Archive

1. Voedselpark Amsterdam

   2023-01-03 1:32 pm Comments Off on Voedselpark Amsterdam

   Stichting Grond van Bestaan is a registered charity and citizens’ initiative based in Amsterdam that aims to protect the last fertile soil and create “Voedselpark Amsterdam” (Amsterdam Foodpark).

   ‘Lutkemeer’ (meaning little lake) is 43 hectares of farmland on the western edge of Amsterdam which constitutes the last piece of fertile soil in the city. Unfortunately this unique historical and organic soil is in danger. There are plans to turn it into a business park for massive distribution warehouses. Voedselpark Amsterdam has become symbolic of people’s desire for a nature inclusive city and opposing the globalized fossil fuelled consumer economy. Voedselpark Amsterdam would save the soil and use it as a urban ecological living lab for commons and ecological entrepreneurship.

   This park will not only provide affordable heathy food, but will inspire and demonstrate the importance of urban regenerative food transition. Voedselpark Amsterdam wants to activate citizens to convert places in the city and the countryside into local ‘commons’ where regenerative forms of agriculture can take place. At the same time creating a place for people to recreate and learn about agriculture, sustainability and biodiversity and work towards a green, inclusive, regenerative economy.

2. RE-PEAT

   2021-09-14 6:01 pm Comments Off on RE-PEAT

   Because peatlands are the largest land-based carbon stores in the world, their degradation results in large amounts of carbon emissions (5% of global emissions caused by humans). But it is not just the carbon power that is so special about peatlands.

   Youth-led collective RE-PEAT believe that peatlands should be a vital part of ecological and climate conversations. They also see that discussions about peatlands can create very novel viewpoints on other intersecting topics such as social justice, health, economics, language and history.

   Their work, based across Europe, follows 3 major pathways: education, collaboration and re-imagination. Examples of how they do this include: developing a primary school education program to foster awareness from a young age, as a scalable pilot project starting in Ireland they hope to launch this in many more schools next year; collecting personal and artistic accounts of peatlands from across Europe in a EU Peat Anthology, prior to the Common Agricultural Policy decision by the EU Members of Parliament; hosting two 24hour global peat festivals that, combined, included over 80 online talks and sessions; creating a 10-part series of webinars focusing on UK peatlands to build momentum before COP26 and the WCSS22 in Glasgow.

   Over the next 5 years they hope to build an international youth network for peatlands, push for bolder peatland policy, as well as work to amplify underrepresented voices.

3. Commonland

   2021-07-23 4:38 pm Comments Off on Commonland

   Commonland was founded in 2013 by international experts and investors with the ambition to kick-start the development of a landscape restoration economy. Commonland aims to provide a practical framework to make the transition towards an economy that is based on the restoration of natural and productive landscapes.

   Commonland aims to create 4 returns, in 3 landscape zones, over a period of 20 years. The 4 Returns Framework transforms degraded ecosystems by focusing on four measurable returns: healthy soils and biodiversity, security and jobs, Inspiration and hope, and sustainable financial income. It is a flexible approach that works in any ecosystem, taking the full local context into account, restoring biodiversity and scaling sustainable business cases.

   Commonland does this through providing support in key areas such as practical implementation, policy influencing, fund mobilization, and working with all stakeholders to co-create a long-term landscape vision.

4. RE-PEAT

   2021-07-16 1:21 pm Comments Off on RE-PEAT

   Because peatlands are the largest land-based carbon stores in the world, their degradation results in large amounts of carbon emissions (5% of global emissions caused by humans). But it is not just the carbon power that is so special about peatlands.

   Youth-led collective RE-PEAT believe that peatlands should be a vital part of ecological and climate conversations. They also see that discussions about peatlands can create very novel viewpoints on other intersecting topics such as social justice, health, economics, language and history.

   Their work, based across Europe, follows 3 major pathways: education, collaboration and re-imagination. Examples of how they do this include: developing a primary school education program to foster awareness from a young age, as a scalable pilot project starting in Ireland they hope to launch this in many more schools next year; collecting personal and artistic accounts of peatlands from across Europe in a EU Peat Anthology, prior to the Common Agricultural Policy decision by the EU Members of Parliament; hosting two 24hour global peat festivals that, combined, included over 80 online talks and sessions; creating a 10-part series of webinars focusing on UK peatlands to build momentum before COP26 and the WCSS22 in Glasgow.

   Over the next 5 years they hope to build an international youth network for peatlands, push for bolder peatland policy, as well as work to amplify underrepresented voices.

5. Compost Company Coöperatief U.A.

   2018-01-31 4:30 pm Comments Off on Compost Company Coöperatief U.A.

   The Compost Company started as a reaction to waste management problems, in a neighbourhood with a lot of community garden projects. We aim to provide our members with a composting service, eliminating waste while improving soil fertility.

   We pick up their green waste weekly and they get several compost products back. We also compost commercial waste to sell outside of our subscription service.

   We aim to employ mostly refugees and help them get on their feet and find their way around Dutch society. The municipality reacted very enthusiastically to our plans and is helping us grow to increase our service area, and providing us with a place to start our business.