Soil, Gut and Brain are all connected... and that’s where we get things moving. Starting at the very foundation: the soil!
The ground beneath our feet and the beds of our waterways are about to be stirred into action. Wheelbarrows, boats and walking insects will get Leeuwarden moving from the ground up. Leading the way will be an enormous cow with a wheelbarrow stage. Everyone is welcome to join the parade!
On 18 September, Leeuwarden will host a major Grûn Beweecht event, bringing together schools, healthcare organisations, cultural organisations and local residents. Together, we will set the grûn – Frisian for ‘ground’ or ‘soil’ – in motion, both literally and figuratively.
Grûn Beweecht is about the living soil beneath our feet and our own roots. Grûn is more than just earth: it is the basis of our existence. The foundation on which we walk, live and grow. Healthy soil is teeming with life. A handful of fertile soil contains as many microorganisms as there are people on Earth. This soil life supports fertility, biodiversity, water retention and healthy crops. We want to help natural cycles recover more quickly.
Grûn is also about our own roots: where we come from, how we nourish ourselves and how we can put down new roots when life changes. By understanding how roots work – both in the soil and within ourselves – we create space for recovery, growth and a healthier relationship with the world around us.
So, what’s happening?
From 16 to 18 September, we’ll be sailing through Friesland to collect soil.
18 September, 9:45am: boats and wheelbarrows arrive
18 September, 10:00am: parade through Leeuwarden begins. The parade starts in the Prinsentuin near Vrouwenpoortsbrug. Everyone is welcome to join in. Bring your wheelbarrow or a large homemade insect, worm, mole or other creature that lives in the soil.
