Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is a bustling metropolis that has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. From the devastation of World War II to the reunification of East and West Germany, the city has had to constantly reinvent itself. Berlin is a hub for cultural and artistic expression. Amidst all these changes, one thing that has remained constant is the presence of nature. Despite being a bustling metropolis, Berlin is also a city that boasts an abundance of parks, forests, and lakes. The city has managed to preserve its natural surroundings, providing a unique blend of urban life and greenery. With over 2,500 public green spaces, including parks, gardens, and forests, Berlin is one of the greenest cities in Europe. In this article, I will explore the essence of nature in the city of Berlin.

For those interested in community gardening, Berlin has many options. Prinzessinnengärten, located in the hip Kreuzberg neighborhood, is an urban garden that promotes sustainable agriculture and community involvement. The garden is open to the public and offers workshops and events focused on gardening, cooking, and environmental education.

Indoor gardening is also popular in Berlin, where apartment living and limited outdoor space make it difficult for some residents to cultivate traditional gardens. There are many indoor gardening stores and workshops in the city, such as Pflanzenfreude in the trendy Mitte neighborhood, which offers a wide variety of indoor plants and provides guidance on how to care for them.

Also the bookstore ‘Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus’ is an example of a place where people come to enjoy the peace and quiet combined with indoor nature.

“Nature is like a living room for the people from Berlin”

Vincent Kompier, a town planner with a combination of author, consultant, moderator, researcher and spectator. ‘The Dutch have a unanimous idea of making the living room nice because they spend a lot of time there. The Germans have a unanimous idea to consider the outdoor living as their living room. The people from Berlin usually don’t have balconies so the streets are their gardens. The Dutch Biologist ‘Remco Daalder’ believes in that once you step out of your door you should be surrounded with as much nature as possible. This idea matches with what the Germans, and specifically people from Berlin. I think that the essence of nature in a city like Berlin is that the people of Berlin are very aware of how they should work with nature instead of fighting against it. The people from Berlin are much more activistic in a way than Dutch people for example when it comes to how you integrate nature in the street scene. I think the reason behind this is because the Germans a little bit more ahead of their time. When it comes to technological developments in terms of nature the Germans are very innovative. That is why nature is considered as very important in the city of Berlin.’

Garden communities 

Kirsten Maya, runs Nachbarschaftsgarten Moritzplatz:  ‘ It is a densely build neighborhood. There are not many green spots. I guess you can associate it with a little oases in the big city. The initiative started ten years ago. This plot of land was being saved from being sold to project developers. They had a cafeteria and a big garden. The organization ran it like a little business. Several years later they moved away and that’s when we came. We didn’t want to lose it, we did not want the capitalistic environment in Berlin took over another green place in Berlin. Our main goal is to degrowth the garden. Detach it from money and that there is no economic value. We garden on the wounds of capitalism. This community garden, like many other community gardens, is a social initiative. It is a mixed group run by volunteers that come here for various reasons in their spare time. It actually works.’ Maya continues.

‘Every Sunday we meet up and discuss what we still have to do. I notice that people in Berlin need initiatives like these. Ever since corona there is a collective idea that people have. They want a place where they can find peace. Where they can relax and lose their worries, just for a little amount of time. People give what they can and get what they can receive. This garden is open for everyone and you can meet people in a way that you normally would not be able to. People use gardens, such as this one, because they don’t have access to other green environments. That’s why this is very important to have.’

Overall, nature plays an important role in the daily lives of Berliners, and the city offers a variety of opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with the natural world. Whether it’s a stroll through a park, a visit to a community garden, or the joy of cultivating indoor plants, Berlin has something for everyone who loves nature.