From Olympic focus to regenerative farming. After years of rowing for TeamNL, Dirk Uittenbogaard (Olympic gold medalist) and Kirsten Wielaard (European silver medalist) have traded gold medals for “green gold.” Their new mission: to regenerate land, restore biodiversity, and help ecosystems and communities flourish.
At De Braamsluiper, Dirk and Kirsten are creating a regenerative farm where healthy food, biodiversity, and community thrive together. Their approach combines agroforestry, soil regeneration, and local collaboration to restore vitality: both in the land and among the people who care for it.
By mimicking natural ecosystems (through syntropic and agroforestry principles), they cultivate vegetables, herbs, and fruits in living soil full of life and resilience. Every tree, shrub, and flower supports a larger web of pollinators, soil organisms, and human relationships: showing how farming can heal ecosystems and make communities flourish.
"We traded medals for meadows and found a new kind of victory."
Impact so far (2024):
🌱 2 hectares of farmland transitioned to regenerative management
🌾 Over 140 species integrated into a multi-layered agroforestry system
🐝 Expansion of pollinator habitats through native planting and flower corridors
🥕 Supplying fresh, pesticide-free produce to local families and restaurants
De Braamsluiper connects physical health with ecological health. As former top athletes, Dirk and Kirsten understand the link between balance, discipline, and vitality: in both the body and the land. By farming regeneratively, they demonstrate how restoring soil health can also restore human well-being and community resilience.
Their mission goes beyond food. Through workshops, open farm days, and education programs, they invite people to reconnect with nature, learn about regenerative methods, and experience the joy of working with the land.
Every purchase made through Terry helps De Braamsluiper expand their regenerative systems and inspire more farmers to transition to sustainable, biodiversity-based agriculture.
Example impact conversion:
💚 €10 funds the planting of new agroforestry rows
🌾 €25 supports soil regeneration through compost and cover crops
🌳 100 Terry users = enough to restore an entire new food forest section
By supporting De Braamsluiper through Terry, you help cultivate a new generation of regenerative farmers and landscapes across the Netherlands.
Every growing season at De Braamsluiper brings new lessons. What began as an empty piece of land is now transforming into a living classroom: for neighbors, students, and anyone curious about how nature heals when given the chance.
Workshops, volunteer days, and shared meals bring people together to plant, learn, and reconnect with the rhythms of the land. Visitors often describe it as a reminder that hope isn’t abstract: it grows, one seed and one season at a time.
Want to support the regenerative movement beyond your purchases?
🌱 Visit the farm: join one of De Braamsluiper’s open days or workshops to learn about soil regeneration and agroforestry in practice.
🤝 Volunteer: help plant trees, build habitat zones, or assist with the harvest while learning hands-on techniques.
📚 Share the story: tell friends and local communities about regenerative farming and why healthy soil matters.
💬 Engage locally: support food initiatives, CSA programs, or policy efforts that encourage regenerative practices in your region.
Every action, big or small, helps build the momentum for a more resilient food system and a thriving planet.
De Braamsluiper collaborates with local partners and knowledge networks such as Bodemzicht and Lenteland to apply and share regenerative farming practices. All donations via Terry directly fund on-site ecological restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and community education.
Support De Braamsluiper with Every Purchase
Join Terry and help De Braamsluiper grow a healthier, more resilient future: for people, food, and the planet. Every purchase you make contributes to restoring soil health, biodiversity, and balance between humans and nature.
