So much more than just a vegetable garden

Our newly revitalised vegetable garden at the Village is far more than just a place where vegetables grow. It has become a vibrant learning space – a place full of community, responsibility and new experiences.

When our staff member Elsie presented the idea of redesigning the vegetable garden, the children at the Village were immediately enthusiastic. With eyes sparkling, they discussed which vegetables they’d like to grow. It soon became clear: okra, beans, tomatoes and carrots were to be the first plants. Many of the children were already familiar with these vegetables from their meals and were looking forward to growing them themselves.

Full of enthusiasm, the children set to work. Equipped with simple gardening tools, they transformed a patch of land, step by step, into a fertile garden. Together, they cleared away stones and weeds, loosened the soil and carefully laid out the first beds. Amidst concentrated work and cheerful laughter, something special emerged: team spirit, pride and the feeling of creating something lasting together.

For many children, it was the first time they had ever created a garden from scratch. The excitement on planting day was correspondingly high. Gently, they planted seeds and young plants in the soil and took responsibility for their respective beds. As they did so, they talked about how the plants would grow and what harvest they could look forward to in the coming months.

In just a short time, the vegetable garden has become one of the most popular places in the Village . The children look after the plants every day, watering them, pulling up weeds and watching in wonder as the garden changes from week to week. It not only provides them with fresh vegetables, but also valuable learning experiences: patience, a sense of responsibility and the realisation that hard work and perseverance pay off.

But the Children are already thinking ahead. They dream of expanding the garden, growing new varieties of vegetables and fruit, and learning about other cultivation methods. Their aim is to one day produce enough food to sustainably support the village’s food supply and significantly reduce food expenditure.

Every plant growing today represents more than just a future meal. It stands for education, self-confidence and the chance of a better future.

It is not just vegetables and fruit that grow here – here, the children are growing beyond their own limits.