Since the fire at our farmhouse in October, we have experienced a wave of solidarity and support that has deeply moved us. Numerous donations, valuable advice, new networking opportunities, and solidarity events have shown us just how strongly the community stands behind Weltacker. This support has not only helped us come to terms with the shock, but also gives us the strength to look ahead.
However, the fire also made us realize just how fragile our work can be. This realization inspired us to come up with the idea of the mobile Weltacker—a concept that not only strengthens our resilience but was also influenced by the experiences of our colleagues in Mannheim, who have already implemented similar projects. With the mobile Weltacker, we also aim to become more inclusive and reach even more schools and educational institutions. We are currently raising funds via betterplace to design and develop this innovative format. We appreciate any support.
A real highlight was our kale dinner with an auction—the food was absolutely delicious, and the auction got really heated and exciting. It was a wonderful evening filled with lots of laughter and celebration together.
The closing event of the Weltacker Youth Council was also a complete success: an impressive art exhibition, inspiring speeches, and—for the first time—a dance floor with techno DJs made this evening unforgettable.
There will soon be a separate blog post about developments in the Youth Council—stay tuned! But we can already tell you that the Youth Council’s first initiative is already planned: On February 14, the Weltacker Youth Council will be at the Fridays for Future demonstration with their brand-new cooking cargo bike, handing out snacks to the demonstrators.
The news about the Berlin Senate’s budget cuts to the Environment Department and other areas did shake us up for a moment, but we won’t let it discourage us. On the contrary: We’ve started 2025 with renewed energy and see this bitter loss as an opportunity to grow and not only continue the Weltacker but also make it even better.
We’re also still in talks with the Pankow district to find a replacement for the burned-down Ackerhaus. The idea of using a shipping container as a new solution is on the table, and we’ll of course keep you updated on that.
We’re being supported in this effort by an architect who is helping us plan the shelter. Thanks to generous donations, we’ve already been able to purchase new gardening tools, but right now we don’t have a really good place to store them safely. We were offered part of a garage on the farmyard, but getting there is quite a long and cumbersome journey. That’s why you’ll now often see our farm team rumbling across the Botanical Volkspark with fully loaded carts—a funny sight, but not ideal in the long run. We’re therefore hoping for a quick solution in the form of a permit to place a container directly next to the 2,000-square-meter Weltacker.
Another big highlight: We’re so excited to celebrate the launch of our new website with you! You can now find all the information about Weltacker Berlin at www.weltacker-berlin.de. We’ve broken down barriers, and the international Weltacker groups are now accessible via the old website. This development shows us that what was once a small Weltacker project has now become a global movement—and we’re proud to be a part of it!
With our separation from the international Weltacker network, this also means we’re now sending out our own newsletter! If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here.
We’ve planned some great events for 2025. You can find a complete overview on our events page on the new website. Here are a few highlights to mark on your calendars:
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!