This past weekend, we opened up the garden at our home to the public. It’s the first time we’ve ever done something like this, and we didn’t really know what to expect.

We also asked a friend, Gerda Grashuis, if she would like to exhibit her pottery, and a neighbour, Harry Nijhuis, if he would like to use the garden to exhibit some of his sculpture. Both accepted. Martin plotted out a route through the grounds, and Harry installed his work along the route, so the garden also became a sculpture park for the weekend. And in keeping with the traditional tourist attraction, we also provided a shopping opportunity at the end of the route. As well as light refreshments, we also had another neighbour, Herman Peppelman, provide a stall of his orchard produce.

We were lucky with the weather. Both days remained dry during opening hours, and the sun shone for much of the time. We were surprised by the degree of interest – over 150 people turned up during the course of the two days. Even though the garden wasn’t looking at its best – it was devastated by a severe hailstorm last week – people seemed to enjoy their visit.

One of the nicest things was that members of the original farming family who owned the farmhouse over 50 years ago turned up to see how things had changed. Some of them had actually been born in the house. I showed them around inside, and they were able to describe the original layout. This type of farmhouse used to shelter both humans and animals, and our living room is where the family’s six cows were kept, with their horse stabled in what is now our kitchen. At the front of the house were the living quarters for the family. The front section had the kitchen (Martin’s study), the living room (my study), with bedstees (small beds built into cupboards) and a small staircase leading up into a part of the attic where the children slept.