Common land for cohousing and agriculture

Agricultural enterprise on the Hombeeks Plateau

The Hombeeks Plateau is an area of 2,000 hectares of farmland around Mechelen. Today, the non-profit organisation De Scherpen Horinck owns 8 hectares of it and leases another 8 hectares. But they would like to expand their sustainable dreams and include agricultural land that becomes vacant in their plans, growing to a size of about 30 hectares.

1. Agricultural cohousing project

The first step in making that area sustainable is a cohousing concept with agricultural coworking space. The main purpose of that new concept is to allow talents to work together there, share investments, create low living costs and set up circular flows. In short: a renewed model of agricultural integration and short chain.

2. Shared farmland

The second key project is the launch of a 'common land trust', say community land. The beauty of this concept is that the land remains the property of the company and is only made available to farmers who engage in sustainable and inclusive agriculture. Thus, shared farmland becomes better farmland.

3. Stakeholder model

Besides agricultural cohousing, pilot projects for the common land trust, the project also wants to work on a stakeholder model for the Hombeek Plateau. This will be an organisation where all partners work towards a future Hombeek Plateau. In the first place, it will be about the role of agriculture, broader agricultural initiatives, interwoven nature, habitation that fits into the landscape ... The residents of the compacted city and village centres will also be involved. Because they too want to have their say about the open space area, where they want to walk, cycle, ride horses or just stay.