CrowdFarming

08/10/2025

In conventional sales channels, farmers are usually anonymous, hidden figures that consumers don’t have any information on as they chose their products from supermarket shelves.

As part of a direct sales model, our job is to work together with our farmers to take them out of anonymity and put them back into the spotlight.

This can mean taking some time with our creative team to film content, take photos, and more. And it can also mean opening the gates to their farm to visitors; consumers who want to trace their food back to the source, and meet the people growing their products.

Today Paco, avocado and mango farmer from Málaga, welcomed two French consumers that had adopted one of his trees. He walked them around the farm and answered their questions. And our farmers Jessica and Salvador spent the day with the creative team, to promote the end of the European mango season. 🥭

Direct sales means fairer prices, direct connections with consumers, cutting out intermediary pressure and power, and many other benefits; but it also means your job as a farmer can go beyond producing, and can sometimes require stepping in front of the camera. 📸

03/10/2025

October marks the season for apples, pears, and root vegetables 🍎🍐🧅

Eating seasonally encourages regenerative farming practices that work in harmony with the land. It also ensures that produce is harvested at its peak, improving both nutrition quality and the long-term health of the soil 🌱

17/09/2025

🌧️We've just published our new research paper! Find out how regenerative practices can help mitigate the impact of extreme climates on water resources by building soils that retain and protect water sources.

🔗Learn more via the link in our bio.

09/09/2025

The apple harvest has begun in Kressbronn on Lake Constance. Sven from Biohof Bentelson and his team are now out every day, hand-picking the ripe fruit. Back at the farm, the apples are packed straight away and prepared for shipment. 🍏🍎

This year’s harvest in the region is fairly average. May and June were unusually dry, while July brought heavy rainfall. These extremes put additional stress on the trees. Many apples are slightly smaller than usual because it was much too cold after flowering, during the crucial stage of fruit development.

This year, Sven also took over new orchards from a neighbour who had previously farmed them conventionally. He is now converting the apple trees to organic farming. Although he has already stopped using pesticides and chemical fertilisers, it will take several years before the fruit can officially be sold as organic.

This transition period is necessary to ensure that no residues remain in the soil or on the trees. It is, however, a difficult time for farmers, as they face higher costs but lower prices for their produce.

Nevertheless, Sven remains convinced of the benefits of organic farming. This year, he has once again created extensive flower strips to provide habitats for birds and insects. 🦟🌼

Find more info about Biohof Bentelson in our link in bio.

04/09/2025

September brings fresh summer treats and sends the first greetings from autumn. 🍐🍎

02/09/2025

🍂 It’s the end of summer, but as we all get back into our September routines, we also welcome these new farmers to our community!

🧘‍♀️Sönke Meesenburg from Friesenhof,
Yoga mat from d**e wool

🟣 Maria Elena from Azienda Agricola Anastasi,
organic plums

🍑Antonia from Azienda Agricola Giannella Antonia, organic apricots & nectarines

29/08/2025

Miracles do happen.

Last Wednesday, Miguel, the driver of the lorry transporting mangos from our farmers, had a very serious accident.

The lorry veered off the road between the regions of Bullas and Mula (Murcia). As you can see in the photo, the lorry was completely wrecked.

Miguel was immediately taken to hospital by ambulance. That day, we all went to bed with a huge sense of sadness and anxiety for him and his family.

After a thorough check-up yesterday afternoon, Miguel was discharged from hospital. Less than 48 hours after the accident, Miguel was able to go home to rest.

25/08/2025

In the latest episode of What the Field?!, we sit down with Sabine Bonnot, President of Planet-score, to discuss how their pioneering food labelling system is changing the way consumers understand the environmental impact of what they buy.

Based on research in supermarkets across Europe, Sabine explains:
🔹 Why consumers distrust overly simplified “one-size-fits-all” scores
🔹 How transparency on pesticides, biodiversity, animal welfare, and climate leads to more sustainable choices
🔹 Why scientific and data-driven communication is key to building trust between farmers and eaters

👉 If you’ve ever wondered whether labels can drive meaningful change in our food system, this conversation is for you.

Planet-score ayuda a los consumidores a entender el impacto ambiental de sus compras y a tomar decisiones alimentarias más sostenibles y transparentes.

22/08/2025

We travel all the way to the north, to Großbarkau near Kiel, to visit Felix at his family farm Rieckens Eichhof. It’s the perfect rural idyll – after weeks of rain, the sun is finally shining, ducks are quacking on the pond, and the cows are grazing. (slide 2)

Felix is a pioneer in regenerative farming and has been up since 5AM. A few years ago, he took over the farm from his parents and now cares for around 100 cows, 2,000 trees, and much more. On his pastures, he has integrated “edible hedges” and trees into agroforestry systems. He calls the region “the shire of the north.” (slide 3,4)

In the calf nursery school, Felix explains that he practices mother-bonded calf rearing, which allows the calves to spend more time with their mothers. For him, this holistic management approach means higher financial costs, but the calves are healthier, and he enjoys his work more. (slide 5)
In the farm’s own dairy, the milk is processed into yoghurt, while the cheese is made by a local cheesemaker. (slide 6)

Being a pioneer also means investing time and energy in education. The Eichhof farm has become a place for courses and workshops – Felix himself is often invited as a speaker. These are many tasks supported by his team, going far beyond the daily work in the barn. (slide 7)

Watch our live session with Felix ⬇️ and find all info about his projects in our link in bio.

18/08/2025

Current Situation of the Wildfires in Spain

Southern Europe, and particularly Spain, is experiencing one of its most intense wildfire seasons in decades. A prolonged heatwave, with temperatures reaching close to 45 °C in parts of Andalusia, has created extremely hazardous conditions across our farms.

So far this year, approximately 158,000 hectares have been lost to wildfires. In August alone, more than 115,000 hectares have burned, the highest number since records. The regions most affected include Galicia, Castile and León, and Extremadura.

All our farmers and their farms are currently safe. However, we remain concerned about how this extreme heat will affect the upcoming harvests: fruit burns, tree loss, and lower yields due to premature fruit drop are already likely consequences.

We extend our support and condolences to the firefighters who have lost their lives while battling the flames.

17/08/2025

🥭Mangos are among the world’s most beloved fruits — but few people know when they’re actually in season.

🥭Supermarkets offer tropical fruits all year round, creating the illusion that seasonality no longer matters. But this convenience comes at a cost: we lose touch with the rhythms of nature — and with the origin of our food.

🥭To guarantee a year-round supply, most mangos in Europe are imported from countries thousands of kilometres away, such as Peru or Brazil. This has a significant environmental impact. For example, flying mangos over 10.500 km from Peru to the Netherlands emits around 6 kg of CO₂-equivalent per kilo of fruit — that’s nearly 40 times more than trucking mangos from Spain. (Sources: CE Delft and Fresh Plaza)

🥭Sourcing mangos in Europe, when they’re in season, is clearly the more sustainable choice. But it also calls for a shift in mindset. Instead of expecting every fruit to be available every day of the year, what if we learned to enjoy them when nature offers them nearby?

🥭The mango season in Spain lasts only a few months — typically from August to October. Choosing European mangos is a way to reconnect with natural rhythms, reduce transport emissions, and give value to what’s grown closer to home.

14/08/2025

We were recently talking to apple farmer Sven from Biohof Bentelson about the persistent rains that have been affecting much of Germany over the past few weeks, but on top of this he has now sent us photos of his apples, which are currently suffering from sunburn due to the intense heat.

To protect his harvest, he rubs them with a china gum powder that reflects the sun. This mineral protection leaves behind whitish spots and small spots.

But despite protective measures, Sven currently estimates 10-20% damage.

The harvest is scheduled to begin in two weeks, and the weather forecast predicts even hotter days.