Bring on the orders!

We went out with flyers to the shops on Mejlgade, Graven and Studsgade yesterday and were met with an overwhelmingly positive response!

We'll be returning on the 19th of March to take the final orders for the boxes, after which we will begin propagating all the seeds!

A group of wonderful KaosPilots, who were working on a project trying to reach out to the local community, joined in with the Adopt-A-Box campaign and made a couple of prototype boxes filled with daffodils. The two boxes were later adopted by Jeremy's and Sander Jensen, both of Mejlgade.

These boxes will hopefully prepare the people of the Latin Quarter for the boxes and take the brunt of any drunk-related action!!

If you are interested in having a box, please contact foedevaregruppen@gmail.com and let us know which box you would like so we can get sprouting!

 

Urban inspiration - Bristol

Urban farming takes many forms. It can be the Cuban legend of achieving almost total self-sufficiency, it can be community gardens like Prags Have, it can be rooftop gardens but in Bristol in the UK, they are replacing public flower beds with vegetables, showing both that veggies are beautiful and that growing food has a place, even in the city centre.

I stumbled across this "flowerbed" in a park right in the city centre, where the Council has planted cabbages, onions and garlic. It was great to see the City Council taking the initiative! 

 Even if you live in an apartment block or right in the city centre, let's make space to grow our own! With a little bit of sun, and a little bit of water, we might not be able to be self-sufficient right away, but we can take pride in following something from the soil to our plate!

Another really cool thing in Bristol, is the company Arup that has decided to establish a lunctime allotment where employees can get their hands dirty. Check it out at http://www.sustainablebristol.com/2011/09/will-business-embrace-lunchtime-allotments/

The homeless potato

We have made a little film to illustrate the life-saving impact that Adopt-A-Box can have for vegetables. 

Watch Grandfather Potato explain to his grandson how he was adopted by a kind couple in Aarhus who gave him a place to stay outside their house on Mejlgade. 

In the next couple of weeks, we're going to be making another stop-motion, this time showing the building and planting process involved in Adopt-A-Box! We're also going to interview some of the people involved in the process, the man who donated the wood, people who donated the seeds and businesses that are interested in adopting a box.

If you want to get involved, join us at Frontløberne at Mejlgade 35 on Wednesdays at 17.30 or write an email to foedevaregruppen or on our Facebook www.facebook.com/Himmelhaven.

Welcome to Adopt-A-Box!

Adopt-A-Box is a project run by Himmelhaven that aims to cultivate the city centre by bringing edible plants into an urban setting. 

Starting in the Latin Quarter of Aarhus, Adopt-A-Box hopes to both decorate and provide food (for thought) for the people that use the area. 

The boxes measure 75cm long and 25 cm wide so fit comfortably on the pavement or steps. 

There are three different boxes:

Potato and marigold 

Carrot, onion, garlic and sweet pea

Salad, herbs and nasturtiums

The idea is that local businesses, cafés, residents etc adopt a box and give it a place to live on their doorstep, water the plants through the summer months and finally, reap the rewards at a community harvest in the autumn. In return, the boxes will beautify the streets of the Latin Quarter and hopefully, give a sweet little something for the birds and the bees.

There is nothing easier than growing your own food, and nothing more delicious than doing so!

Let's get cracking and plant some veggies!