Thriving Community Garden in Freiburg Welcomes Everyone, Encouraging Diversity in Urban Horticulture
In the heart of Freiburg, Germany, a vibrant and inclusive community garden has been thriving for nine years. Managed by the "zusammen leben" association, this green oasis offers diverse opportunities for both members and non-members alike.
The garden, a testament to Freiburg's commitment to sustainability and community engagement, has become a blooming meeting place for people with very different backgrounds. It provides free small plots and a large community garden, where one can find four young men with disabilities, including Jakob Dorn, diligently harvesting vegetables on a cloudy summer day.
Dorn, now a part of the first labor market, found a place in the community garden after completing school, using his skills to contribute to the project's success. Another success story is Moritz Siepmann, who did his first internship in the inclusive community garden five years ago and, thanks to the project, found a job at an adventure farm for children.
However, the future of this inclusive project is uncertain. The funding for the community garden is running out, and the inclusion project is dependent on funding for the coming year. Coordinator Hajduk is currently trying to secure funding to expand the inclusive offer and continue the project next year.
Funding applications take up time that Hajduk would rather use to grow the garden's inclusive offer. Fortunately, Freiburg often supports projects that foster community engagement and sustainability. Local and national grants, as well as EU programs, could be potential sources for funding community gardens that align with environmental and social goals.
Regular action days with joint meals, concerts, or readings take place in the community garden, making it a hub for community events. Everyone involved hopes that they will secure funding for the project to continue next year, ensuring that the garden remains a colorful, blooming meeting place for all.
For specific funding details, it would be advisable to contact local government offices or organizations in Freiburg that focus on community projects and sustainability initiatives. Additionally, reaching out to local community groups or sustainability organizations in Freiburg could provide more insight into potential funding opportunities.
[1] City of Freiburg, Climate Action and Social Innovation: https://www.freiburg.de/klimaschutz-soziale-innovation/
- In the heart of Freiburg, the community garden's inclusive offer extends beyond home-and-garden practices, fostering education-and-self-development opportunities like Jakob Dorn's successful transition into the labor market.
- To secure the future of the community garden and its career-development prospects, local and national grants, as well as EU programs focusing on environmental and social goals, could be potential sources for funding, as suggested by the city of Freiburg's Climate Action and Social Innovation initiatives.
