The exceptional quality of each handcrafted artwork is ensured by Claudy Jongstra’s decades-long dedication to cultivating regenerative, natural materials – Drenthe Heath sheep’s wool and heirloom dye plants – on her biodynamic farm in Friesland, The Netherlands.
Biodynamic farm De Kreake – the inherited name for this plot of farmland just outside the Frisian village of Húns – is a manifestation in the landscape of the guiding values and principles that are central to Claudy Jongstra’s radical artistic practice. Providing Studio Claudy Jongstra with woollen fleeces each spring and seasonal harvests for plant-based dyeing, the strength, texture, and vibrant natural colours in each of Claudy Jongstra’s signature compositions reflect the vitality of the dynamic ecosystem cultivated at De Kreake.
Designed and expertly tended by Claudia Busson, with vibrant beds of diverse dye plants, flowers, herbs, and vegetables, flourishing fruit trees, grazing pastures for a small flock of Drenthe Heath sheep, and a historic glass greenhouse on a foundation of local clay bricks, biodynamic farm De Kreake exemplifies the transformative potential of biodynamic principles to regenerate regional biodiversity and connect people with their food and material sources.
Biodynamic farmer, horticulturalist, and baker, Busson gained years of experience in biodynamic farming and wild gardening in Umbria, Italy and followed courses at both the Warmonderhof and Kraaybeekerhof. In 2008, Busson co-created the Dyer’s Botanical Collection Garden at Studio Claudy Jongstra, and orchestrated its expansion to De Kreake in 2015. In recent years, Busson has shaped the grounds at De Kreake while leading collaborations with diverse agricultural and community partners.
Collaborating with farmers and shepherds across the Netherlands and internationally to cultivate plant-based colour and maintain heritage sheep, De Kreake is a frontrunner in the grassroots co-creation of regenerative art and textile systems for a more resilient future.
The open-pollinated seeds planted and saved at De Kreake conserve heirloom plant varieties, enrich soil health, and support bee populations. Sharing these seeds with collaborating farmers enables independence from agricultural seed monopolies, strengthening rural economies while supporting biodiversity and habitat protection.
Studio Claudy Jongstra draws on the knowledge gained at De Kreake to design dyer's gardens in collaboration with diverse communities and institutions, including social justice organizations and city planners. Claudy Jongstra's Honeysuckle Blue(s) garden was awarded the Silver Gilt Medal at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in 2016. In 2021, Studio Claudy Jongstra joined forces with Bloei&Groei and the Municipality of Amsterdam to plan and realize the Gift of Colour community garden in Amsterdam Zuidoost.
The grounds include a farmhouse and bakery, restored and transformed through adaptive reuse and the thoughtful introduction of repurposed, local materials. The bakery, equipped with a wood-fired oven and adjacent Groundfridge, hosts farm-to-table dinners by local chefs and makes De Kreake an ideal setting for cultural and educational programming as well as private events.
