In Merksplas, you’ll find the farm of Seppe and Maartje, two young entrepreneurs taking their first steps in agriculture and horticulture together. They have been active as growers for one year now and are building their future in the sector step by step.
On their farm, they combine pig farming with asparagus cultivation. Seppe focuses on the pigs, while Maartje focuses on the asparagus. Last year, they planted three hectares of asparagus, an important new step for their young business.
Seppe and Maartje have only just started out in farming. That makes their story special. In a sector where experience matters, they are finding their own way step by step. “We had to discover everything ourselves,” they say. “There is no training course to become an asparagus grower, so you mainly learn by doing.”
What they love most about their work is the plant’s growth process and the moment when a whole year’s efforts are rewarded with a beautiful harvest. “You see the asparagus grow and you work on it all year round to produce a beautiful product. That brings a lot of satisfaction.” The appreciation from consumers also plays an important role. “The fact that people truly appreciate our product makes it extra special. We experience that less in pig farming.”
The biggest challenge in their day-to-day work is combining it with family life. With two young children aged 2 and 4, it requires a great deal of organisation and flexibility. Finding enough staff also remains an ongoing challenge.
They regularly take soil samples, consciously choose the right fertilisation and pay close attention to a healthy soil. Weed control is carried out mechanically as much as possible, with respect for the crop and for nature.
What they are most proud of is the fact that, as young starters, they have found their way in farming and are able to do this together as a couple. “The fact that we have built this together, the two of us, and that it is going well so far, is something we are really proud of.”
For consumers, they mainly want to highlight the importance of local farming. “With local products, you can see more clearly where they come from. In Belgium, strict requirements apply, and that gives consumers extra reassurance. When you visit our farm shop, you literally drive past the asparagus fields.”
Their favourite moment in the field? Without a doubt, the harvesting itself. “Seeing the white asparagus grow and bringing full crates in from the field, especially when the sun is shining, is still wonderful.”
Finally, they add that asparagus does not have to be complicated in the kitchen. “I’m Dutch myself, but I like asparagus Flemish-style best. My husband, on the other hand, loves asparagus with a good hollandaise sauce. Or simply in soup: anything goes. We are farmers, not chefs, and that’s how it should stay.”
