It’s a party this weekend in Piet Liefting’s Bakkum picking garden. Ten years ago he started the garden as ‘occupational therapy’, but now the flower garden where you can forage your own bush is a thriving business. Only: without official license.
Piet Liefting (62) hopes to receive good news from the municipality soon. “We’ve had some conversations already, and I think it’s going to be okay.” He’s not really nervous about it. “We’ll just keep going.”
The current situation doesn’t feel the same to him either the troubles of five years ago. Then his work shed turned out to be illegal. There was eventually found a solution for. But now, five years later, there is still uncertainty about a permit for the garden.
Due to the holiday period, the municipality of Castricum was unable to find out in the short term when a decision will be made. According to Piet, it would be on the agenda after the elections in March. “No news is good news, I guess.”
See here how the flower garden is visited by young and old. Text continues below video.
The birthday of the picking garden will be celebrated tomorrow with a party among the flowers. “For everyone who has made a positive contribution to the garden,” says Piet. In addition, festive theme days will be organized after the holidays.
“Think of a beekeeper or someone who knows everything about birds or butterflies. Everything that has to do with nature, so to speak.” For those special days, look at the Facebook page of the picking garden.