The Stadsboerin project was initiated by Ellen Willems, a journalist and horticulturist, with the aim of connecting people with nature and the origin of food whilst bringing together different groups within society in order to foster social inclusion.  

In the local area of the project, Doetinchem (the Netherlands), some schools have students with social problems. Stadsboerin is closely connected to a primary school in the neighbourhood, where around 60% of the families have to deal with poverty because unemployment rates are high. Stadsboerin makes breakfast (fruit, pancakes, sandwiches) for 195 children every school day from its harvest from the garden so that the children do not have to go hungry at school. 

At the same time, several local schools expressed an interest in ‘green education programmes’, which were not available. Stadsboerin provides an education programme for six days for each class for children to learn how food is grown and how they can cook a healthy lunch for themselves. They learn how to take care of plants and animals and how to harvest for their own meal. 

The vision was to create a green living room where people find peace, space and understanding and very often a meaningful daytime activity.  

The objectives were to: 

From three acres of bare grassland and a boarded-up barn, a vibrant green meeting place and urban agriculture has been built with a lot of community spirit, where people can, on a daily basis, take part in informal activities, buy food from their own city and eat in a dedicated catering area. 

Three acres of land are cultivated for the purposes of the project. The food is sold in an on-farm store and used to put together packages of vegetables, for city hospitality, catering and meals. The experience is shared through workshops and classes given to schools (‘From Soil to Plate’) at multiple levels.  

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding enabled the purchase of essential equipment to implement income-generating activities, such as sustainable catering for companies, schools and individuals. This included an electric bus and cold storage facilities. 

The acquisition of the necessary equipment and tools enabled the project to develop further and expand the growth of vegetables and fruit on the land as a community activity. 

The cold storage was also essential for selling local farming produce in the on-farm shop.  

Other project activities included the design and implementation of a system to provide affordable joint meals on a weekly basis and daily breakfasts for local primary schools. 

The meeting place is open six days per week. In addition, free workshops on 'healthy and affordable cooking’ were organised at the Food Bank and migrants were offered internships. 

Furthermore, a teaching programme for schools was developed and implemented. Stadsboerin provides an education programme for six days for each class so that children can learn how food is grown and how they can cook a healthy lunch for themselves. They learn how to take care of plants and animals and how to harvest for their own meal. 

A broad range of important stakeholders, including local/regional authorities, social and welfare organisations (including migrant groups, vulnerable people, the elderly), local schools, agricultural colleges, volunteer organisations, farmers and food producers, food banks, landscape organisations and the residents of Doetinchem collaborated and networked during the period of the project. 

The project employed 3.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) paid individuals and involved 50 volunteers. Internships were organised for 20 young migrants and ten Dutch nationals accessed opportunities for social inclusion through work.  

By working together on the land and in the kitchen, spending time together informally and sharing meals, people have become less lonely, more resilient, learned Dutch and thus have more chances to be socially included. The project reaches the elderly, young people, residents, migrants and refugees and is particularly beneficial for vulnerable people.  

A green education programme for primary schools about the origins of food and how to cook healthy meals was developed. Every day, a total of 218 children receive breakfast at school from Stadsboerin.  

Networking directly with local/regional authorities, social and welfare organisations, local schools, agricultural colleges, volunteer organisations, farmers and food producers, food banks, landscape organisations and the residents of Doetinchem, including other LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale) projects, provided many benefits.  

Knowledge transfer is provided through inspirational presentations and visits to other initiatives that were inspired by the project. 

The project is innovative as it combines a place for social gatherings with regenerative agriculture that is open to all.  

Women are involved in all activities.  

Particular attention is paid to the social inclusion of migrants and the project is an official place of inclusion for newcomers. Dedicated activities are organised for young refugees every week and these offer a safe and welcoming space for interaction. 

Everyone who joins the project receives practical lessons in gardening and cooking via workshops (e.g. in low budget cooking).  

Formulating and articulating the mission of the project is recommended. This and the project plan should be shared as widely as possible with the local community. Responses from stakeholders should be listened to and adjustments should be incorporated as long as this is in line with the mission of the project. Collaboration with reintegration services, psychological assistance services, a neighbourhood tutor, primary schools and local government are very important elements in helping to ensure that the initiative is supported as much as possible. However, it is important to stick to the mission.  

The tremendous support from the community was very encouraging and demonstrated that the project was clearly needed in this region. From the beginning, dozens of people supported the initiative and helped actively. Local government, regional government and welfare organisations supported the project and showed their commitment. 

Wesley Willemsen (29): "I come to the Stadsboerin on a daily basis. It's my second home. Or rather, it's my first home. I'm not lonely any more and they help me with structure."

Wilma de Bruijn: "I have gained a new family and am less lonely."

Delkhoaz Ali, Lebanon: "Working in the kitchen has broadened my horizons. I understand the language and culture better. I see opportunities in the Netherlands."

Aisha, aged 8: "I had never held a chicken before. I'm going to bring my mother here too."