A unique course especially for those investing now in much-needed renewal of policy and regulation.
What inspiring and forward-looking roles can food forests play in finding solutions to the major challenges of agriculture, climate, soil and water management, nature and more?
What are the possible solutions to bottlenecks in legislation and regulations, among others, that start-up food forests may encounter? How can more opportunities be created for food forests in the Netherlands?
In a jam-packed, compact, two-day course, we will tell you everything you need to know to properly appreciate and assess both food forests in the urban and social context and food forests in the context of agriculture, rural regeneration and the combination with nature/Natura 2000.
Of course, welinked thelocations to this theme!
Both course days will begin at 10 am and conclude between 4:30 and 5 pm. Each day will also include a field trip to the nearby food forest. This way you will not only learn the theory, but also be introduced to the practice of food forests.
Who is this course relevant to?
Officials, policy advisors, administrators and politicians at the municipality, province, water boards and the state, stewards and consulting/engineering firms.
Learning Objectives
- Familiarize yourself with basic content on food forests as an innovative method.
- Knowledge of different types of food forests and different fields and functions that food forests can perform.
- Understanding the process of starting a food forest and the bumps in the road that sometimes have to be taken. We share real-world examples of impeding and conflicting rules, plus possible solutions.
- Get directions on how food forests positively contribute to various policy goals.
Content
In this course you will learn basic knowledge about food forests and the role they can play within different policy frameworks. You (re)know the different manifestations of food forests and the contributions they make to achieving multiple policy goals. You will become familiar with relevant laws and regulations concerning food forests.
You will also be inspired by the locations where the course takes place. These locations are directly linked to the theme of the day and there will also be a field trip to the nearby food forest. This way you will not only learn the theory, but you will also get a concrete introduction to the practice of food forests.
Per day
Location: Food forest Lekker Landgoed Haarzuilens (near Utrecht).
Teachers: Liesbeth van Bemmel and Wouter van Eck. Guided tour by Jan Degenaar
Food forests combined with urban dynamics and social functions
The first course day will take place at food forest Lekker Landgoed in Haarzuilens. This food forest is on land owned by Natuurmonumenten, which is set up as a recreational environment for Utrecht Leidsche Rijn, Vleuten and Maarssen. Natuurmonumenten has leased seven acres for 20 years to a foundation set up by biologists Maarten Schrama and Jan Degenaar, which may operate a food forest there. You see the great ecological and social function this publicly accessible food forest has, so right next to the city. At the same time, you will experience how this place is simultaneously growing into an economically viable food production system, and you will probably hear some of the hundreds of newly arrived bird species.
Content
Morning
After covering basic knowledge about food forest systems, relevant planning regulations will be discussed.
Afternoon
The potential social functions of food forests in terms of recreation, education and community building are explored. It concludes with a substantive tour of Food Forest Delightful Estate.
Location: Food forest Ketelbroek in Groesbeek near Nijmegen
Lecturer: Wouter van Eck
The second course day we will be guests at Food Forest Ketelbroek. We zoom in on the role food forests can play within the agricultural transition. After all, the rural area is facing major challenges and complex problems. Food forestry can play a positive role here, whether the nitrogen problems, water quality, climate problems or threatened natural values are at stake. We link to the relevant policy frameworks and discuss the opportunities for a successful agricultural revenue model.
Content
Food forestry as a building block for future-proof rural area
Morning
Discuss contributions of food forests to policy goals arising from climate agreement, agricultural policy, Water Framework Directive, forest strategy (national and provincial) and nitrogen policy.
Afternoon
Content tour of Food Forest Ketelbroek, located in an agricultural setting but close to nitrogen-sensitive nature (Natura 2,000).
In conclusion, we will discuss the role that large-scale food forests focused on agricultural production can play within the Area Based Approach. Contributed examples can be used in this process.
The teachers
After a career at Radboud University, Milieudefensie and FLORON, Wouter van Eck (1965) has himself been the owner and farmer of the oldest food forest in the Netherlands, Ketelbroek, for fourteen years. Wouter is also chairman of Stichting Voedselbosbouw Nederland and the best known advocate for food forests as a future-oriented agricultural method. He was with others initiator of the Green Deal Food Forests and is part of the Law and Regulation Task Force of the Agroforestry Network Netherlands.
Liesbeth van Bemmel (1966) has more than 20 years of experience as a senior policy advisor at a branch organization and an independent administrative body. In both positions she had a lot to do with different policy areas and worked with the VNG and with different ministries. For a few years now she has been a full-time food forest builder and food forest trainer. In the trainings she gives, the focus is always on the organizational and policy aspects.
Practical
This compact two-day course costs 750,- excl. VAT will take place on Thursdays April 6 and 20. Each course day starts at 10 am and ends between 4:30 and 5. We will of course provide coffee and tea, a tasty vegetarian lunch and all course materials. We also offer you a digital course environment in which you can (re)find many valuable links and files, as well as watch recordings of the two course days, so that you can review not only the lecture days, but also the excursions.
You can register below using Ideal or Bancontact, but if your organization works with invoicing, send an email to info@voedseluithetbos.nl with exactly the requirements and departments and email addresses needed then, as well as your email address and phone number and we'll take care of the rest.
We deliver this annual training according to our terms of delivery. These are simple and clear, so please read them.
€750,00 excl. VAT/VAT
What inspiring and forward-looking roles can food forests play in finding solutions to the major challenges of agriculture, climate, water resources, nature and more? What are the potential bottlenecks in laws and regulations, among others, that start-up food forests may encounter? How can more opportunities be created for food forests in the Netherlands?
In a compact, two-day course, you will learn a tremendous amount and will also be inspired by the locations where the course takes place. Each day there will also be a field trip to the nearby food forest. This way you will not only learn the theory, but you will also be introduced to the daily practice of food forests.
Do you have a voucher? Click here to fill in your code