Kwekerij Bernhard
The third generation Bernhard is now at the management of the Bernhard Group. Brothers Simon and Bram run the four nurseries and the transport company. The Bernhard family is a true horticultural family. Simon and Bram's grandfather grew vegetables and flowers in Amsterdam. When their father joined the company and there were no more opportunities for expansion in Amsterdam, the family moved to Luttelgeest in the Noordoostpolder in 1972.
Meanwhile, cut roses, many varieties of Phalaenopsis, various varieties of bedding and tub plants are being grown. Bernhard Transport provides conditioned transport of flowers and plants. A team of regular drivers takes care of daily transport, including to and from auctions.
Environment, sustainability and top quality
We care about the environment. By clustering the rose nursery and the Phalaenopsis greenhouse, we use the excess heat and released CO2 24 hours a day. Roses need a lot of light and CO2, while Phalaenopsis needs a lot of heat and only uses CO2 at night. We combine this sustainable energy supply with an ingenious internal transport system. That way we can deliver top quality at a favorable price.
Mid 2019 we began to drill for geothermal heat. The derrick goes to a depth of approximately 2 km. Preliminary research has shown that there is a 100-meter-thick layer of sand at 2 km depth, where there is hot water. The water is needed as an energy carrier for the heat. The ground temperature is around 12 degrees and every 100 meters that you head towards the Earth's core, it increases by more than three degrees. We therefore expect to harvest water of more than 70 degrees (20 x3 + 12). This water will flow through the greenhouse heating and go back to earth with 25 degrees. The goal is: Bernhard nursery 2021 energy neutral and ready for the sustainable future.
The construction of a solar field is running parallel to the geothermal heat project. The power output of the solar field is an energy source for the geothermal heat project; the well pumps and the heat pumps to cool water to 20ºC instead of the usual 35ºC. Colleague greenhouse horticulture companies can participate in the project.