Farmer Ayoub from Amsterdam leads the way Expedition North Holland visit sustainable and innovative farmers. Where does our food come from and how are garden plants grown? Noord-Holland is a global leader in agricultural innovation. In the third episode, Ayoub sees how school children on an educational farm learn where our food comes from.
The educational farm in Katwoude is visited by group 5 from Edam. The children can milk cows themselves. Farmer Bertine Willig explains: “Children learn that milk does not come from a factory, but that the milk comes from the cow. How nice is it if they can experience that themselves by being allowed to milk a cow? buying food.”
Not afraid
Ayoub helps the children milk the cows. “Come on, don’t be afraid,” he encourages the kids. “And then squeeze a little. Good,” said a beaming farmer. “Oh, so it must be,” said a blissful student. Farmer Bertine: “Children also come from Amsterdam and they don’t see cows between the flats. It’s great that they have that experience here.”
Healthier Choices
Jaap Seidell is Professor of Nutrition and Health. He explains to Ayoub that children still have a lot to learn about our food: “We know that children eat mindlessly. It is always present, we buy it in the supermarket or you get it somewhere without knowing where it comes from.”
“If children do know where their food comes from, for example from a farm or a vegetable garden, then children think: oh, so this is where my food comes from, from the ground or from a tree. We see that once children have seen that, they always think differently about their food and choose differently. Healthier choices.”
vegetable bag
Ayoub visits a couple in Purmerend who received a free vegetable bag from the municipality for their baby Dean. Young parents in Purmerend can request the so-called ‘baby green bag’ for free. The idea is that everything that a child tastes more often between 4 and 12 months is stored on his or her ‘hard drive’.
If the baby gets fresh vegetables, it is more likely that he or she will eat better vegetables later on. Mother Kim Duncker-Damman is enthusiastic: “We are very happy with it. Every week we receive vegetables from the municipality via the farmers in the vegetable bag. Every week they are two different vegetables and we make jars of food ourselves.”
‘Totally luscious’
Bert Duncker adds to his beloved: “Last week we tried ready-made meals from the supermarket. There is no cracking or taste to them and we think it is important that our son eats.” Ayoub is impressed: “Totally slim.”
Ayoub can help with the cooking for the baby. He does his best, but ‘the cutting is not going well’. “Can I taste it? Delicious. It’s nice.” Ayoub asks Dean’s mother: “Aren’t you afraid he’ll ask for hamburgers, cheeseburgers and fries in a few years?” Duncker-Damman smiles: “No, he gets vegetables, piece of meat, potatoes. We’ll start with that now.”