About us
In September 2007 we moved from the Netherlands to the beautiful Canadian Okanagan. Other than our predecessors - most Dutch people who moved to Canada in the 50's did so for economic reasons - we moved to Canada for a change of life, for an adventure. Pretty spoiled eh!
We had been visiting British Columbia a few times before and already after our first visit we fell in love with the country. We decided to start the long process of emigration. After 2 years we received our work permit and later on our permanent resident card.
Life wasn't easy during the first years. We didn't know many people, we tried hard to adjust to the Canadian culture and had to get by with less income. This situation forced us to be creative and rely on each other. It brought us closer together and made our lives so much richer!
Instead of going on a holiday 2 times a year we spent our days off on hiking, biking, skiing and so much more. To provide ourselves with cheaper, and moreover cleaner food, we started a vegetable garden, started beekeeping and got ourselves 4 chickens. What a life! We are so much happier now and we're so glad we choose for this change of life!
We had been visiting British Columbia a few times before and already after our first visit we fell in love with the country. We decided to start the long process of emigration. After 2 years we received our work permit and later on our permanent resident card.
Life wasn't easy during the first years. We didn't know many people, we tried hard to adjust to the Canadian culture and had to get by with less income. This situation forced us to be creative and rely on each other. It brought us closer together and made our lives so much richer!
Instead of going on a holiday 2 times a year we spent our days off on hiking, biking, skiing and so much more. To provide ourselves with cheaper, and moreover cleaner food, we started a vegetable garden, started beekeeping and got ourselves 4 chickens. What a life! We are so much happier now and we're so glad we choose for this change of life!
I am Marij,
My roots are in the south of the Netherlands in a small town called Boekel. My nursing job brought me to Arnhem and there I met Arnold. The city lifestyle suited me. I loved the vibe. When Arnold suggested to move to Canada, I wasn't so sure. I loved my life, so why change it.
It proved to be my best change ever. I reinvented myself. Designer clothes made place for second hand. Culture made place for nature. And I was able to expand my passion for food. Besides cooking, we started a vegetable garden and a flower and a herb garden. Also my passion for foraging edible mushrooms was brought to another level.
My specialty is the savoury part of the business: energy bites, tahini squares and sometimes soups. During the past few years I've practiced a lot making stroopwafels (syrup waffles). I even visited stroopwafel bakers in the Netherlands and filched some of their secret procedures! Now that I have adjusted the recipe to my own liking, and even experimented with honey and maple syrup, I'm quit satisfied about the result!
Although I always loved to work as a nurse, the kitchen is my passion. I enjoy bringing our business business to a higher level by doing what I love to do most, with the man of my life!
My roots are in the south of the Netherlands in a small town called Boekel. My nursing job brought me to Arnhem and there I met Arnold. The city lifestyle suited me. I loved the vibe. When Arnold suggested to move to Canada, I wasn't so sure. I loved my life, so why change it.
It proved to be my best change ever. I reinvented myself. Designer clothes made place for second hand. Culture made place for nature. And I was able to expand my passion for food. Besides cooking, we started a vegetable garden and a flower and a herb garden. Also my passion for foraging edible mushrooms was brought to another level.
My specialty is the savoury part of the business: energy bites, tahini squares and sometimes soups. During the past few years I've practiced a lot making stroopwafels (syrup waffles). I even visited stroopwafel bakers in the Netherlands and filched some of their secret procedures! Now that I have adjusted the recipe to my own liking, and even experimented with honey and maple syrup, I'm quit satisfied about the result!
Although I always loved to work as a nurse, the kitchen is my passion. I enjoy bringing our business business to a higher level by doing what I love to do most, with the man of my life!
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I am Arnold,
Some 60 years ago I was born in Roelofarendsveen, a small town near the Dutch capital of Amsterdam and the city of Leiden. After having completed trainings to become a nurse and later on a social worker and counsellor, I decided to move to a city in the east of the country called Arnhem where I met my wonderful wife. After having had the privilege to visit British Columbia a few times I started to dream about what it would be like to live in the beautiful Okanagan. Luckily, after some persuading, Marij felt the same. Being a sweet tooth, at one point I started missing the Dutch cookies, especially the gevulde koeken (almond paste filled cookies). I figured I might as well try to make them myself. After having tried out and combined many recipes I finally was - quite - satisfied about the result. During my visit to the Netherlands recently, I tried some fresh baked gevulde koeken and to be honest: I liked ours better! Throughout the years I started making other Dutch cookies such as speculaas, bitterkoekjes and our customers’ favourite: boterkoek! About 8 years ago I also learned the basics of bee keeping. This hobby has gotten a little out of hand because by now we've got about 30 hives! We invite you to pay a visit to our booth at the one of the Farmers' Markets or special events and try our cookies, healthy treats or honey for yourself and let us know whether you also like our cookies! |