Books

A collection of published books and educational material

Roots & Renewal

In 2015, my family and I relocated from the Netherlands to Aruba, the picturesque Caribbean paradise where I was born.

My goal was to establish a bed and breakfast offering a prioneering agritourism experience, deeply motivated by my mission to enhance the island’s food security. Agritourism, to me, is the ideal platform to connect visitors with our cultural heritage, offering a farm-to-table experience on a small-scale farm against the backdrop of an iconic cunucu (farm) house.

In my latest book, “Roots and Renewal: A Path to Sustainability and Self-Discovery in Aruba,” I invite you to join me on a journey chronicling my seven years on Aruba through my personal trials and triumphs as I pursued this mission to promote sustainable practices and agriculture in Aruba. From overcoming challenges to seizing remarkable opportunities, it was a transformative journey that reshaped my perspective on sustainability and food security.

“Roots & Renewal” offers a firsthand narrative of the pursuit of sustainable living in a uniquely diverse environment.

Here’s why you should grab a copy:

You were born in Aruba or have a bond with Aruba
You want to know about living in Aruba
You live in the Netherlands and dream of living on this beautiful island. "Ik vertrek"
Gain insights into the intricacies of sustainable food production in Aruba.
Discover the beauty of reconnecting with nature and the land.
You love the island and value sustainability
You’re interested in agriculture, agritourism, and local produce in Aruba Bonaire or Curaçao.

What readers say:

"Roots & Renewal is an open, honest and educational book about Aruba and its possibilities and obstacles."

Carinda van.W.

Storyline

Departed Aruba to pursue higher education in the Netherlands, studying electrical engineering.

Journeyed to Tuscany, Italy, where the concept of agriturismo sparked a profound shift my perspective. on eco-tourism.

Fresh basil pesto

Returned to Aruba with a renewed sense of purpose and a vision for sustainable agriculture. The first year was very challenging, it was difficult to find a suitable property or any kind of funding for that matter. I started experimenting in my mothers back yard with hydroponics and growing basil in a Dutch bucket system.

With the organically grown basil I made pesto which I sold directly to a growing list of customers due to an increasing demand for healthy local food.

Book: Mijn favoriete Arubaanse en Curaçaose Gerechten

I also published my first cookbook in Dutch “Mijn favoriete Arubaanse en Curaçaose gerechten” -My favorite dishes from Aruba and Curacao.

Goshen farm

From 2016-2019 I was the managing director Goshen Sustainable Development Corporation VBA. Goshen was a first of its kind farm and social enterprise in Aruba which incorporated a vocational work experience as part of the Global Adult & Teen Challenge program.

Check the Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/goshenaruba/
Our goal was to grow staple crops all year long making fresh local produce accessible to the public.
Staple crops grown on the farm:

Aruban Cucumber, Concomber chikito
String beans, bonchi largo
Okra, yambo
Madame Jeanette Hot peppers
Moringa Oleifera
Herbs: basil, mint, lemongrass

During the second year of operation of the farm we developed agritourism experiences. The location of the farm with a stately old cunucu house on a hill and a beautiful view over the landscape lent itself to an immersive experience.

We called the immersive experience: “Back to the Land“, a farm to table experience consisting of a tour of the farm and premises, and cooking workshop.
https://wheninaruba.com/blog/back-to-the-land/

After I resigned in 2019, the farm was continued under the management of HopeAruba Movement foundation and closed permanently in 2021.

During my time at Goshen I also worked together with various local organizations to promote healthy eating habits and the nutritional benefits of local produce.

Hope for All, Green for Health

Biba Saludabel

Biba Saludabel is a local TV show from the department of health AZV presented by nutritionist Angelique Salsbach. The show is in Papiamento.

During the episode I explained about the nutrional benifits of the vegetables cultivated at Goshen farm and culminated the show with a cooking demonstration.
I made a curry with okra, green beans and cononut milk served with funchi (which is white corn meal polenta). The second recipe I made is a green smoothie with Aruban cucumber – concomber chikito.

Traditionally the cucumbers are only used in a stew so I really wanted to emphasize the versatility of these tiny cucumbers. Aruban cucumbers are rich in fiber and vitamins. The green smoothie can be your to go to smoothie in the morning to revitalize you before you start your day. It’s made with Aruban cucumbers, fresh pineapple, pear and ginger.

Teaching skills for the future

I began teaching in a vocational school for special education SPO Brazil. Meanwhile I also started studying and earned my teaching degree, digitized gardening lessons, oversaw the construction of a greenhouse for the school, and worked on a variety of gardening initiatives.

I saw that there was a need for educational material for our gardening curiculum. After doing some research I created an educational card game called “Planta y Cosecha” (Plant and Harvest) in Papiamento to teach children about local produce and encourage them to eat healthy. The card game was sponsored by the foundation Fonds Kind & Handicap en Stichting Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds Caribisch gebied.

Sharing my journey

After returning to the Netherlands, I published my personal journey in my most recent book, “Roots & Renewal” – A Path to Sustainability and Self-Discovery in Aruba. I continue advocating for sustainable agriculture and ecotourism, inspiring others to reconnect with nature and embrace purposeful living.

Just so you know
Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. That means that if you purchase through these links, I may get a small cut, at no additional cost for you. This helps me keep Agritours.nl going. Thank you for your support.