Ooijs Moois picking garden just outside Nijmegen

The bicycle ride from Nijmegen to picking garden Ooijs Moois is already an experience in itself. It takes me past old farms, kilometres of meadows with a beautiful view of the river Waal. When I arrive by bike, Angeline is already waiting for me. Together with her husband Barton, she owns Ooijs Moois. A picking garden in the middle of the beautiful nature of the Ooijpolder just outside Nijmegen.

She greets me with a warm smile; I immediately like her. She explains that Ooise Moois is a real family business. Barton and Angeline's three daughters help out and you can also meet their nieces in the picking garden.

Angeline takes me towards the greenhouse with its blackberry and raspberry bushes. When I enter the greenhouse, I immediately feel the warm air on my skin. The fruits need warmth to grow well, Angeline explains. Inside, I also meet Barton, who is busy with other visitors, but immediately offers me a tray. I can fill this one myself with all the goodies hanging here.

The right-hand side is full of ripe raspberries. Hmm, I immediately think, that looks delicious! Together with Angeline, I walk into a row of raspberries and she shows me the best way to pick them. Three fingers around the raspberry and with the other hand you hold the twig. When the raspberry is ripe enough, it slides right off. And yes, less than a few seconds later I am standing with a raspberry in my hand. According to Angeline, I have to taste it first, because "of course you have to know what you are picking". I can tell you, it tasted delicious!

After this, Angeline takes me to the other greenhouse where there are even more blackberries and raspberries. A little further on, I also come across rows of different berries. In fact, at Ooijs Moois they also grow berries in all colours - red, white, blue and also green gooseberries. Yes, I think, because I do like blueberries.

While Angeline explains to me that berries have to be picked in a different way, around me plenty of other people are enjoying all the greenery, the delicious fruits and nature. Every now and then, a child passes by with a very reddish-blue face. He is clearly enjoying it too.

The picking garden also has a flower garden where you can pick your own field bouquet. As Angeline takes me along, I ask her how the picking garden actually came into being. Barton's father started a farm in this yard, which Barton later took over. In the beginning, blackberries and raspberries were picked for auction. After a holiday in England where they visited many 'pick your own' farms, Barton and Angeline became inspired and started their own picking garden at this beautiful spot just outside Nijmegen.

Arriving at the flower garden, Angeline hands me an adorable basket. I get to pick my own field bouquet. But first I am amazed by the beauty of this sea of flowers. So I take a seat on the bench to enjoy the view. Bees fly in and out, not only pollinating the flowers but also the fruits in the picking garden. This is why Angeline and Barton also work with a local beekeeper. The flower-picking garden is truly stunning and with the cornfield behind it, I imagine myself on holiday. What a lovely place to relax on this Saturday afternoon.

With my filled flower basket, I walk back towards Angeline and we take a seat at a picnic table in the play and relaxation meadow. Next to us, the two Alpacas, Rambo and Diego, are happily grazing. Curious and hummable, they look back for a moment and then go on undisturbed. Meanwhile, Angeline offers me a juice she has produced together with other local entrepreneurs. With no added sugars and thus really pure nature.

The fruits for the juices, jams and ciders of Ooijs Moois are picked by people with a distance to the labour market. In cooperation with care institution Pluryn, Ooijsmoois and the other local entrepreneurs offer these people the opportunity to participate in society. I like this concept. By the way, the juice tastes delicious. Especially after picking in the heat of the greenhouses, it is extra refreshing.

A little later, relaxed and satisfied, I say goodbye to Angeline and get on my bicycle. What an extraordinary company Angeline and Barton have established. The tray of home-picked fruit and the home-picked field bouquet for my mother are a nice bonus. I will definitely come back here again.

Halfway back, I make a stop at De Plak farm, where you can tap fresh cow's milk. I will make fresh yoghurt from this tonight. Then on Sunday I can still enjoy this day with homemade yoghurt and fruit picked by myself from Ooijs Moois. A perfect end to my weekend, I think, as I cycle back to Nijmegen past the old farms and kilometres of meadows.

Fancy even more foraging fun? Then be inspired by Honeyguide’s Alea Sophie, who recently wrote a blog about the most special foraging gardens in the Netherlands. Or learn from Femke what you can forage in the woods this autumn. Have you found something tasty? Then let us know via @honeyguide.nl/en

Love,
Susan