School garden in Schwerin blooms: children create a green oasis!

School garden in Schwerin blooms: children create a green oasis!

Happy crowds at the John-Brinckman European School in Schwerin! On June 14, 2025, parents, children and teachers worked together to further blossom the school garden through a successful work effort. On this day, almost 200 perennials and numerous shrubs were planted with great enthusiasm. The focus was on ecological plant selection that took into account both the partially shaded location and the soil conditions in order to attract insects and birds.

This successful planting campaign owes its existence to a generous donation from the Schwerin Learning Center, which is headed by Ralf Kuchmetzki. In addition, the Ludwig tree nursery, led by Jens Ludwig, provided plant supplies, discounts and expert advice. Such collaborations show how important community engagement is in schools.

Activities in the school garden

Another highlight of the event was the introduction of three new pallet raised beds, which were created under the guidance of Ronny Alex from the Weststadt environmental group and neighborhood manager Kevin Schmidt. There was no shortage of fun, as the children were able to prove themselves by balancing on a slackline!

In addition, participants were invited to a “school garden day”, which enabled those interested to explore the area and exchange ideas. Teacher Jan Dieckmann and his colleague Carolin Grimm were enthusiastic about the commitment and energy of the school community and were optimistic about the further development of the garden.

School gardens for education and sustainability

The example of the European School is not the only one of its kind. The Eckenberg-Gymnasium is also working with a lot of enthusiasm. The Schulgarten-AG started its new season there after the indoor winter semester. The group takes particular care of the raised beds in the entrance area, where the students can get to know a variety of wild and useful plants. The content learned there flows directly into lessons and supports the socialization process and learning.

Exciting projects are also planned here for the current school year. This includes participation in the nationwide potato campaign “Kids to the Tuber” and the marketing of various plants. What is also particularly interesting is the planning of a Bible plant bed, which is to be created in collaboration with the Religion Department. The school gardeners in Eckenberg are proud that their initiatives have been recognized several times as a flagship project.

The importance of school gardens is also highlighted in teaching materials. A newly published teaching handout describes how school gardening can promote education for sustainable development in subject matter lessons. In addition to theoretical principles, the document offers numerous tools for practical work in school gardens and clarifies the role of teachers in this area.

These diverse activities in the school gardens not only contribute to environmental education, but also strengthen the sense of community in the schools. It remains exciting to see what the next participation days at the European School and Eckenberg-Gymnasium will bring. Anyone interested is welcome to contact the school garden team at any time and become part of this green movement!