Few students have a flat with a balcony, terrace or even a green space. Nevertheless, they can now plant their own vegetables, herbs and insect-friendly flowers: in the CampusGarden.
A sunny Friday afternoon in May: an area between buildings A10 and A07 is a hive of activity. Several students are pulling weeds in a raised bed, others are standing in the vegetable patch talking shop about whether onions are suitable neighbours for pumpkins. Bees buzz through a perennial bed and a student straightens out the little labels with plant names. Once a week, a group of students gather here to garden together - and transform part of the lawn at the former teacher training college building complex into a colourful garden.
The "CampusGarten" is a student project organised by the AStA's sustainability department, represented by Arne Schmidt. In 2021, he and his colleague Jonas Maenicke came up with the idea of bringing more nature to the university. "We wanted to make the campus greener and make it an active experience for students," explains Schmidt, who is studying maths as a primary school teacher as well as Protestant theology. The aim of the project is also to familiarise students with gardening. "The actual work started in January. However, the planning has been going on for some time, because in order to create a garden on campus, an area has to be available, people have to be found and the financing has to be sorted out," continues Schmidt.
Raised beds made from wooden pallets for fresh vegetables
The university is not only supporting the project with the space, but also financially. In return, it will be accompanied by a course on a permanent basis. Biology didactics expert Dr Birgit Weusmann has taken on this task. She has been leading the seminar "The CampusGarden: A multi-perspective learning and working environment" since October 2021. "Here, participants plan the garden, learn the basics of gardening and can also take an exam," says Weusmann, who has been teaching at the university since 2010. As part of the exams, for example, two raised beds have been created from wooden pallets. Picking lettuce, kohlrabi, leeks and carrots are already thriving in them.
The seminar takes place every semester. However, those who want to join in the gardening do not have to have a direct subject-related background and participation in the event is not compulsory - the project is also open to all other students who want to get involved in the student initiative. Around 15 amateur gardeners currently meet in the garden, usually on Friday afternoons.
The space between buildings A10 and A07 was found in spring 2021. In addition to the new garden area, there is also space for a small tool shed covering 100 square metres. This is where the group stores tools such as small and large shovels, rakes and nets. In addition to watering cans and climbing aids, there is also enough space for a garden hose and a wheelbarrow. This means that the students always have everything they need in the garden to hand.
Attractive for bees, ants and beetles
The garden is already colourful and diverse: the group planted the first vegetable plants in several vegetable patches in May. Some were sown directly into the soil, such as lettuce and carrots. Others, such as tomatoes and pumpkins, were grown by the students in their homes. The group transported the vegetables to the garden on a cargo bike so that the seedlings could move outside at the end of May. Plants such as spurge, sage and oregano are already thriving in the perennial beds. The students went to an Oldenburg nursery for advice on the selection. The result is a colourful bed with native perennials that are particularly insect-friendly. "We have some varieties that are particularly popular with bees, but other insects such as ants and beetles also feel at home here," explains seminar participant Charlotte Piper. To make the site even more attractive for insects, the group is planning to create a pond as a source of drinking water in the long term. Weusmann's course, which also includes excursions - for example to the university's Botanical Garden - provides them with the necessary know-how. "The staff there always have an open ear for our questions," says Piper, who is in her fourth Master's semester studying Economics and Law. They also provided very tangible support: apprentices and the technical director, Klaus Reis, helped with the edging of the CampusGarden with kerbstones.
Spending time together outdoors and being productive while gardening - the participants really appreciate this new opportunity on campus. "It's great to see other students and create something together in the countryside," says Piper happily. Plans are already being made for the future. So there is still plenty to do - as we all know, a garden is never finished.
