Photo Journal Monday: Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
Images and text by Loek Buter
Photo Edited by Lucia Luzzani
As a documentary photographer Loek Buter is interested in telling stories about the influence of landscapes on individuals and their communities. His projects are social landscape stories with a strong focus the relation between people and nature, the Dutch landscape, agriculture, sustainability and outdoor life. Here is his work, Around the Lighthouse.
© Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
Around the Lighthouse
It is hard work, but turns out to be possible: a completely self-sufficient life. From growing your own food to generating your own energy.
It seems like an idyllic picture, in and around the lighthouse of Workum in Friesland, one of the most northern provinces of the Netherlands. Cornelie Ploeg (69) lives there, completely self-sufficient. Cornelie has been living as sustainably as possible for over 25 years, at one with nature. Until a year ago, she shared this lifestyle with her husband, Reid de Jong, who passed away in November 2020 at the age of 86. In 1967 he had already settled in the lighthouse in Workum with his wife Wijnie and their four children. In response to our consumptive lifestyle that exploits the earth, he realized an almost self-sufficient existence there.
© Loek Buter
They grew their own food, kept chickens, goats, sheep and bees, made their own clothes, fished and generated their own energy with solar panels and a windmill. They got water from a well. What they could not provide themselves was exchanged with friends or bought in an organic store. Reid earned an income from his work as an architect, Cornelie worked as a doctor.
© Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
Self-sufficient living can sometimes be a struggle. It's hard work, every day, all year round. Sowing in spring, pulling weeds, harvest and preserve vegetables in summer and fall, sling honey. In winter chopping wood, spinning and knitting. And taking care of the animals every day; goats, sheep and chickens. And there are always maintenance jobs to do. You have to ensure that nature provides enough to live on. At the same time, it is important that you let it run its course, so that a healthy biotope is created.
After Reid's death, Cornelie continues her self-sufficient life with the help of friends and volunteers.
© Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
© Loek Buter
