• measuring the soil conditions before cultivation begins
  • moisture is removed from the soil samples at 105 ºc
  • mineral matter remains after organic matter oxidization at 550 ºc
  • a datalogger was placed at both locations
  • sensors placed to measure soil moisture content and water potential
  • flax development two weeks after sowing
  • an abundance of worms at ekoboerderij de lingehof
  • young flax plants after four weeks of growth
  • cracks caused by the high shrink-swell capacity of the clay soil

grow with us: wur intern eveline nales

WUR International Land and Water Management student Eveline Nales carried out soil research for The Linen Project during the 2021 growing season. Her online logbook @grow_with_us_tlp documents her activities and observations related to flax cultivation at our locations at the Netherlands Open Air Museum and at Ekoboerderij de Lingehof as part of the Shared Stewardship community. A selection of heritage varieties cultivated at both locations allowed Eveline to investigate, amongst other things, the relationship between the flax development, the availability of water in the soil, and the organic matter content. According to Eveline, carrying out practical scientific research in and on the field, beyond the literature, was an invaluable part of the experience. All images courtesy of Eveline Nales.

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  • measuring the soil conditions before cultivation begins

    measuring the soil conditions before cultivation begins

  • moisture is removed from the soil samples at 105 ºc

    moisture is removed from the soil samples at 105 ºc

  • mineral matter remains after organic matter oxidization at 550 ºc

    mineral matter remains after organic matter oxidization at 550 ºc

  • a datalogger was placed at both locations

    a datalogger was placed at both locations

  • sensors placed to measure soil moisture content and water potential

    sensors placed to measure soil moisture content and water potential

  • flax development two weeks after sowing

    flax development two weeks after sowing

  • an abundance of worms at ekoboerderij de lingehof

    an abundance of worms at ekoboerderij de lingehof

  • young flax plants after four weeks of growth

    young flax plants after four weeks of growth

  • cracks caused by the high shrink-swell capacity of the clay soil

    cracks caused by the high shrink-swell capacity of the clay soil