At Andromeda, they believe intensely in natural balance. To a layman, it seems like a step back in time, but nothing could be further from the truth: the gentlemen are hard at work making their company future-proof. For Product of the Future, we explore Andromeda's yin and yang.
The sun shines over Loosdrecht. It's still cold for the time of year and day by day Wim, Peter and Friso consider whether to water their bushes. As in fruit growing, the young leaf buds need to be protected from night frost and a thin layer of ice works wonders then. Where necessary, the inspired growers give the crop a helping hand, but otherwise they intensely believe in a natural balance.
In a nostalgic-looking barn, we meet Peter van der Rijdt and Wim Steman, owners of Andromeda Bosbouw vof. Since 1999, they have run the nursery with decades of craftsmanship. Where before that, as the owner of an orchard, Peter gained a lot of experience with fruit trees. In 2024, Friso Termeer will join as a third partner, further ensuring continuity.
Andromeda is a nursery of a wide range of evergreen trees, whose buds are cut to use as Christmas decorations. Andromeda grows its greenery at its own 4-hectare nursery in Loosdrecht and also leases 3.3 hectares. The area of trees and shrubs whose greenery is cut consists of very long-term crops of up to 20 to 60 years.
Andromeda is a forestry company that works with nature: without regeneration, the nursery cannot exist at all. The cultivation of leafy greens ensures continuity of cultivation. Moreover, Andromeda meets the highest requirements of regenerative agriculture.
Inside, Wim throws a block of wood into the stove. It is all residual wood, sourced from the nursery. The stove heats the house and canteen of the property, and the hot water at the campsite that the gentlemen run as a second industry also comes from the boiler. Next door, Wim proudly shows off the water battery. A hefty silo that acts as a buffer, where generated energy is stored in the form of hot water. ''If growers come forward as a result of this article, you can forward them to us. We will be happy to explain how it works.''
By storing excess energy from the solar panels in this way, they can produce more than the grid connection can handle. ''On a sunny day, this is how we take out the peak. That means more panels and more energy. More balance actually!'' Wim explains enthusiastically, then quickly takes us outside. Because not only is the power supply balanced at Andromeda, the theme runs like a thread throughout the plot.
Where many growers and farmers opt for monoculture, Andromeda opts for diversity. "Take leucothoe, a semi-shade plant," Friso explains. "Plant it next to larger conifers and they help each other." With 20 species of conifers and shrubs, complemented by dozens of herbs and grasses, there is no monoculture here. "Regenerative agriculture is the new cultivation, we firmly believe in that!" says Friso.
Regenerative agriculture contributes positively to nature, environment, climate, food security and social conditions. The starting point is to work towards healthy, living soil and thus a sustainable ecosystem and biodiversity. But in addition, it also provides the farmer with sufficient production and income.
At Andromeda, the soil has not been turned for 20 years, resulting in diverse and herb-rich vegetation. Cultivation takes place in strips of fungus-dominant forest soil and herb-rich grasses.
"We aim to grow perennial crops and very long crops up to 50 years," Wim says. "There is no monoculture; there are 20 species of conifers, conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs, supplemented by dozens of herbs and grasses." A varied mowing policy is applied. As of 2023, half of the farm has stopped chemical weed control. The other half will soon follow.
This diversity leads to a greater diversity of fungi, insects and animals. "There are never any outbreaks of pathogenic species," says Wim. "The balance between different insects and predatory insects is very healthy."
At Andromeda, they firmly believe in the power of regenerative agriculture and work with nature to ensure a sustainable future. As Wim concludes, "Healthy nature also gives people health and joy in life!"
Circles will keep you updated on all sustainable developments at Andromeda in Loosdrecht. Because, don't we all want to sell that Christmas arrangement with a good feeling?
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