Info
How can the areas of the future expansion of the Horner Geest landscape axis be activated and secured for horticultural uses?
The innovation area for urban agriculture relies on creative agricultural actors who will use our 2.85 ha test and demonstration area as spatial pioneers in the period from spring 2025 to autumn 2026 and build a user community. Here, the research team, together with a growing group of practitioners and in close exchange with the BUKEA and other municipal actors, is investigating in a real-world experiment what a biodiverse, small-structured and cooperatively organised urban horticulture of the future could look like in the urban space.
The test and demonstration area has a jointly usable infrastructure (water and electricity supply, recreation and equipment containers, wild life fence). On the area, there are currently plots with a size of 100 m² to 2,500 m², on which we are testing different cultivation methods and production systems in co-creative exchange with various managers (see below).
In addition, further plots of land with a size of up to max. 6,000 m² will be available for 2026, which will be allocated to interested companies and stakeholders from the fields of horticulture, micro-agriculture, market gardening, community-supported agriculture, as well as from environmental and nutritional education.
Objective of the Test Laboratory
The aim of this experiment is to enable access to land and markets for committed and interested actors from urban agriculture, as well as to establish a self-supporting organisational and management structure that networks the actors.
As a central component of the overall project, it functions as a showcase for urban agriculture for the planned Gartenstadt Öjendorf. By closely involving stakeholders with their experience and practical knowledge in the discussion and design of such urban development processes, it makes a significant contribution to identifying the potential and challenges for the long-term integration of urban agriculture with sustainable, economically viable utilization concepts in the Green Corridor Horner Geest and the new garden city of Öjendorf.
Accompanying Measures and Exchange Formats
The project team organises accompanying workshops, excursions and information events at which the practical actors present their experiences and discuss them together with science and administration. The exchange serves to close knowledge gaps, promote new cooperations and develop transferable business models for a sustainable management of the areas beyond the project duration.
To ensure a smooth process on the site, a position for the horticultural support and coordination of the test and community areas has been advertised and filled. The tasks include the operative support on site, coordination of maintenance and repair measures, support of the participating actors as well as the continuous documentation of the developments in the real laboratory. This role is crucial for the knowledge transfer between practice and research.
Field diary
The field diary continuously documents the developments on the test site. Starting with calendar week 14 in 2025, progress and activities on the test area of the innovation area will be recorded in weekly sequence. In this way, a continuous chronicle of use and development is created.
Photos and texts by Patricia Buqa.
Cooperation Partners Wanted!
The project is looking for further interested companies and actors who want to test area-efficient and sustainable cultivation methods with products for regional marketing on a test plot of up to max. 6,000 m². Applicants should be interested in networking and cooperative work in order to close knowledge gaps in the development of urban agriculture together with the research team.
The focus is on companies and actors from the fields of horticulture, micro-agriculture, community-supported agriculture, market garden, allotment gardens, environmental education and those interested in cooperation with managers of the test plots.
The project team supports the selected companies and actors in the development of a mission statement and an organizational structure for possible future paths, in order to open up a long-term management perspective beyond 2026 in the Horner Geest.
We Offer:
- Test plots for cultivation, incl. compensation for expenses and support depending on the intensity of cultivation
- Irrigation possibility, electricity connection, parking possibilities, area prepared for planting, fence demarcation
- further measures possible by arrangement and concept
An independent management, as well as support by an employed care partner are possible after consultation.
Contact
No matter whether you already have an idea or would like to know more. Please contact:
Participants*
Patricia Buqa
Area representative, establishment of a small business for edible flowers and herbs
“Rooted in the city, at home in nature.”
Axel Sylvester
Linen cultivation, Green Fab Lab, Agri Tool Development
Coming soon
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stay tuned!
Coming soon
–
stay tuned!
Coming soon
–
stay tuned!