Biodynamic market garden De Stek

De Stek is a small-scale biodynamic market garden on the outskirts (on the north side) of Lelystad. On a plot of over 3 hectares, De Stek has been growing many varieties of vegetables and small fruits (strawberries, berries, plums and cherries) since 1993. The season begins in spring with spreading manure and compost on the land, tilling the soil, sowing and planting. The harvest begins in May, at which point the shop will also open. By using machinery, materials (tools, packaging) and resources such as water, fuel and electricity carefully and sparingly, they aim to take responsibility for ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture.

Ghislaine de Rond’s story:

Early in the morning, I cycle through the quiet residential neighbourhoods of Lelystad. I hear a peacock calling as I cycle through the city park. Peering out from under my cap, I keep an eye on the road. It’s better not to take my cap off, as I’d end up breathing in a cloud of gnats. In the Jagersbos, I pull my cap down as far as possible as I roll down the hill into the Jagersveld.
The Jagersveld is one of the city’s most expensive and most secluded residential areas. Many of the houses are enclosed by large fences, shielded from strangers who peer shyly from under their caps at the neat little lawns maintained by robotic lawnmowers. Every now and then I spot a couple of grey figures working in their large gardens, but usually the residents are safely tucked away in their luxurious homes.

From the Jagersveld, I cycle along the long Beginweg. This road leads to a cluster of small-scale farms and market gardens.
I cycle past a sign saying ‘Lelystad’; I’m now officially out of the built-up area. In the distance, I see a small figure sitting on the road. I wonder what it is – a cat or a dog, perhaps? As I get closer, I can see from the beautiful dark-blue feathers and the long green-blue tail that it is a little peacock. It darts into the bushes as I pass by. To my right, I see farmland with a clear sky above it. Behind me, I can see the tall edge of the woodland that surrounds the Jagersveld like a great, green fortress wall. In this part of Lelystad, the trees are already relatively old.
After passing the peacock, I reach a T-junction. Here I have to turn right. The market garden, ‘De Stek’, where I’m working this summer, is on this road. De Stek isn’t far from the Hanzelijn. Every day, trains run along the Hanzelijn towards the north of the country or, conversely, towards Lelystad town centre – the only station in Lelystad, if you don’t count the ‘ghost station’ ‘Lelystad-Zuid’, where no train has ever stopped.

As soon as I arrive at De Stek, I spot John, a man wearing a blue bandana and speaking with a Flemish accent. He’s stacking crates on top of one another to put them in the cold store. I wave to him and park my bike next to the mobile home where my bosses, Piet and Renee, are still having breakfast. I take off my cap and step inside. Sitting at the table are the two Spanish interns, David and Sergio, and the French intern, Amandine, having breakfast with my bosses. The trainees are staying at the market garden temporarily. As soon as Renee sees me, she gets up straight away and discusses with Piet what I can do. There are still some labels to be written for the crates, so I can get started on that straight away. After that, I can carry on picking broad beans straight away. Gradually, the mobile home empties out and I find myself sitting there writing labels, accompanied by Yvi the dog. Lettuce, grade 1, Holland… have I forgotten anything?… oh yes, 10 pieces. Next label…
I can hear Yvi munching away at her breakfast, a sound I’ve come to associate with the earliest hours of my working mornings.

Once I’ve finished the labels, I walk over to the shed next to the cold store, where I put on a pair of wellies, some thickened rain trousers and a purple raincoat. Although it isn’t very cold, it’s always nice to be well protected against dirt and to shield your knees from the clay soil.
I grab a couple of crates from the pile and walk to the broad bean field behind the mobile home. The sun is really starting to break through now. I’m so well protected in my work clothes that it feels as if I’m swimming as I walk through the broad bean field. I set my crate down somewhere and disappear into the tall bushes. Now I’ll be picking until the coffee break at 10:00.

Sometimes I glance out over the field to see what’s going on there. I see a train standing still on the tracks, waiting for the red signal. Every now and then, my neighbour drives past on his tractor across the neighbouring field. I don’t know what he’s growing. To be honest, I don’t really know exactly what’s being grown at De Stek either. It doesn’t really matter at the moment. Right now, all I need to know is about broad beans.

After about two hours of picking, Piet arrives on his tractor to collect the full crates of gleaming broad beans. Piet has a wild mop of grey hair and a thoughtful, slightly elitist way of speaking. He isn’t too keen on the bookkeeping; he sees himself more as a proper gardener. Although De Stek is registered in Piet’s name, it sometimes seems as though Renee owns the market garden. Renee originally came to work for Piet as a volunteer and stayed because of the delicious strawberries he grew.

Time for coffee and stroopwafels. Everyone pitches in to set out cups, chairs, biscuits and thermos flasks of tea and coffee. Yvi the dog scurries under the table in search of something edible. After about half an hour, we head back out into the field, fully kitted out for work, where the sun is now shining brightly.
In a few hours’ time, I’ll be cycling home again, tired but satisfied. Until then, my world is small and green; I’m sheltered beneath the tops of the broad bean plants, and all I know is broad beans.