Photo: Sven Menschel
Generations of Wageningen students and researchers have grown up with the statue, but the Sower looks a bit forlorn now on its plinth near Atlas, thinks Van IJzendoorn. The Zaaisporen (seed trail) project is intended to give the Sower his central place on campus back. Not literally – the statue will remain where it is – but figuratively. Van IJzendoorn and Peter Kurstjens of Ruimte Denken came up with the idea of seed trails of flowers and grass spreading out all over the campus from the statue.
The trails will be sown with flower bulbs and the blue-green grass Timotee. A team of alumni from the class of 1967 have planted about 10,000 bulbs in the past few weeks. Snowdrops, summer snowflakes, crocuses and fritillary will be added next spring. The current stage is a pilot. If it works, the trails will be laid all around the campus next year, says Van IJzendoorn. Exactly in time to be in full bloom during the centenary celebrations of 2018.