Orchard Meadow
"Öpfelgärtli"
Lucky Fruit
Orchard meadows provide countless insects, birds, and other small animals with habitat, shelter, and food all at once. Even in winter, small animals hide in the piles of leaves. When the flowers bloom in the spring, the upper branches of the trees are filled with the sounds of buzzing and humming. And when the fruit ripens, countless animals swarm to it. It’s especially valuable when some fruit isn’t harvested but simply falls to the ground and is left to nature: windfall fruit is a boon for biodiversity.
Noble Varieties
What do the "Gräfin von Paris" (Countess of Paris) and Kaiser Wilhelm have in common? That’s right—they’re both here in the Future Garden! The "Gräfin von Paris" is a pear tree, while Kaiser Wilhelm and Goldparmäne are apple trees.
With the support of Volksbank Freiburg
Orchard Meadow
Heirloom Apple Varieties
Apple Treasures
There are countless heirloom and regional apple varieties. But knowledge about them is dwindling, and more and more varieties are being lost. Yet most heirloom varieties are highly resistant to disease, heat, and drought, and are therefore better equipped to withstand climate change than newer cultivars. Many heirloom varieties can also be eaten by people with apple allergies because they contain more polyphenols—a substance that binds allergens. This substance has been bred out of supermarket apples because it causes browning when the fruit is cut.
Please give us a Bittenfelder
The Bittenfelder seedling is particularly popular for juicing and originates from Bittenfeld in Baden-Württemberg. The Bohnapfel, which comes from the Rhineland, can be used to make first-class apple juice.
With the support of Wirtschaftsjunioren Freiburg
Platform lounger
Let's chill
Chilling Out for Well-Being
Is there anything better than lying in nature and listening to the birds chirp? Being in nature is relaxing, boosts well-being, and lowers the risk of mental health issues. A study by researchers at the University of Michigan has shown that just 10 minutes in nature is enough to reduce stress. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking, sitting, or lying down—as long as you do it regularly. So let’s chill! Just lie down, close your eyes, and let everyday life be everyday life for a few moments…
A Great Spot
In the heart of the Future Garden, the lounging platforms offer a cozy spot surrounded by flowers, trees, and flower beds. Nothing stands in the way of relaxation now.
Built by students of the United World College
A Flower Bed Made from Recycled Materials
From the Old, the New Grows
Oh, How It Blooms
And That for Many Months of the Year! In this perennial bed, different plants take turns blooming, so that insects can always find an open flower over a long period of time. And it’s not just the perennials that are diverse—the soil is, too: loamy in some spots, sandy or coarse-grained in others. This way, all plants and small creatures find exactly the soil they need.
Recycling Enthusiasts
This perennial bed is made from recycled materials. Poor-quality excavated soil and old bricks form its base. The great thing about it: countless insects find shelter in the loose debris, and when the stony spots between the stems warm up, lizards love to sunbathe there.
With support from the Guzzoni-Federer Foundation.
Dry Stone Wall, Crown Bed, and Bench
Power Wall
Brick-Built Habitats
Many people associate walls with separation and isolation. In fact, simple concrete walls are anything but good for nature: they fragment habitats and prevent plants and animals from spreading. But there are also walls that are good for biodiversity. With dry stone walls, for example, stones are stacked on top of one another without mortar, leaving many small gaps. These gaps remain cool and moist, while the stone surfaces are warm and sunny, so many plants and animals find exactly what they need. That’s why rare species often settle in such walls.
A Bench for Biodiversity
Anyone who wants to take a close-up look at everything that grows, crawls, and flits about on and around the wall can settle down on the wooden bench and soak up the sun there.
With support from Volksbank Freiburg