Dear ,

🇳🇱 Deze nieuwsbrief liever in het Nederlands ontvangen? Laat het ons weten!

While writing this newsletter the mountains around the farm are blanketed in a thick layer of snow. It brings a stillness that sends us walking over the land to discover its magic all over again; then returning indoors to tend fires and make endless mugs of tea and hot chocolate. We feel gratitude for fire and the release of the sun's energy that allows us to be warm on these cold dark days! 

Celebrating the Winter solstice has a special place in our hearts, especially since moving to Terranu! The natural world slows, the nights lengthen and our daily rhythms change. Animals are tended to before the dark to keep them safe from wandering foxes and more hours are spent around the fire, dreaming, planning and of course playing games. This time in the wheel of the year invites us into stillness, listening and integration from the last sun cycle. To settle into deep rest. We hope that wherever you are, and however you celebrate this point in the year, that you have found a moment to connect to the wild rhythms of stillness. 

In this newsletter:

• An investment opportunity
• Winter on the Farm
• Looking ahead

Join Us in Securing Terranu

We believe in creating a future where nature thrives, and we’d love for you to be part of this journey. Traditional bank loans, with their focus on commercial land use and high-interest rates, don’t align with our dream of stewarding nature and building an agroforestry farm.  

Instead, we're inviting private investors to lend €2,500–€25,000 for 10 years, directly supporting our vision.  

Progress:

• Achieved: €105,000 raised from seven investors (45% of our goal).  
• Need: €125,000 more by June 1st to secure the farm and replace bridge loans.  

We offer a 3% annual interest—grow your money while fostering regeneration.  

Interested? Learn more at www.terranu.ie/invest or share this with someone who might be!  

Winter Work on the Farm

Winter is a time of care, preparation & planning. As the land rests, we have been sifting through the piles of paperwork, planning for the season ahead and caring for the fruit trees. Before the cold snap we had some lovely mild days which we spent weeding and mulching the fruit trees together with the help of family. What a satisfying job!! Especially at this time of year when the rows are not immediately consumed with luscious grass within a week! Now we are focusing on the aronia rows, mulching them for one more year with sheeps wool & wood chips, reducing weed pressure and nourishing and protecting the soil.

During our quiet winter rest days a spontaneous exploration/adventure to the lower forest on the farm led to the beginning of a forest trail. What a thrill to uncover native trees, hanging onto gulley edges, and to free them from encroaching rhododendrons! Now, almost on a weekly basis we are walking the edges of the spruce plantation, lengthening the trail and carefully clearing rhododendrons while observing how we can best steward this wilder part of the land.

Meanwhile, the garden is taking a well-earned rest, giving us time to dream and plan for the growing season to come. Winter may seem quiet, but it’s a time of quiet action and forward planning!

Looking ahead

As we move into the 2025 season we are busy preparing several projects that we are excited to share more about soon. We are in the middle of finalizing the planting of a few hundred more trees, both fruit trees and native hedgerows. We have also joined a local community group that aims to manage invasive species in the Knockmealdown mountains, and is busy with a 20 year plan for this valley.

For now we will leave you in anticipation 😉

With misty greetings from the mountains,

Nakyta and Pieter