Rooted in Care: How a Dutch Bioregion is Growing a Culture of Connection

In the South Veluwe bioregion of the Netherlands, a quiet transformation has been unfolding. It hasn’t come from policy papers or political podiums, but from the soil, the stories, and the shared meals of a community rediscovering its place in the world. This is the story of Wageningen’s journey through the SHARED GREEN DEAL experiment, a tale of farmers and food lovers, elders and youth, scientists and storytellers, all coming together to cultivate not just crops, but a culture of care.

The experiment, run by local partners Gemeente Wageningen, began with a deceptively simple aim: to strengthen the relationships between place, culture, and economy. But what emerged was far more than a checklist of activities. It became a layered process of reconnection, between people and land, between past and future, and among generations who had never before sat around the same table.

Janneke Bruil helped run the experiment for Gemeente Wageningen. “We soon realized that there is a huge need for connection between different levels of society, including between generations,” she reflected. “And there is equally a big need for connection between our society and our territories, and that food can play a connecting role.” 

Agroecology and activism

Wageningen is home to StreekWaar, a vibrant network of some forty agroecological producers who have long been tending to living soils and nourishing their communities. Under the SHARED GREEN DEAL umbrella, these pioneers were joined by a kaleidoscope of new faces: local residents, students, chefs, activists, policy-makers, and performers. They were invited not as experts, but as residents and human beings, each with a story to tell and a role to play.

Three assemblies marked the rhythm of this experiment: in September 2023, seventy people gathered at the Walled Garden CSA in Renkum, to distill the essence of their bioregion: its qualities, its challenges, and its untapped potential. 

First assembly at the Walled Garden CSA in Renkum (September 2023)

In February 2024, the gathering moved to Remeker Biodynamic Dairy Farm, where participants journeyed through 7,000 years of history. They were guided by a twelfth-generation farmer and a theatre performance that gave voice to the spirit of the land. Around a fire, regional paella was served, and intentions for the future were set like seeds in spring soil. By May 2024, the community convened at Hooilanden Organic Farm and Lichtveen Market Garden, rolling up their sleeves to develop concrete collaborations rooted in an “economy of care” that values resilience, reciprocity, and regeneration.

The experiment didn’t just plant ideas, it harvested real change. Six action plans emerged, each with its own working group. These included the creation of a territorial food cooperative for regional processing, a territorial fund linked to a local currency, and initiatives to build resilience through food, resources, and wellbeing. Nature and food education were prioritised to deepen ecoliteracy, while artistic expression, storytelling, and ceremony were embraced as tools to foster a culture of care. Communication channels were established to keep the community connected and informed.

Not just administrative outcomes

These weren’t just administrative outcomes, they were the bones of a living, breathing movement. Over fifty organisations have joined the informal coalition, and the ripples are reaching far beyond Wageningen. Invitations to share the story through workshops, podcasts, and festivals have begun to flow in, affirming the resonance of this work.

What makes this story so compelling isn’t just the outcomes, it’s the people. Young adults, initially hesitant, were given space to shine. In the third assembly, they were celebrated for their energy and fresh perspectives. Now, they are stepping forward, eager to shape the future. Older folk, too, found new purpose. One poignant moment came when older participants offered their time and money to keep the process alive beyond the project’s end. Their gesture was more than generous, it was a declaration of faith in the next generation.

And then there were the migrants, whose stories added spice and depth to the collective stew. Their perspectives on care and reciprocity enriched the dialogue, reminding everyone that this land has always been a place of exchange. The experiment revealed something profound: people are hungry for belonging. Many feel disconnected from the places they live, adrift in a sea of bureaucracy and asphalt. But through storytelling, ceremony, and shared meals, the Wageningen team helped residents feel rooted again.

Second assembly at Remeker Biodynamic Dairy Farm (February 2024)

Learning at the table 

One participant described how the storytelling circle in the first assembly allowed them to see their own journey reflected in others. Another spoke of how the theatre performance helped them imagine a future where humans and nature are not adversaries, but allies. Even the land itself became a teacher. When questions arose about the bioregion’s boundaries, a deep dive into historical water flows revealed that peat harvesting had altered the streams. This revelation helped participants understand that their territory is not just a map, it’s a living story.

Of course, not everything was smooth sailing. Daytime assemblies excluded some working participants, a lesson learned and corrected by the third gathering. And the concept of a bioregion based on ecosystems rather than administrative border was initially hard to grasp. But these bumps were met with curiosity, not resistance. The team’s use of creative methods like storytelling circles, theatre, poetry, and food allowed for multiple ways of expression, ensuring that every voice could be heard.

“The storytelling in the first assembly allowed us to listen to six very personal but different accounts of people who are now rooted in our bioregion,” recalls Janneke, “and to reflect on the connections between them and between us and them and between us all and our place… (it) was a beautiful way for people to expand their minds and learn from the past to look into the future.”

Third assembly at Hooilanden Organic Farm and Lichtveen Market Garden (May 2024)

The seeds planted in Wageningen are already sprouting. Working groups are active, elders are investing, and institutions are integrating the experiment’s proposals into their own work. A video production with the Bioregional Weaving Labs Collective, a festival with the Agroecology Network and the regional movement Stroomgebied Zuid-Veluwe are just some examples of how the story continues. The transition team is committed to keeping the momentum going, and new funding has been secured to support the next chapter.

If you’re thinking of running a similar experiment, the Wageningen team has some valuable advice. Learn from your deep past to understand your future. Build a coalition of the willing before engaging opposing views. Break bread together, don’t be afraid of ceremony, and build relationships of trust and understanding. In other words: start with the heart, and the rest will follow.