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I’ve been looking for freedom, and found it in my garden.
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Everyone taking the S-Bahn has probably come past little gardens, sometimes close to the tracks, sometimes sheltered by trees.
Berlin’s so-called Schrebergärten (allotment gardens) are, in fact, social, cultural and environmental hubs and cover an area of almost 3,000 hectares.
Let’s dig deeper into this phenomenon.
Berlin's Schrebergärten represent a longstanding German tradition that dates back to the 19th century.
These individual plots of land are leased to residents who transform them into personal havens for gardening and recreation.
Often characterized by small cottages, fruit trees, and well-tended vegetable patches, Schrebergärten provide urban dwellers with a retreat from city life. Beyond gardening, these private plots foster a sense of ownership, offering families a space for relaxation, social gatherings, and a connection to nature within the urban landscape.
Although the average age of owners and tenants is well over 50+ years, younger people are slowly taking over from older generations, with lengthy waitlists for the green havens.
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Why are these little places an important part of Berlin’s impact landscape?
The city administration is well aware of the cultural and environmental advantages of these gardens as they serve as culture hubs, and support fresh air ventilation and greenery in the city. In 2020 Berlin’s government developed a strategy to protect 82% of the 877 gardening colonies and prolonged the lease for another 9,4% until 2030. The remaining areas will be developed into housing and social infrastructures like kindergartens, schools or sports fields.
887
Gardening Colonies
3,000 ha
Area Covered
82%
Protected by the City
Innovation in Farming.
Berlin's Innovation Gardens represent a cutting-edge approach to urban agriculture, pushing the boundaries of traditional gardening practices.
These spaces embrace novel techniques such as vertical farming, hydroponics, and smart urban planning to maximize productivity in limited spaces. Often serving as experimental hubs, these gardens showcase advancements in sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly technologies. Innovation Gardens in Berlin contribute to the city's green landscape and serve as living laboratories, inspiring residents with forward-thinking solutions for urban farming and environmental stewardship.
Prominent examples like ECF Farm are developing new ways of efficient and dense agriculture in the city. ECF supplies local supermarkets with fish and greens from their local aquaponics farm—with aquaponics fish and plants are grown together.
These examples showcase cutting-edge technologies and advancements in urban agriculture. By embracing innovative solutions such as vertical farming, hydroponics, and AI-driven automation, these gardens demonstrate Berlin's commitment to technological progress and sustainability.
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In 2018, Berlin’s government issued that urban gardening needs a city-wide development strategy, which includes all types of gardening, from food production to educational gardening. This was the first time the city established a formal network and strategy to connect all gardening projects under one platform.
🧑🏼🌾 There are several different initiatives in Berlin promoting innovation and learning around gardening. From technological innovations like the Roof Water Farm project or ECF Farm to the so-called Gartenarbeitsschulen in Berlin teaching crafts and upcycling techniques.
More carrots,
less cars.
Lastly, let’s take a look into the future of Berlin with our friends from Paper Planes e.V. (the team behind Radbahn).
You probably know what a highway looks like, lots of cars and concrete. Berlin has one highway, the A100 (Ring), whose south extension has been in development for more than a decade. However, in 2024 we should ask ourselves — will we ever need this infrastructure? The team around Paper Planes imagined this transportation project to become a sustainable urban provider and innovation engine for the capital region.
"Morgenfarm Berlin" is a conceptual sketch that has the potential to set economic policy directions for Berlin: From a conservative mobility project emerges a highly efficient, decentralized, resource- and emission-saving vertical farm. It envisages utilizing the already constructed structure of the 16th section of the capital’s highway as a Vertical Farm.
Significant investments are being made in this emerging market, particularly in Asia and the USA. These farms operate independently of external factors such as sunlight, rain, and temperature, serving as year-round production facilities for fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, algae, or insects. As part of a circular economy, they integrate hydroponics with short transportation routes to the end consumer.
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We L-O-V-E this concept and demand: more carrots instead of cars!
Feeling rebellious and hungry for more impact?
Try Guerilla Gardening!
Various guerilla gardening initiatives across Berlin take advantage of vacant or neglected spaces. These ad-hoc projects involve planting flowers and vegetables in public spaces, bringing greenery to unexpected locations.
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We’re not saying you should try it for yourself, but if you do we didn’t tell you how to, deal?
🗓️ Published: March, 2024