I am a Japanese woman who is married with a Dutch man. My husband is a veterinarian. We have a holistic veterinary practice in Valkenburg, Holland. We have a daughter, five horses, two dogs, three cats. Our horses live on 4.5 ha pasture in Valkenburg.

We would like to start with 1.5 ha to work with the principles of permaculture

Because it is not allowed to build in Valkenburg, we want to make a move-able chicken house, to ‘ graze’ behind the horses. Our horses eat french herbal hay, organic pin and we also give them different kind of herbs and natural supplements (organic minerals/trace elements based on analysis of the grass/hay). We never give them chemical medications. With their dung and hay offal we make compost. People growing their vegetables on our compost are excited about the size and quality of the products.

Our plan is to have 4 horses and (20) laying hens (and maybe 2 cows). The horses are used for equitherapy, children riding lessons and adult outdoor riding. The hens produce eggs and meat and produce phosphorous rich dung (our soil is deficient in phosphorous). The cows are used for milk/meat and eat the grass, that horses don’t like. By rotating the animals they eat each others parasites.

The soil is of good quality, with rich soil-life. It hasn’t been fertilized artificially for at least 10 years. Also no chemicals had been used and it is situated near a natural forest and nature reserve.

The supplement the animals get (organic minerals/trace elements) will enhance their health (we have experienced that with our horses already) to such an extend that no medication will be necessary. Also in their droppings the soil deficiencies will be corrected, because the supplement is based on the grass that grows and the grass analysis mirrors the soil composition. Our aim is to be non dependent on external input. The energy used for watering the animals/plants, light, showering etc will be derived from solar power.

We want to combine a ‘ paddock paradise’ system with natural vegetation and permaculture. The horse will have ‘a track’ from which different area’s can be grazed. The goal here is to build sufficient organic matter the minimize grazing damage in the winter.

Alongside the the track, area’s with herbs and flowers that attract insects will be made. These area's are fenced out.

In spaces with sufficient light we want to grow our permacultural crops.