For 30 years, the farming couple has maintained an annual organic tradition, and you are invited.
Økologisk NuWhen Gitta and Bjørn Kjelgaard first held the Organic Harvest Market at Lille Østergaard near Brønderslev, smartphones had not yet been invented. Peter Schmeichel was still active on the Danish national team, and the American president was Bill Clinton. Today, smartphones are ubiquitous, Peter Schmeichel and his teammates have long since retired, and the US has had four different presidents since then. But Gitta and Bjørn Kjelgaard, who are 64 and 70 years old respectively, still hold the Organic Harvest Market. This year, they are even celebrating a milestone, inviting Danes onto the farm for the 30th time. "The fun part about starting 30 years ago is that the children who came then now come with their own children. It’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandparents all together passing by, and it’s quite life-affirming," says Bjørn Kjelgaard. Refusing to say no The Organic Harvest Market is an annual event organized by the Organic Association, where organic farmers across the country open their farms to Danes during the first weekend of September to celebrate the harvest and showcase what organic farming is all about. Bjørn Kjelgaard explains that it is a demanding event that requires extra work for several weeks beforehand, but he and his wife intend to continue until their health says stop. "We almost have to twist our arms," he says with a warm Jutland accent and laughs. "When a family with children says they enjoyed it and that they’ll see us next year, we just can’t bring ourselves to say no." Last year, Lille Østergaard welcomed 1,000 guests over the two days of the harvest market. There is a core group of visitors who return year after year, along with many new faces—some know a lot about organic farming, others know nothing, and here they get an insight into how to run an organic farm and have the opportunity to ask questions to the farmer couple. A versatile farm Bjørn and Gitta Kjelgaard have been running the farm since 1988, and it has since developed into a diverse organic farm with both animals and vegetable cultivation. On their approximately 13 hectares, they grow organic vegetables for their own use, for events in the farm’s bonfire hut, and as feed for the animals. The farm has pigs, cattle, and chickens, as well as a large greenhouse with tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Their main message with the harvest market is that you can grow vegetables and cook without too many additives, synthetic chemicals, and artificial fertilizers. They have nothing to hide, he emphasizes—nor how they care for their animals. "We don’t hide how we care for our pigs. We don’t wean them—they all stay outside in the field all year, so no one goes into the barn. We have pig shelters and a movable house for them, so the pigs actually participate in our crop rotation. They root around in the soil and defecate, fertilizing it and preparing it for cultivation afterward," explains Bjørn Kjelgaard. Part of Lille Østergaard, about 1,000 square meters, is also dedicated to flower cultivation, including edible flowers, which also provides more food for insects. "We had a couple of older ladies looking for some asparagus and other things, and then they looked at the flowers and exclaimed, ‘It’s incredible how many insects there are.’ That’s because we provide food for them. So, they are here," says Bjørn Kjelgaard, noting that the 1,000 square meters is probably a conservative estimate. Collaboration with Michelin restaurant The farm also collaborates with the green Michelin restaurant Alimentum in Aalborg, which grows its own vegetables on a part of the farm’s land. The nature around Lille Østergaard also plays a central role. Lakes, forests, and plantings help create a rich wildlife of animals and birds. Guests can explore via trail systems that lead to a large lake and shelters, offering opportunities for outdoor stays. For this year’s harvest market, guests can order meat from the farm’s ducks, geese, pigs, and cattle. There will also be a café offering coffee, tea, cake, and other treats. As always, there will be live music and various stalls from local producers. For children, there will be a straw play area, horse-drawn carriage rides, a large new sandbox, and pancakes cooked over an open fire. "We’re exhausted as hell on Sunday evening," says Bjørn Kjelgaard, continuing: "But it’s all worth it when we see that people have enjoyed themselves, and it’s been a good weekend." Lille Østergaard will be open both Saturday and Sunday, September 5-6. Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. The article was written as part of the project ‘Organic Harvest Market – Experience and Understand the Core Values of Organic Farming’.
When Gitta and Bjørn Kjelgaard first held the Organic Harvest Market at Lille Østergaard near Brønderslev, smartphones had not yet been invented. Peter Schmeichel was still active on the Danish national team, and the American president was Bill Clinton.
Today, smartphones are ubiquitous, Peter Schmeichel and his teammates have long since retired, and the USA has had four different presidents since then. But Gitta and Bjørn Kjelgaard, who are 64 and 70 years old respectively, still host the Organic Harvest Market. This year, they even celebrate a milestone, as they invite Danes onto the farm for the 30th time.
"The fun thing about starting 30 years ago is that the children who came then now come with their own children. It’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandparents all mingling together, which is quite life-affirming," says Bjørn Kjelgaard.
Not daring to say no
The Organic Harvest Market is the annual event of the Organic Association, where organic farmers across the country open their farms to Danes during the first weekend of September to celebrate the harvest and showcase what organic farming is all about.
Bjørn Kjelgaard explains that it is a demanding event that requires extra work for several weeks beforehand, but he and his wife intend to continue it until their health says stop.
"We almost have to twist our arms behind our backs," he says with a warm Jutland accent and laughs.
"When a family with children says it has been enjoyable and that they’ll see us next year, we just can’t bring ourselves to say no."
Last year, Lille Østergaard welcomed 1,000 guests over the two days of the harvest market. There is a core group of visitors who return year after year, and in addition, many new faces—some very knowledgeable, others with no knowledge of organic farming—and here they get an insight into how to run an organic farm and have the opportunity to ask questions to the farmer couple.
A versatile farm
Bjørn and Gitta Kjelgaard have been running the farm since 1988, and it has since developed into a versatile organic farm with both animals and vegetable cultivation.
On their approximately 13 hectares, they grow organic vegetables for their own use, for events in the farm’s campfire hut, and as feed for the animals. The farm has pigs, cattle, and chickens, as well as a large greenhouse with tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
Their main message with the harvest market is that you can grow vegetables and cook without too many additives, synthetic chemicals, and artificial fertilizers. They have nothing to hide here, he emphasizes—even not the way they care for their animals.
"We don’t hide how we care for our pigs. We don’t wean them—they all stay outside in the fields all year, so no one goes into the barn. We have pig shelters and a house for them that can be moved around, so the pigs actually participate in our crop rotation. They root around in the soil and poop, so the land is fertilized and ready for cultivation afterward," explains Bjørn Kjelgaard.
A part of Lille Østergaard, about 1,000 m2, is also dedicated to flower cultivation, including edible flowers, and at the same time, more food for insects.
"We had a couple of elderly ladies looking for some asters and other things, and then they looked at the flowers and exclaimed: 'It’s incredible with all the insects.' That’s because we provide food for them. So, they are here," says Bjørn Kjelgaard, noting that the 1,000 m2 is probably a conservative estimate.
Collaboration with Michelin restaurant
The farm also collaborates with the green Michelin restaurant Alimentum in Aalborg, which grows its own vegetables on a part of the farm’s land.
The nature around Lille Østergaard also plays a central role. Lakes, forests, and plantings help create a rich wildlife of animals and birds. Guests can explore via trail systems that lead to a large lake and shelters, offering opportunities for outdoor stays.
At this year’s harvest market, guests can order meat from the farm’s ducks and geese, pigs, and cattle. Additionally, there will be a café offering coffee, tea, cake, and other treats.
As always, there will be live music and various stalls from local producers. For children, there will be a straw play area, horse-drawn carriage rides, a large new sandbox, and pancakes over an open fire.
"We’re exhausted as hell on Sunday evening," says Bjørn Kjelgaard, and continues:
"But it’s all worth it when we see that people have enjoyed themselves, and it’s been a good weekend."
Lille Østergaard is open both Saturday and Sunday, September 5-6. Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
The article is written as part of the project 'Organic Harvest Market – Experience and Understand the Core Values of Organic Farming.'