DIY - compost & plants
During the youth gathering, we also had the opportunity to learn and experience the steps of plant cultivation from seed, allowing us to grow our own plants and witness the wonders of nature firsthand. But it’s a very sloooooooow process… In the 3 weeks we made like 2-5cm, depending on the type of plant 😉
During the preparation phase, we brainstormed DIY projects and some of us were interested in exploring permaculture as something ecologically valuable and sustainable, such as creating garden beds or building an herb spiral. On-site, we realized that due to years of industrial use, the soil unfortunately wasn’t suitable for gardening anymore, and another group had already built an herb spiral. However, since it was the perfect gardening season, we constructed a few small raised beds and planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchinis. We also planted flowers and shrubs around the Hollywood swing to create a beautiful seating area. Being right in the middle of our camping area, we could truly enjoy this setup.
Another project we tackled was the composting area. Good soil is essential for gardening in raised beds, and the best soil comes from compost! We explored different construction methods and composting techniques, then built a relatively large composting system for kitchen waste and yard trimmings. We opted for a design with two chambers to allow the compost to mature properly. In a conference facility where a large number of people gather for a short period, having sufficient capacity is crucial.
Through our research, we also found a method for a compost specifically for cooked food. We built this one using old tires and chicken wire, adding extra earthworms. Whenever it’s full, you just stack another tire on top, creating a tall tower! Once it reaches around 1 meter in height, you start a new tower next to it. We’re looking forward to the photos of the compost that will be ready next spring; the crew from the Altes Bahnwerk has promised to send us some. Let’s see if it works as well as planned!
