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A bit of background


Grotere kaart weergeven

The present whereabouts of the Den Diepen Boomgaard organic farm used to be the location of a sandstone quarry. As a result of the land clearance activities the site became deeper and this led to the creation of Den Diepen Boomgaard. The oldest centre of our farm possibly dates back to the 17th century. The 18th century Ferraris map shows a U-shaped farm with stand-alone buildings, a pothole and an orchard most of which was fringed with hedges.

Boomgaard becomes a social project
At the initiative of the Grimbergen public social welfare centre and the Mental Healthcare Department, it was first of all decided to set up a training workshop in Den Diepen Boomgaard, where the employees were offered tailor-made job opportunities in the bakery, the garden and the shop. They learned to work together and shoulder responsibilities. The small-scale project gradually became a fully-fledged sheltered workshop specialising in organically-grown vegetables and food production. Accreditation and financial support was granted to Den Diepen Boomgaard in 1999, pursuant to a decision by the Flemish Ministry of Employment.
The Den Diepen Boomgaard's current activities provide opportunities for 20 or so permanent staff, together with a social integration project involving 12 or so people and employment for recipients of a social integration income (eight or so people qualifying for article 60 status).

What the future holds in store
Den Diepen Boomgaard is poised to launch a set of sorely-needed high-impact infrastructure projects. The work is scheduled to be carried out in four stages, when we will tackle the shed, the dwelling house, the transverse shed and the logistical facilities one after another. The estate's landscape will also be restored in cooperation with the regionaal landschap De Groene Corridor. When the work is finished, Den Diepen Boomgaard will be acknowledged as an area recognised for its scenic value, with skilfully restored functional buildings that are ready to face up to the 21st century.