Sven Secher generously shared how he grows vegetables and Elisabeth Secher offered fantastically delicious sandwiches with first fruits and a delicious rhubarb cake. What a beautiful place and lucky with the weather! The participants had different experiences, but it felt like everyone took inspiration from the visit.
The crops are good for many things – food, climate and joy.
I was inspired by the 8-year green manure crop rotation and how they use the fertilizer available on site – mainly grass clippings and nettle water. I learned about sun damage to hardened-off seedlings and the importance of watering deeply when planting.
Sven shows a demonstration crop with the 8-year crop rotation.
Sven told inspiring stories about how they have collaborated with several different chefs in the area and sold vegetables to conference facilities. The chefs were integrated into the operation, the staff visited the farms and tasted. There was an educational exchange between chefs and growers. The farms and the café were originally a hobby that grew and took over. Sven has a professional life as a journalist behind him, although he grew up in the area and has had knowledge of farming since childhood.
There is great joy and knowledge in growing such a great diversity! Sven and Elisabeth have attracted many happy visitors to try different kinds of cucumbers and different kinds of tomatoes and vote on which they thought was the tastiest. Did you know that there is an apple cucumber that is round and yellowish? What a dream if every place had its local variant of Näsets Gröna that provided those living nearby with nutritious vegetables, cultivation knowledge and a meeting place.
The cape's own geranium variety.
Now Sven and Elisabeth are stepping down, but they will invite you to more activities – such as flower picking. Then take the opportunity to visit Näsets Gröna and sign up for their newsletter to find out what they're up to.
The study visit was part of Upplandsbygd's project We Planet Caretakers and also Knivsta Municipality's biodiversity week.
Thank you for this time!