel Gerritsen. There is also a group of about 10 permanent volunteers who work at Bodemzicht every week. Around Bodemzicht there is a group of entrepreneurs and landowners who live and work on the Grootstal estate.

There is also an active community around Bodemzicht, who regularly visit. These are the chefs and sous chefs we work with and the private customers who buy vegetables and climate eggs from us. We also give courses and guided tours, which means there are regular visitors. In addition, there is an active network around Bodemzicht and many people come by. Think of: Caring Farmers, Decade of Action, Commonland, Radboud University and UMC, Het Nieuwe Instituut, De Nieuwe Winkel, Municipality of Heumen, Ministry of Agriculture and the European Network for Rural Development.

Compared to 2019, we have already seen the following species living on the Bodemzicht site this year (so not only migratory, but also existing / reproducing):

• Bird species:
  Robin - Erithacus rubecula, Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes, Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis, Crow - Corvus corone, Magpie - Pica pica

• Plant species:
  Ragwort - Jacobaea vulgaris, Yarrow - Achillea millefolium, Shepherd's purse -_ Capsella bursa-pastoris_, Dense-flowered Mullein - Verbascum densiflorum, Red Dead-nettle - Lamium purpureum, Chickweed - Stellaria media, Bathua - Chenopodium album, Common nettle - Urtica dioica, Tall Fescue - Festuca arundinacea, Timothy - Phleum pratense

• Mammalian Species:
  Badger - Meles meles, Field vole - Microtus agrestis

In 2020 we expect to be able to provide habitat for at least:

• Bird species:
  Robin - Erithacus rubecula, Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes, Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis, Crow - Corvus corone, Magpie - Pica pica, Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus, Eurasian woodcock - Scolopax rusticola

• Plant species:
  Ragwort - Jacobaea vulgaris, Yarrow - Achillea millefolium, Shepherd's purse - Capsella bursa-pastoris, Barn candle - Verbascum densiflorum, Purple dead nettle - Lamium purpureum, Birdwall - Stellaria media, Melde - Chenopodium album, Stinging nettle - Urtica dioica, Fescue - Festuca arundinacea, Timothy - Phleum pratense, Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare, Common Mallow - Malva sylvestris, Dandelion - Taraxacum officinalis, Phacelia - Phacelia tanacetifolia, Winter Vetch - Vicia villosa, Comfrey - Symphytum officinale, Dyer's rocket - Reseda luteola, Common groundsel - Senecio vulgaris, Red Clover - Trifolium pratense, Red Sorrel - Rumex acetosella, Maiden's Tears - Silene vulgaris, Ribwort Plantain -_ Plantago lanceolata_, White Dead-nettle - Lamium album, White Clover - Trifolium repens, Lovegrass - Eragrostis pilosa

• Mammalian species:
  Badger - Meles meles, Earth mouse - Microtus agrestis, Hare - Lepus europaeus