De Lariks children’s farm in Assen wants to become the neighborhood meeting place of the neighborhood. That is why there will be a large neighborhood garden with fruit trees, vegetable garden, food forest and a flower picking garden. “And if possible, we want to be able to cook a game with neighbors and eat together.”
But the latter is, according to project leader Wilco Jonkman (70), still future music. “First we will work to construct the neighborhood garden. In a few weeks, the first fruit trees will have to go into the ground.”
The sheep pasture aan de Leek is sacrificed for this. “They will soon be given a place on the animal meadow, with the rest of the animals.” A neighborhood analysis of 2023 showed that the Lariks is a multicultural neighborhood, with quite a few households with the necessary problems. More connection between residents would be welcome.
“There is a need for inviting meeting places, so that local residents get in touch with each other more easily,” was the conclusion. And in it, Zorgstelpeling Phusis, which has been managing the children’s farm since 2015 for the municipality of Assen, saw a great challenge. A project plan has been drawn up and a subsidy was raised at the province. This allows the neighborhood garden to be set up in the coming period.
According to Wilco Jonkman, it is intended that the neighborhood garden will soon become a joint responsibility of both neighborhood residents, volunteers from the children’s farm and the group of clients of Phusis who work at the location as a day care. “With a large piece of land full of fruit trees, nut trees, berry bushes, herbs and vegetables there is plenty to do work.”
Jonkman also thinks of a shop, intended for the sale of the harvest and a counter where you can get coffee, tea, lemonade or an ice cream. “If you want to meet here for fun, then something like that can’t be missing,” says Jonkman. But for that, the necessary must be done at the building of the children’s farm.
The barn containing night lofts in front of the animals is considerably outdated. There are cracks here and there in the woodwork, resulting in leakage. And the woodwork can also use a best lick of paint. Furthermore, the kitchen is about to collapse and the floor has subsided. The square around the building must also be redesigned. But there is not yet money.
Jonkman hopes to get some financial support at the municipality for this. “With 15,000 euros in subsidy we will go a long way.” The intention is that with the help of local residents, volunteers from the children’s farm and the municipality of Assen the new neighborhood meeting place De Lariks will be ready in two years.