The corn is now nearly 1 meter tall, the lettuces crisp and green: the urban kindergarten Bengesen's field has grown into a true vegetable paradise after being planted in May, thanks to lots of care and attention.
And so it was only natural to present the project to the public. The AckerBuddys – the diligent parents supporting the project – as well as the honorary deputy of the Saarbrücken Regional Association Anita Morschette-Sarg, Mayor Denise Klein, and Philipp Jochum, regional coordinator of Saarland Acker e.V., gladly accepted the invitation and visited the children and their educators on their field behind the kindergarten building on Lindenstraße.
After the AckerRacker had started a song about vegetables, they explained to the guests together with the educator Gabi Weber the rules for planting and maintaining a vegetable bed. They also demonstrated that they know the names of the fruits and vegetables in French. Afterwards, the children, together with the volunteer deputy of RV Sbr. Anita Morschette-Sarg and Mayor Denise Klein, planted more seedlings and explained to their guests how to proceed.
From time to time, the first plants now have to be harvested. Together with their educators, the children process the "homegrown" food into delicious meals and snacks, including vegetable pizza, kale chips, or pumpkin soup. The children repeatedly realize: The vegetables they have grown themselves taste really good.
"Sustainability is more important than ever; people are rediscovering their own gardens with many possibilities, and the area behind the daycare center is simply ideal for this. Away from fast food, towards wholesome food," says daycare director Therese Lehnert. Mayor Denise Klein can only agree: "For many adults, it is a lovely childhood memory: Grandma’s vegetable garden, where you could find tasty and fresh ingredients for family meals. It was also quite normal to know the many types of vegetables. In our fast-paced world, this has become a rarity. Gardens today serve less for self-sufficiency. Many families often have to do without a garden of their own. I would like to sincerely thank the association Acker e.V., but especially the daycare center and the many volunteers for this wonderful project. Through this project, they awaken and promote curiosity, respect, and fundamental knowledge about food and nature, from which the children will benefit for life."
Since 2020, the Bengesen daycare center has been participating in the "AckerRacker" project by the social enterprise Acker e.V. In this educational program, children learn in a playful way where the food on our plates comes from.
