Last year , we bulge out our serial publication ' Andere Tuinbouwtijden ' featuring industry veterans . Many a seasoned worker reminisced on times long gone , and most are still very fighting , even after their retreat . Marten Barel is one of them , and after read all his colleagues ' stories , he have it off he has even older stories . " I ’m simply even older than them . I ’ve seen Henk Vrijland carpenting windowpane frames in the shed at my father ’s brother ’s glasshouse . "
At HortiContact , Marten sat down in a quiet corner and told the tale below .
Photo flop : Marten at IFTEX 2015
Raspberry jamMarten was born in 1934 in Ginneken , which is the ' hemangioma simplex area ' of the Netherlands , as the son of a grower . " My forefather cultivated all form of things , but strawberries and hiss were the principal crop . harvest auspices hardly exist , and what minuscule there was , was very expensive . "
As soon as the harvest was in , Hero came along , a kettle of fish manufacturer with their own manufacturing plant . They pick up Marten ’s begetter ’s raspberries . " Because of the cobblestone street , that was n’t without a fair amount of shake . Because of all the shaking the worms came up , and were skimmed off of the raspberries . After I saw that as a kid , I did n’t eat Bronx cheer crush for years " , laughs Marten upon thinking back .
Carpenting window framesIt ’s a minuscule detail in a long life story , but later on it becomes vindicated that it has been of gravid value in Marten ’s calling . In his teen years , Marten ’s father was purchase out , and with that Marten ’s program to take over his father ’s society - he ' had to become a grower ' - give way . " I start working at the company of my father ’s brother . He had a troupe in ’s - Gravenzande , where they used to cultivate flowers . "
Photo : Marten at HortiContact 2020
We ’re now at the ending of the forties , early 1950s . Marten go to horticultural middle schoolhouse , back then the only one in the Netherlands . When he was n’t at schooltime , he helped at his uncle ’s company . " Harvesting lettuce , for instance . To make some money , too . "
At that time , Marten see Henk Vrijland , who would later become a greenhouse builder , carpenting window frames in the shed . " Frames for slack single windows for the greenhouse roof . That became outdated quick . "
Early version of ‘ turnkey ’ greenhouse buildingThat same Henk later on became known for Voskamp & Vrijland , the greenhouse building party that we ’ve experience in many a story about the horticultural yesteryear ( of the Westland ) . " Henk was the detergent builder , Voskamp was the administrator " , tell Marten . " And Boers get in there to make concrete greenhouse foundations , while De Bruin installed Bruna boilers , and Cor Brinkman who descend by on his bike to install rain pipage . "
All matter conceive , Voskamp & Vrijland did ' turnkey ' , Marten looks back . " Together with Brinkman and Van der Hoeven , they laid the foundation for the immense development that gardening has see since then . By the manner , they were all especial guys , especially for me , coming from the state of North Brabant , because there was ( and still is ) a cultural difference . "
Electronical timing for ice skatingIn winter , the cultivator did n’t have much to do . So there was a band of ice skating in those yr , and Marten participated as well . " In 1956 I skated the Elfstedentocht , more without than with glove , despite temperature being below zero . I found those small cord that held the gloves during skate so annoying , that I thought I could do without them . That was n’t the best musical theme , but I did succeed in my mission : fill in the tour . "
Photo right : Marten in 2016 . " Next to work , golfing is my hobby , but unfortunately I do n’t have the time for it . "
Marten kept sparkler skating , he even formulate the electronical timing that nowadays ensures an precise clip , on television as well . " I did that together with a friend who wreak in the lab at Philips . "
He also participated in international ice skating tournaments and even in ' Ter land ter izzard en in de lucht ' , a renowned Dutch TV show in which contestant did all kind of crazy stunt to reach the gong as fast as potential .
InstructorBut , we ’re getting off cartroad . Also in the 1950s , Marten took his first steps in the field of view he ’s still in today , soil decontamination . " I started with Geert Persoon . He had a decontamination company . I learned everything from him , and could n’t have wished for a better teacher . "
After tagging along for a few age Marten pay off - " yes , getting , really , for free " - the Limburg / Eastern Brabant sales region from Geert . " That was a courteous motion . We continued to work together , for illustration aid each other out when it was really busy in Geert ’s Westland or my Brabant or Limburg . "
Abrupt banUp until 1982 , most of the soil was decontaminated with methyl banality . " That was very vulgar back then . " The electronical timing is of import here , too . " The dosing of methyl bromide had to be done very cautiously , just like the timing . The container with the methyl bromide was attached to a data processor , and it was important that the dosage was not too low . That often went untimely . "
In 1982 , the Netherlands was the first rural area to ban the manipulation of methyl commonplace . " Out of the blue in reality , very abrupt . It was decided between Christmas and New Year ’s Eve , I was in Norway for the ice skating when my married woman shout out me . It was very disconnected and demanded an alteration of the way we used to decontaminate the grease . "
Steaming grow mediumA first choice was the steaming of the growing medium , i.e. steam rockwool . " Back then , a grower would go one class with rockwool , and then throw it out . By steaming rockwool , it could last up to three long time . A fun fact is that the crop would even grow well on rockwool that was a year old , because often some nutrients would stay in the substrate , from which the plant turn a profit . "
In those years , after the ban in 1982 , Marten steam 3 hectare of rockwool substrate per Clarence Day . " That was very flying , and particularly between November and February , I ’d be steam 6 days a week , 24 time of day a day , so to say . The pallets of substrate nonplus into the steaming cell , in which I got everything disease free with 180 degree Celsius steam . I had a patent on that system , and later on I sold quite a few of those installation . "
SuckingIn the meanwhile , the developments in rockwool substrate did n’t stand still . The substratum got lighter , which mean that steaming was n’t possible anymore . " The substrate was made so light , that it burst after steaming , interrupting the whole body of water direction . "
prison term for a new innovation . make by German commotion , where they identify that too much bromine was in the lettuce , Marten ' thought to be smart ' . " I started seek to suck methyl platitude out of the ground via drainage . At first , things only got worse " , Marten express mirth , believe back of that first try .
System goes internationalBut Marten did not give up . " I find that there were quite with child soil currents , and the estimation come up to suck steam into the ground . That way , we could all of a sudden steam up to 60 centimeters cryptical , with the same energy exercise as steam 30 centimeters with tarpaulins . Moreover , that last fashion did not even kill all land diseases .
The Dutch government saw that too , and set up up a assignment . " In chrysanthemum , for representative , in a short while ninety pct of all grower used our system . Later on that system of rules , with patent , was bought by colleagues . The organization is internationally still often installed , " says Marten proudly .
‘ What does it cost?’Marten never actually quit , although his Logos Cas is now also involved in the company . " I still mould and still install initiation , just last twelvemonth in Ethiopia for Florensis . "
A listing of all continents and countries where Marten set up system of rules is what follows in his story . " Asia , with the Philippines and Japan , Australia , Africa with Kenya , Uganda and South Africa , the United States , and soon will be shipped to Ecuador . Actually it ’s just the Netherlands where there ’s not many installation , because here people first ask what it cost , and not how it work , in my experience . "
develop countriesThat Marten learn so many country , was also because he helped develop land - " my area was Africa and Middle and South America " - with phasing out methyl platitude . " I did that ten years when the United Nations asked me to , after the Montreal communications protocol . "
Later on a role as proficient advisor for the UN followed , in a citizens committee that made decision about product valuation reserve . " A rather authoritative social function , in which there was quite some treatment among each other , particularly about US applications , where the UN regulations were n’t always perfectly followed . "
Plant saunaClearly , Marten did not sit still in his life , and he still does n’t . This outflow , in collaboration with several other international company , a fresh arrangement will enroll the market . A plant life sweat room that is run to see that strawberry and if possible also other flora can be treated in an environmentally safe way before transplanting . " With steam again , of course " , smiles Marten . " It help with for instance spider mites , fusarium and multiple fungi . "
Made his contributionMarten is proud , and justifiedly so . At HortiContact , he thoroughly enjoy pick up the people he knows and telling about his recent innovation . " Innovating is done base on experience . I still just really wish it . Where the men from the Westland helped the horticultural development in the Netherlands and around the man , I like to think I made my contribution to that as well . "
This was part 12 in the series ' Andere Tuinbouwtijden ' . A series in which a grouping of ' seasoned workers in the theater ' look back at times long gone . And in which we attend at what their body of work did for the current horticultural industry . Tips for the serial are more than welcome and can be mailed to[email protected ]
Part 1 : Piet Bom -Will your next greenhouse be made of Fiberglass?Part 2 : Henry van der Lans -We slept in the same little hotel … Part 3 : Rob Grootscholten – 42 years of greenhouse construction … Part 4 : Peter Stuyt – As a Dutch American , I like to combine … Part 5 : Leo Alsemgeest -Bit by bit a step backPart 6 : Harry Dullemans – Never say you are not there … Part 7 : Kees de Groot -We must make something unlike than … Part 8 : Leo Alleblas – The urge for adventure is in our bloodPart 9 : Carel Zwinkels -“A cultivator take to keep on develop in lodge to continue afloat in this market”Part 10 : Willem van Dorssen -“Willem , watch out for your shiny shoes!“Part 11 : Cees and Leo van der Lans -“If you want to do everything yourself , you will get nowhere "
For more information : Marten Barel BVwww.marten-barel-consultancy.com
Marten Barel[email protected]+31(0)654988666
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