They grow at least 50 different vegetables and they are all sold at their market stall down the road and through vegetable subscriptions. “In the long run, we would like to have a real store. Permit is not the problem, but the cost is the problem,” says Astrid Platten. She is responsible for entrances and exits to the kiosk and part of the care branch. The moat that runs over the company is the border. I always say: In front of the trench I supervise clients, and behind the trench is joss terrain. Halfway is the canteen of the care farm, and we do it together.”
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Vegetable subscriptions
For now, it’s still relatively calm on the farm. Spring has already started, and veg subscriptions will start again at the end of this month. From then on, subscribers will get a weekly box containing five different vegetables plus a recipe. Astrid thinks it’s about herself or she’s getting something off the internet. “I always try it myself first.”
When Astrid became acquainted with Joss through the youth church choir, farm life was still unknown to her. “I imagined it was hard work, but I didn’t really think about it. I thought: I can see it.” She was still working as a nurse at the time. In 2014 she left her job. She became very heavy physically, because she has some limitations in her muscles and joints. She also suffered minor brain damage when the trunk lid unfortunately hit her head.
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On the farm, in consultation with her husband Gus, she can organize her time by herself and by taking care of herself, she does not bother much. You don’t have to deal with management in the evening. It takes so much focus that my head spins and I can’t sleep at night. That’s why I run during the day between companies and in the evening I fold the laundry. Then it’s okay. I’m by no means pathetic, there are people with much worse problems. Seize the day and have fun, that is my motto.”
The combination of entrepreneurship and motherhood
However, this is not always easy. Especially when the children were young, the combination of entrepreneurship and motherhood was very complicated. “I was always busy and when the kids came home from school with stories, I didn’t have time. How many times did I say, ‘Mom is busy.’ I felt so guilty about it. I thought: now I’m working at home and now I don’t have time for them yet. And it led Sometimes to crying fits. I still don’t always have time right away, but the kids are bigger and they can handle it better now. They think: OK, we’ll just wait.”
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Astrid doesn’t hide her concerns about these kinds of things. “I have a very nice friend with whom I talk a lot. Also cross her out as poems. This helps.” She doesn’t want to make her any bigger than she is. “Work is part of it and it gives off energy in a certain way. The busier you are, the faster you can process something. Maybe not today, but definitely tomorrow. Do I have time? New. Will I do that? Yes.” So she doesn’t view crowds as a problem, but she can’t divide herself in two. Last year, for example, her dad needed a lot of care. He eventually had to go to a nursing home and died in October. That was a difficult period. “When I was with him I thought about working at home and when I was at home I wanted to be with him. I felt torn.”
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Farm life offers so many beautiful things
Despite these kinds of struggles, farm life has a lot to offer Astrid. “To be honest, I don’t wrap myself around, especially during the day, but it’s okay. I’ve learned to be satisfied with the little things. A flying bird runs across the ground in the morning, the sun rises, the birds chirp. I enjoy this a lot. The importance of immaterial things increases. , which gives me energy. And the boys of course. I’m so proud of them. Last year we had friends over the weekend here on the farm. I was sick and couldn’t be there but our guests lacked anything The kids took care of everything So far, for this interview , they asked: What should happen in the store when you talk? We all do it together, we are a true family business. This life, I don’t want anything else. I am very happy.”
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