Day 1, Wednesday: 18.09.2024
Today our adventure in the Gardenaiser Academy project in Vienna began, where we were welcomed at Schraubenfabrik, a cultural center of the Jewish community. This place is steeped in history, and I was struck by the library with books rescued from World War II, carefully preserved and hidden to save them from destruction. Cordulia Fötsch and David Stanzel greeted us and introduced us to the work plan and presented the team, composed of two French women, Stefanie and Melani; two Italians, Flavio and Leonardo; and two Spaniards, Enrique and Carmen.
After a brief introduction by each member and explaining how our respective gardens function, we enjoyed lunch at a nearby market. Later, we visited the Kinogarten garden, which will be my personal project. This space impressed me with its integration of activities, from an open-air cinema and theater to beekeeping. The day ended with a walk through the city center of Vienna, which left us all amazed by its beauty.
Day 2, Thursday: 19.09.2024
We started the day early, meeting at the Donaustedtbrücke metro station, where Helen and Doris were waiting for us. We walked for about 40 minutes through a park with beautiful lagoons until we reached Welt TellerFeld, a large community farm. There, we were welcomed by Kim, who explained how this space works, managed by several associations that oversee their assigned areas. The organization of the Filipino community’s gardens stood out, and we also observed a large compost area without much organization. The variety of animals and the coexistence of different cultures in the same agricultural space was fascinating and enriched our learning experience.
Day 3, Friday: 20.09.2024
We met Helga, an anthropologist with deep knowledge of the Favoriten neighborhood in District 10, who began with a rich history of the bakers and brickmakers who originally shaped the area. After a tour of the old factories, now converted into cultural centers, we arrived at Laaerbergbäuerinn, a one-hectare plot that integrates permaculture, where the city council rents out land to local farmers. The Spanish expat Irene treated us to a meal prepared with a solar-powered stove, and we helped prepare the decorations for the “Procession of the Earth” to take place the next day, a tradition that promotes respect and connection with the land.
Day 4, Saturday: 21.09.2024
Today we continued helping with the preparations for the “Procession of the Earth.” We decorated the procession with flowers and walked alongside the local residents from the gardens to the former factories, in an act of communion with nature and the environment. In the afternoon, we visited other community gardens, including Schienengarten and Sonnwendgarten, where we enjoyed a pleasant social gathering with food, drinks, and music. It was a special day that highlighted how these agricultural spaces are also a social hub.
Day 5, Sunday: 22.09.2024
Today’s activity took us to Tigergarten, an urban garden located between residential blocks, where we were welcomed by Astrid, a member of the organization. These gardens are of great communal value, as they are located in shared spaces and allow each resident to cultivate their own plot, divided into 1.20 m² raised beds, where vegetables, fruits, flowers, and aromatic plants grow. I was struck by how every available corner is used for cultivation, from flowerbeds to common landscaped areas. The inclusion of children in gardening activities reinforces the sense of community and sustainability.
We concluded our stay with lunch at a local restaurant and returned to Schraubenfabrik, where we shared our reflections and learnings. It was the perfect closure for this week of immersion in the culture of Vienna’s urban gardens, where each of us gathered enriching experiences from both the land and the community surrounding it.
