There are those weekends when you drive home tired—but at the same time full of energy. That’s exactly what the “Späth’er Frühling” festival was like on May 9 and 10 at the Späth’sche Baumschule.
Surrounded by old trees, blooming plants, and thousands of visitors, we stood at our information booth together with the Weltladen Baumschulenweg and struck up conversations with an incredible number of people. About agriculture. About global justice. About soil, food, and why places like the Weltacker are more important today than ever before.
Many stopped by at first just out of curiosity—and then suddenly found themselves right in the thick of it: During the seed-guessing game, people discussed, guessed, and laughed; children enthusiastically crafted little herbarium cards; and time and again, conversations arose about how our food is actually connected to the rest of the world.
It was especially wonderful to see how many people took part in the open field tours. Nearly 30 visitors walked with us across the field, asked questions, shared their own experiences, and discovered a place right in the heart of Berlin where global connections suddenly become very tangible.
One moment in particular stuck with many: Oliver Igel, district mayor of Treptow-Köpenick, planted a gooseberry bush in the field. Of all places, in a spot that’s under threat. Because right in the middle of this green oasis—the historic Späth Nursery—4- to 8-story buildings could soon be constructed if the Senate approves the construction project in mid-June. The fact that so many people refuse to simply accept these plans gives us hope: Over 8,000 people have signed the petition against the development—even though it was only launched on May 8.
On stage, we made our position clear:
“The Weltacker is a green learning space for all Berliners that brings global agriculture and the connections between food, climate, and the world’s scarce resource—fertile soil—to life. Because the careful stewardship of agriculturally and ecologically valuable land worldwide is our cause, we are particularly committed to preserving such areas in urban settings. Historic sites like the Späth’sche Baumschule are irreplaceable and must be protected as educational and natural spaces.
It would be disastrous to seal off such high-quality land in densely built-up Berlin. We are therefore firmly committed to ensuring that the land of the Späth’sche Baumschule is preserved and not sacrificed to development. Weltacker Berlin clearly opposes the Senate’s current development plans."
In addition to all the discussions, there was also a hands-on component: At the water workshop, we demonstrated the “ollas”—a simple, ingenious, and water-saving irrigation method that allows plants to supply themselves with water underground.
For us, this weekend was much more than just a festival. It was a place full of encounters, exchanges, questions, ideas, and a shared concern for the future of our green spaces. Thank you to the Späth’sche Baumschule for the invitation, the organization, and for allowing us to be part of this special weekend time and again.
For those who couldn’t make it this time: The next open tours at the Späth’sche Baumschule will take place on June 13, July 18, and August 15, each at 10 a.m.—free of charge and without prior registration.
Since 2022, the Weltacker Youth Council has been working with us—an exciting project that brings young people in Berlin together. They all share one goal: a voice in Berlin’s food policy!