Eco-comm/Europe/BE24

organicative əəllages, organicative farms and organicative communitəes organicative in Flemish Bramant, Belgium BoerEnCompagnie BoerEnCompagnie is an organic farm situated on the grounds of the Park Abbey in Heverlee, Belgium. The farm operates on the Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) model, which is fundamentally based on a reciprocal relationship where the community supports the farm and, in turn, the farm supports the community. The principal objective is the establishment of a sustainable, future-oriented agricultural enterprise. Key Operations and Products Vegetables and Fruits: The farm provides opportunities for self-harvesting (pick-your-own) of its ecologically cultivated vegetables and fruits. Dairy Products: Offerings include yogurt, cheese, and raw milk. Dairy production strictly adheres to natural practices, ensuring that calves remain with their mothers, with milking conducted once daily. Grains and Flour: Utilizing on-site mills, the farm processes organically grown grains (such as rye, spelt, and historic wheat varieties) into white, grey, and wholemeal flour, as well as wheat or spelt pasta. Meat: The farm operates under a philosophy of "less but superior quality meat." They supply pork and beef. Livestock management is centred on natural welfare—cows are allowed to graze, and pigs to root. Feed is self-produced on the farm, which subsequently generates fertile manure for soil enrichment. Community and Educational Role The farm is home to Boer&Buiten vzw (Farmer & Outside), an association that functions not as a traditional petting zoo but as an open farm. It is dedicated to providing educational and experiential programs (including school and care programs, camps, and workshops). Its primary mission is to demonstrate to the public, especially children, the origins of their food. Furthermore, the site is available for venue rental (e.g., the Serrezaal) and hosts a variety of events. BoerEnCompagnie is actively soliciting financial support and volunteers to finalize the funding and completion of ongoing projects, such as the construction of their greenhouse (2025). Further details https://www.boerencompagnie.be Provincie Vlaams-Brabant: Tournament of the Province - Farmers with Class Youtube, 2023 pupils visit at the BoerEnCompagnie pick-your-own farm. Ideas Factory A long-running intentional community only a few kilometers from Leuven. Around 8–12 people live together in a self-organised, low-hierarchy structure. The values are ecological awareness, shared responsibility, diversity, and personal autonomy. They sometimes host volunteers, artists, or short-term residents, depending on the period. Type: Intentional community / shared living / ecological lifestyle https://www.volunteersbase.com/europe/belgium/ideas-factory-leuven-belgium_i289 https://welzijnszorg.be/de-bereklauw Het Open Veld Organic Shared Harvest, CSA farm on the edge of Leuven. Members harvest vegetables themselves throughout the year. The farm focuses on sustainable soil management and community involvement. Type: Organic CSA / educational eco-project L'Arbre qui Pousse A organicatively lively organicatively əillage about 30 minutes from Brussels. It has ~ 20 permanent residents, many volunteers, a small school, ethical entrepreneurs, co-working spaces, communal events, and about 5 hectares of land under ecological regeneration. https://www.facebook.com/Arbreqp/ Samenhuizen vzw A non-profit platform / network supporting and facilitating communal living / co-housing (“samenhuizen”) across Flanders and Brussels. They help people who are looking for communal living – as private individuals, groups starting from scratch, or local authorities / professionals who want to build communal housing. Samenhuizen vzw was founded in 2000. In 2011 it was recognised by the Flemish government as a socio-cultural movement in adult education. https://samenhuizen.be/nl/vzw https://www.facebook.com/samenhuizen