De Moestuinman

Name: Simon

Age: 33

Hometown: Heerlen

Profession: Vegetable gardener 

Passion: Nature, football and travelling

Instagram: @demoestuinman

Website: www.demoestuinman.nl

LinkedIn: Simon 

1. First of all, how are you?!

Very very busy, which is good, but on the other hand I have to be a bit careful to be working 24/7. It’s a bit of a dilemma because it means people are interested in gardening and nature and one of my passions is to help people embracing those things. But I could use a clone 😉

2. Why did you start De Moestuinman?

Because gardening was really therapeutic for me. I started with some broccoli seeds and immediately got ‘addicted.’ I might be the best proof that gardening and nature can be very therapeutic and mindful. I came from a burnout kind of situation and I loved seeing the direct results of sowing, taking care of plants and growing my own food. I saw a documentary about school gardens and was totally inspired. ‘This is what I want to do’ I thought and so it all started. I want children to embrace nature and realise that our food doesn’t grow in the supermarket! 

I started with some broccoli seeds an immediately got addicted

3. What inspires you most?

I get inspired so often, haha. But it all began with the documentary ‘De schooltuinen.’ Also David Attenborough is a great inspiration in the way he looks at our world. Those are the two things came directly to mind regarding to this topic.

4. What is the thing you are most proud of?

Sometimes I’m laughing about it. I started from really nothing: an instagram account as a joke.  Now, within a year,  I need another me. I’ve never worked so hard in my life and I can inspire people to make the world a more beautiful, greener and healthier place. I dare to say that I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in such a short time.

5. What is your favourite place and what can we find there?

Oh wow, I know so may great places, but if I have to choose: I worked in Costa Rica as a volunteer. Every weekend we would do trips to the beach or the rainforest. I got so fascinated with plants and animals there. As well as the vibe. Tico’s say: ‘pura vida’, which means something like: ‘enjoy life to the max’. I have so many good memories there.

6. What’s on your bucket list?

I really like ELHO for their recycled materials and designs and Patagonia as they invest a lot of money back in sustainable projects. I started with some Moestuinman merch for fun. Materials were bio cotton and recycled polyester. The ugly truth is that people first tell you they want bio and then mostly don’t want to pay a bit more for it. I hope that will change eventually.

9. What is your favourite plant?

Broccoli! It all started with broccoli seeds plus I have the same haircut. And regarding houseplants the Musa dwarf. I grew my own bananas from it!

10. What would you do with 1 million euro?

Buying that farmland I was talking about!

11. What made you laugh really hard this past week?

Jokes that I won’t type here 😉  The comments by kids that I teach. There’s always something to laugh about every day!

12. Instagram account(s) we should follow?

For Dutchies who want to know everything about vegetable gardening I’d say @moestuin.advies and I love @wendy.dehaan ’s pictures!

13. Do you have a nice hotspot for us we should visit?

I would love to welcome you in Heerlen, where I’m working on a rooftop park on a parking lot, opening in May/June.

Thanks Simon!