About

In 2023, Wilhelmina and myself decided to become natural farmers. Wilhelmina loved gardening and cooking and we were inspired by the work of the farmer and philosopher, Masanobu Fukuoka. I bought his book The One-Straw Revolution in Hackney a long time ago but never read it. Our daughter did, and she soon discovered that a natural farm had been created by Kutluhan Ozdemir not so far from us, also inspired by Fukuoka. Mother and daughter went to visit and it became clear that natural farming was something we should try. Wilhelmina and I were both 68 and both felt we could contribute something to the world by becoming natural gardeners. So we created four little gardens based on the methods of Kutluhan and Ruth Stout.

In 2024, we had our first successful harvest and started to work on the third year. Then disaster struck: Wilhelmina fell ill after the summer and passed away in February 2025. Of course, she was the brain and I the work horse. This meant that not only was I left with a big loss, but also with four small gardens. Fortunately, our daughter is gifted with her mother’s talents and together we have continued the natural gardening. 

My knowledge of gardening and cooking is very limited, but I have decided to learn what I can by doing. When I made my first film in 1981, I did not have a clue, but little by little I got the hang of it. I study as much as possible and have found the works of Wendell Berry and Michael Pollan to be especially inspirational. And there is the extra motivation to create and care for the Calcinato farm in loving memory of my dear wife Wilhelmina Rasenberg.

Cornelis Kasander, or Cornelius as they call me here.