A retired truck driver and a former automotive painter in a greenhouse with vegetables: an unconventional combination. Nevertheless, Martin and Leo Carnas grow various vegetables in Waarland, North Holland in an unheated greenhouse. On Dutch TV show BinnensteBuiten, chef Leon Maziarac visited the ‘out of control hobby’ of the two growers to cook with winter purslane.
In the greenhouse, unheated and depending on the outside temperature for the growth of the crops, various crops are growing, including pak choi, spinach, winter purslane and young celery stalks. "A painting lying on the ground", according to the chef, who also had to get on his knees in the greenhouse where everything is still done manually. For example, the 'planting' that has to be done neatly and in straight rows in what for the growers is also a kind of 'ornamental garden'.
But also normal production is required, so where a few leaves of purslane for garnishing is sufficient for the chef, Martin smiles that he also would like to see kilos leaving the greenhouse. Just like his father Leo: "Quickly, quickly, 12 pieces of pak choi in a box, that's good."