Grower of speciality edible flowers, herbs and greens
Gelderland
NON-EU? WORK VISA REQUIRED
Recently the Dutch labour inspection paid us a visit, and during that visit we learned that work exchange is considered work according to the law in the Netherlands. This means that to be able to do a work exchange here on our farm, you need to hold a visa that allows working in the Netherlands. If you do not have this, please do not apply because we cannot host you. If we do, we risk a hefty fine! No exceptions :)
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Welcome! Nice to meet you :)
What do we do?
We supply high end restaurants with edible flowers, herbs and greens grown here on the farm. Throughout the season we grow around 40 different crops for sale. In addition to this we grow what we like to eat (neat to have a veggie garden inside of a production farm, as our farm sadly is too small to grow vegetables commercially). We also supply herbs and mushrooms foraged out in the Dutch 'wilderness.' In addition to this, we host workshops in plant foraging, mushroom foraging, and shellfish foraging. There's a lot going on!
This farm is truly unique. A wealth of flavours, smells, colours and textures. If you like food, and want to expand your horizon, then you really ought to come and see. We work with modern market gardening tools, using modern market gardening techniques. If you are into farming and want to experience a highly diversified farm churning out quality produce, then you really ought to come and see.
We are happy to teach you all that you need to know. Farming experience is not necessary! We like to work with people that have a positive attitude, and are willing to learn and develop their farming skills. We work mostly outside, rain or sunshine, you just never know what the day will bring here in the Netherlands. You will harvest lots of flowers and herbs, help us stop weeds from taking over, tend to the animals, plant seedlings, clear beds that we have finished cropping, cook some of the staff lunches, preserve farm-grown produce and help with odd-jobs whenever they arise around the farm. Towards the end of your stay, you will be able to join on one of the delivery runs to see the amazing restaurants where our food ends up (and have a little taste if chefs are feeling generous), you will also be able to join on one or more of the foraging workshops, depending on spaces available.
We have a morning coffee break, and serve a fantastic farm lunch with eggs from our chooks, great bread and farm-fresh veg and herbs. Accommodation is an old wagon converted into living quarters, whereas the kitchen, toilet, and shower are located in the main barn where we host our workshops. In the evenings you can take a dip in a phenomenal swimming lake nearby, or test your hand at cooking up some good stuff with what is around on the farm. In the weekends you get to explore the Netherlands!
Sounds like a match? I am looking forward to hear from you!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Raising of other farm animals
Beekeeping
Wild foraging
Flower farming
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Meat processing
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Methods or systems
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Edwin
Member since 2019
Languages spoken:
Dutch, English
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Response rate: 98%
Response time: typically within 3 days
Gelderland
Nijmegen
Reviews
Hugo
France
•
May 2026
This was our first wwoofing and farming experience and we learned a lot ! Edwin and Sebastian were very patient and very interesting people in general. I am a vegetarian and Edwin makes sure to get me vegetal protein every week which was very kind. Sebastian was an amazing gardening teacher and was very fun to work with ! The working schedule is very organized, we worked six hours a day for five days. Everyday was planned and we were always guided on what to do (which was very reassuring for beginners like us). The big highlight for us was Puss the cat, the king of the farm and a very cuddly and loving cat. We also get to participate to Edwin’s workshop on foraging and mushrooms and we learned a lot again.
Just keep in mind that you will work a bit more than in others farms and cook all your food but if you’re not afraid to work and to cook and want to learn about foraging and gardening it will be a great match !
Thanks again Edwin, Sebastian and Puss of course for having us, we had a wonderful month !
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Reply from Edwin
Thanks Guys we really liked all the things about the two of you. Have many great adventures together and you are always welcome to stay at the main barn.
Best Edwin&Sebas
Anna
France
•
September 2025
Edwin accepted me at the Casa Foresta farm for a three-week stay in August. The days start at 7:30 a.m. with the head gardener giving a briefing, assigning the various tasks for the day to everyone. At 10:30 a.m., there is a coffee break, and lunch is at noon. Lunch must be prepared by the woofers present. The day ends at 3:00 p.m. Two days a week are devoted to harvesting various flowers and leaves to deliver to certain restaurants. Another Dutch person comes in for these two days. The rest of the time is spent weeding, removing plants that are no longer useful, and redoing the beds to replant other plants. I also had the opportunity to make syrup with blackcurrants harvested the previous month. If you stay on the farm, Edwin expects you to work 35 hours a week. He is quite strict and likes resourceful people who know to make decisions and take initiatives. When Edwin is not stressed, he is very generous and grateful. Otherwise, he likes to chat and share his knowledge (he knows a lot about mushrooms). At the end of my stay, Edwin gave me some jars of food he had made himself, and I was allowed to leave with vegetables from the garden. Thanks again for that !
Overall, it was pretty nice, but it can get repetitive if you stay longer. Especially since I was already quite used to this environment. Otherwise, the space is pretty, and there is a lake 5 minutes away by bike and another 15 minutes away where horses and cows roam freely.
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Frederick
Netherlands
•
April 2025
My time at Casa Foresta was truly unique. In just 2 weeks I got to learn so much about edible plants and flowers, new cooking recipes and ideas that I hadn't heard about before.
I have left this farm with a very positive view as I feel that I have grown at Casa Foresta, becoming more knowledgeable and resilient through the hours of daily work. Edwin's farm is one of a kind, it has been incredibly interesting to become a member of the team for a short period of time and live like one more amongst Casa Foresta.
Even though it wasn't very easy at first to get accustomed to the pace of the farm, within a short period of time and support from other volunteers and employees you might surpirse yourself by how fast you can catch up!
Overall, I had an amazing experience, eating delicious organic food, joining workshops, admiring the surrounding environment, and of course, learning a lot through the work.
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Doris
Canada
•
December 2024
It has been a great 6 weeks WWOOFing experience at the farm! I was there for 4 weeks in summer and returned for 2 weeks in autumn.
During 6 weeks I have learn much about herbs and edible flowers and their culinary potential. Rein was willing to share and explain the reasons behind tasks required on the farm, rational of bed layout and many more. He's always patient to an inexperienced farmer like me. Work can be physically demanding sometime(well...of course, farm work!) but getting to perform a variety of tasks offered me the opportunity to get the most out of my stay. (And still have time and energy to cycling around.)
Lucky me, I was there at the right time and got to participate in different foraging workshops, headed to the shore for shellfish and into the woods for plants and mushrooms. Edwin encouraged me and made sure that I had a worthwhile time during this exchange. Thank you! It's the hard work that made unique farm happens and grows.
It was a wonderful time to remember. There's always something more to learn! Love this WWOOFing experience and would recommend!
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Soomin
South Korea
•
April 2024
It was my first time Wwoofing, and I loved it!
Rein is kind and patient. Even if you don’t have experience in farming he will explain everything step by step. He tried to give me diverse tasks to enrich my farming experience. I got to feed animals(cat, chickens, ducks, and sheep), seed, harvest, weed, and prepare beds for plants. You will get to experience farming indoors and outdoors. Also, if you are lucky in the right season, Edwin will take you foraging! Edwin carries around vast energy, pushing things forward. I attended one of his workshops, and the walk in the park was extraordinary. I felt he was nature's spokesman, explaining not only the edible plants but also the animals and the history of trees.
Indeed, it wasn’t easy in the beginning to adapt to all the physical activities of a farmer, but once I got used to it, everything became more fun! Last but not least, it was also lovely to eat fresh produce from the farm and discover new tastes!
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Savevone
United States
•
January 2024
I volunteered at Casa Foresta in September and I highly recommend. There was a nice blend of cultural exchange, farm learnings, and independence. Also, there weren't many days with rain during this time, 🙌. That clay soil gets slippery when wet!
This stay was my very first WWOOFing experience, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Compared to other farms I've now volunteered at, the accommodations are nice (Hot shower, electricity, full kitchen, caravan for sleeping, acess to common area outside of with hours, bike, public transit nearby, decent location). The amount of cultural exchange is great 👍 Edwin and Rein make sure you get your fair share of Dutch and some Indonesian cuisine. Definitely take Rein's suggestions on spots to visit. Joren bakes some awesome breads and knows a lot about the local architecture. Joost knows bees. The local volunteers at the farm are top tier 👌 Daphne and Lisbeth are the best
The skills that I picked up include harvest techniques to maximize shelf life, drying herbs, seeding, transplanting, various weeding techniques, low till, soup and sausage making, some mushroom and wild edible identification, some foraging, minor animal husbandry and beekeeping. Sometimes they aren't forthcoming with this info, so if you're interested in something, ask!
The one thing I wish I'd known from the beginning is that I was expected to make lunch to share everyday and that there was a set meal schedule. Knowing upfront would have eased some anxiety
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