Self-reliant farmers cut down on costs related to their homegrown produce
In the heart of Witten, Germany, farmer Jan Bockholt operates a popular self-picking vegetable field at Hoerder Strasse 148a, near the city border with Bochum. This 50,000 square meter field is a favourite among locals and visitors from nearby cities such as Bochum, Herne, Recklinghausen, Hagen, and Dortmund.
The self-picking field, open between 13 and 19 o'clock, Thursday to Sunday, offers a unique experience for visitors who can harvest their own fresh produce directly from the field. The vegetables are then transferred straight to the cooking pot, ensuring regional freshness.
Currently, only beans are available for harvesting, but in the next two to three weeks, zucchini, yellow and red onions, pumpkins, beetroot, and sweetcorn will also be ready. The field's vegetable varieties, which typically follow the beans in the planting sequence, include zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumbers. These crops are rotated after beans to optimise soil health and ensure a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
A little girl who usually dislikes beans was proud of her harvest and had it cooked at home. The self-picking field is not just a fun activity but also a learning experience for many. Visitors like Nikolai (43) from Annen, who has been harvesting on the field for years, are particularly keen on the sweetcorn, while Johanna Lydia Firus (22) is excited about the self-picking field as she has always dreamed of having her own garden.
Farmer Jan Bockholt considers the self-pick-your-own field as his passion. He has a first-name basis with his customers and ensures that only the best, undamaged vegetables are taken by customers. The price for self-harvested vegetables is graduated according to the amount taken.
To check the availability of vegetables for harvesting, visitors can refer to the farmer's homepage (www.hof-bockholt.de). The self-picking field is set to remain open until mid-September, depending on weather and yield. Potatoes that have been planted are of the variety 'Glorietta'.
The self-picking of vegetables is increasingly popular among families, with customers travelling from various cities to enjoy this unique experience. The price for self-harvested vegetables is usually significantly below supermarket prices, making it an affordable and enjoyable activity for many.
The self-picking field offers not only a unique experience for visitors but also an opportunity for home-and-garden enthusiasts like Johanna Lydia Firus to learn about growing their own food, as she dreams of having her own garden. Visitors can find a variety of fresh produce to take home, including food-and-drink items such as beans, zucchini, onions, pumpkins, beetroot, sweetcorn, and even potatoes, which are of the variety 'Glorietta'.
