The Lungs of Kreuzberg - Prinzessinnengarten

Wednesday, April 8, 2015


I've noticed lately that healthy lifestyle is becoming more and more popular - which is supergreat, of course! People are getting hooked on exercise (I haven't gotten there yet, but hopefully I will!), riding bicycles instead of using cars and/or public transport, visiting farmers' markets for fresh fruits and veggies instead of getting those in large chain supermarkets... or growing their own food. As someone whose mother has grown her own veggies ever since I can remember, I find it quite funny that it's so hip nowadays - especially when I remember that her veggies had never looked as good as the one in the supermarket, so of course a kid would prefer a better looking bell pepper... (because the kid knows nothing).

Anyway, because of this new fashion, growing things has become accessible even to those who don't really have a part of the ground in their back yards. People get creative - my friend in Belgrade made me pasta when I visited him last summer, and sprinkled it with spices he grows on his balcony, in the very center of the city! Those who require more space than just a flowerpot can have a public garden in the city - well, at least in Berlin. :) Prinzessinnengarten in Kreuzberg used to be a wasteland for more than half a century - then some smart people came up with the idea of turning the place nobody used to a common area where people could get together, grow fresh and organic herbs and vegetables and learn about organic food production and climate protection.

The guys behind the Prinzessinnengarten project are doing something similar all over the city: they temporarily transform unused spaces such as parking lots and roofs into urban farmland. How cool is that?! Oh, and you may notice that everything here in the garden is grown in mobile planting containters. The city only allows a temporary contract of one year at a time (it was being renewed since 2009, when the project first started), so everything has to be moveable in case or has to go (god forbid!).

A cafe is also a part of the project, so if you're not really into growing anything yourself, you can just sit there, have coffee and relax in the green surroundings. There is also a kitchen offering lunch from 12 to 3 PM and dinner from 6 to 10 PM, and the food is prepared of fresh vegetables from the garden (so it's always vegetarian). The menu changes daily and it's always only one dish offered. Unfortunately, I haven't had anything this time, but next time I'll make sure to give you a first-hand experience (and hopefully recommendation) :).


How do you feel when it comes to growing your own food? Do you do it, or would you do it, or you prefer having it ready-made? Do you make any effort to know where your food comes from? I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

The garden is open daily from 11 to 6 PM - opening times can be slightly changed due to the bad weather. During summer, the cafe is open from 12 to 10 PM. The address is Prinzenstrasse 35–38, 10969 Berlin Kreuzberg, and it's close to Moriztplatz U-bahn station, served by U8 line.




2 comments:

  1. I hope this is a joke! If it is not, then I am feeling really sorry for those who would try and eat the food grown there! Can you imagine air and soil pollution in Berlin etc.! The should be a sing Biohazard there!

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  2. Well, luckily nobody's making anybody eat or grow their veggies there. It's a choice, and people are free to decide for themselves. ;)

    ReplyDelete

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