Land of Hope in Spain: A dream to make the world green

Setting up an agricultural knowledge hub in Northern Spain

Tierra de Esperanza (Land of Hope)

• My name is Ruben Dümmer, a passionate outdoorsman with extensive knowledge of farming systems. I've seen much of the world and gained hands-on agricultural experience while cycling through Europe.

• My dream is to buy a piece of land in Northern Spain and create an agricultural knowledge hub to connect and inspire farmers, municipalities, and other stakeholders.

• My vision is a sustainable farming system where humans and other organisms contribute to soil fertility, healthy water management, and biodiversity.

• I believe I can make the most impact by starting a practical farming research project rather than focusing solely on research.

• For the project, I need financial support to purchase the land and get started, and I am calling on people to contribute.

Dear everyone,

My name is Ruben Dümmer, a passionate outdoorsman with in-depth knowledge of soil-plant interactions and nature-inclusive agriculture. I am 30 years old and have seen much of the world. After my studies at Wageningen University, I travelled through Europe and gained hands-on experience working on various farms. Back in the Netherlands, I now work as a researcher in sustainable soil management and as a teacher in innovative crop cultivation.

There are different ways to make the world green. There is not one fit to a greener future. Either you scream and shout that the way things are going bad. You enter politics and you say "no" and "yes" while making deals with the devil. You talk to people about the origin of products (i.e. food, wood etc.). You enter research, apply for grants and do "sustainable" research. You can teach and inform students about the problems we are facing in the near future. I have done some of these above mentioned points, and think all points are necessary in order for humans, plants and other organisms to thrive in the time to come. However, change is the only constant in live. The world is changing, so are you and me.

I have a strong drive to make the world greener. My dream is to buy a piece of land in Northern Spain, a region where farmers will face increasing challenges due to climate change in the coming years. Currently, a unique piece of land is for sale—my ultimate opportunity. Hence this fundraiser.

My Vision: A Knowledge Center for the Future I plan to establish a knowledge center on-site. This will allow me to share knowledge and build connections between farmers, municipalities, consumers, buyers, volunteers, universities, and the local natural environment.

Climate-Resilient Farming System Together I want to create a climate-resilient and robust farming system to grow crops sustainably. This system will not only focus on humans but also give space to other organisms. These organisms contribute to fertile soil, healthy water management, and biodiversity, making the land and food production future-proof.

The Path to Impact I believe I can make the most impact by starting a farming project myself. By being on-site and showing in practice that things can be done differently, I hope to help the farmers in the regio create climate resillient farming systems.

Agroecological Principles To do this, I first need to understand the local culture and become fluent in the language (I’m working on it). I want to show that sustainable farming is possible and that it indeed has a future in this region. I am not doing this alone:

Together with universities, researchers, (local) farmers and the municipality the difference can be made.

I plan to develop and manage the land with the help of volunteers, such as WWOOFers and Workawayers, who will also learn about sustainable farming. Additionally, I am receiving a lot of support from friends and family who are eager to lend a hand.

Your Support is Crucial At the moment, I need financial support to purchase this piece of land and get started on these projects.

I invite you to join me and make a difference together!

Kind regards,

Ruben Dümmer