Op Beemster Klei &   GreenBalanz

Op Beemster Klei was founded in 2016 by Julian Langelaan, an enthusiastic young grower who has found his passion for growing organic flowers. After his study in Horticulture & Agribusiness in Delft, Julian got the chance to lease a plot of land from Jan Knook, who owned a nursery that had been growing organically for almost 15 years. In addition to Peonies, Sunflowers, Alchemilla, Anethum and Saponaria, 30 other summer flowers were also grown there.

During his studies Julian did internships with various flower growers, including an Amaryllis nursery in Bleiswijk. This nursery offered him a vacant plot to ‘practice’ floriculture. When a big lice infestation appeared in his crop, he had to make a choice between "fighting or letting it go". He chose the latter, and he was pleasantly surprised that besides the lice, a lot of ladybugs appeared on his crop as well as other “good “insects that would eat up the “bad “insects. For Julian, this was proof that fighting is not always necessary as nature has its own special way to a balance its creations. When he realized that, his passion for organic farming was born.

In the 3rd year of his education, Julian started his internship at Jan Knook in the organic garden. For half a year he practiced growing organic flowers, after which he decided to take over the garden from Jan Knook. Julian has now been cultivating the garden for two years and he continues to try new things. Now there is a nice, fresh assortment in his garden which complements the organic assortment of the current market.

What is the next challenge? Julian is aiming for a garden with a resilient soil that maintains its natural balance in which plants can grow into healthy, strong plants. This challenge is of course supported by his organic cultivation. The lice no longer get the chance to develop into a plague. Julian’s goal is to support the organic cut flower industry thereby making the floriculture sector greener.

Since 2014, GreenBalanZ has been growing organic Phalaenopsis. This makes this Phalaenopsis grower from Kudelstaart unique. To arrive at the right organic cultivation method, it took almost 5 years. In the end, the cultivation was certified with the European organic quality mark. The entire range of GreenBalanZ is divided into two lines; Pure bio. & Pure green and they are grown in two different locations. Owner Lennard van der Weijden is constantly looking for sustainability and was looking for the challenge in organic cultivation. "Together we are responsible for our future and it may be clear that organic crop protection benefits this." In the autumn of 2017, GreenBalanZ was awarded the Greenovation Award from Royal FloraHolland. This is for the innovative role that the company fulfills in making the sector more sustainable.

Only organic fertilizers and biological crop protection products are used in organic cultivation. Employees wear special protective clothing to prevent illness. The total concept conveys the biological origin. For example, the plastic pegs have been replaced by a recyclable paper version and untreated white poles are used. The next challenge is to replace the plastic pot with a biodegradable pot. "Because of the duration of the cultivation, which is 2 years, this is not an easy task," says Lennard van der Weijden.

The Pure green range has the MPS A + status and is Product Proof certified. Here too, are only biological crop protection products are used. The only difference with organic cultivation is that here non-organic fertilizers are used which, incidentally, are completely reused by the closed water system. For the heating of the greenhouse, use is largely made of the 'greenhouse without gas' method. In short, this means that excess summer heat is stored to be able to heat the greenhouse in the winter.

In short; the GreenBalanZ orchids are 100% green in our opinion!