Heeltsje Graansma
Heeltsje Graansma is an environmental scientist, permaculture designer, and educator dedicated to ecological transition and soil awareness. After completing her MSc in Environmental Sciences and spending time in direct non-violent eco-activism, she deepened her commitment to “practising what you preach” by studying and applying permaculture design.
Guided by the motto “what you pay attention to grows,” Heeltsje began designing food forest gardens and developing courses on food forest design, community-led co-creation, and nature awareness—encouraging people to reconnect with the land and rediscover indigenous ways of relating to nature. She also introduced practical educational tools for teaching about the Soil Food Web, including the programs Gevoel voor Humus and the Humusbox for kids, which make soil life accessible and engaging for learners of all ages.
Heeltsje raised two children with these values, partly in the ecovillage Ppauw in Wageningen, a co-created living and working space where a committed community collaborates closely with nature and place. Together they have demonstrated what ecological transition can look like in practice. School groups regularly visit to explore hands-on experiences such as tasting food from the land, learning about humus and soil life, understanding carbon in the soil, closing natural cycles through composting, producing renewable energy, and planting food-producing gardens. Through storytelling and experiential learning, even the youngest children are invited to imagine and shape a more regenerative future.
In recent years, Heeltsje has also worked with refugees, bringing her community-building and nature-based approach to new contexts. She is currently delighted to contribute her experience and passion to the Dutch Community of Practice, helping to cultivate curiosity about soil and deepen awareness of its vital role in sustaining life.
