How to choose an (allotment) garden?

Posted on zo 30 maart 2025 in blog

Below you'll find a number of questions to ask yourself and others. If you are serious about starting with an allotment or any other kind of garden, these questions can help you make a clear choice.

Reasons for starting a garden

  • Why do you want a garden?
    • Your goal and …

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Some time in the dark

Posted on do 27 maart 2025 in blog

Earlier this year I have spent over 10 days in complete darkness, with almost no contact with the outside world. It was the second retreat of this kind I have done. The first was a year earlier where I spend over five days in darkness.

To say it is a …


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Biochar Cooker

Posted on wo 29 januari 2025 in tools • Tagged with permaculture, practical

We created this biochar cooker during the second week of my first PDC. It is made from two large drums and one smaller can.

Materials required

  • two drums with a lid of equal size (fuel drum and cooking support)
  • one larger drum (optional, air inlet skirt)
  • one can (chimney)
  • two …

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Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE)

Posted on do 16 januari 2025 in tools

Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises, or TRE for short, is a simple way to relax the body and shake out tensions. It uses the natural shaking mechanism present in every mammal for getting rid of tension.

Start by laying on the ground on a mat. Pull your legs up and …


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Contemplation on cycles

Posted on zo 12 januari 2025 in contemplation

My overview of the cycles as I have encountered them or studied as part of Systems Thinking and Permaculture.

  • observations
    • a cycle is observing an aspect of reality and noting
      • the aspect seems to change
      • the aspect seems to regularly return to a similar previous configuration
    • our notion of time …

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Tools for Personal and Spiritual Development

Posted on zo 12 januari 2025 in blog

I have done and tried a lot of different things.

The list below is probably not complete. I will try to give a brief overview of the tool and what it aims to achieve, based on my (limited) understanding and how it has helped me.

  • Lindyhop Dancing

    I call it …


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The Allotment - wrapping up

Posted on di 31 december 2024 in blog

I have decided end my contract with the allotment association. A number of factors have lead to this decision.

The allotment was evolving towards a miniature food forest. This meant that regular maintenance came down to mowing the "unwanted" plants about once a month.

I have found my enthousiasm for …


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PASTE survey allotment garden (2024)

Posted on vr 20 december 2024 in surveys • Tagged with permaculture, survey, PASTE, garden design, Eindhoven, season: summer

Starting from September 2018, Ina and I have rented an allotment at an association nearby. Ina quit the allotment in January 2023. I have ended our contract with the association in December 2024.

This survey lists the species found in the garden in 2024.

This list is part of the …


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Patterns in Business

Posted on vr 31 mei 2024 in tools • Tagged with thinking in patterns

Some of the patterns most businesses will face at some point.

  • legal structure
  • record keeping
    • bookkeeping
      • what counts as business expense
      • what counts as income
      • is the business liable for taxes
        • VAT
        • income …

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Behind the veil

Posted on di 19 december 2023 in contemplation

In English:

Beneath the hectic of the outside world is rest.
Beneath the chatter of everyday is silence.
Beneath the judgements of people is love.
May you find this rest, silence and love.

In Dutch:

Onder de hectiek van de buitenwereld ligt rust.
Onder het geroezemoes van alledag ligt stilte …

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