Zukunftsacker Erlangen - a place of learning for schools, urban society and sustainability in practice

Think globally and act locally at the Zukunftsacker

At the Zukunftsacker, we can all contribute to achieving the global sustainability goals.

Gardening in the fresh air appeals to all the senses, and the organic vegetable harvest enriches healthy cuisine.
The Zukunftsacker is open to everyone and our experts share their knowledge with you.
Working with gardening tools, observing insects up close under a magnifying glass, tasting fresh herbs - what counts in the field is fun!
"That's fun, isn't it?" is a phrase often heard at the Future Field when children encourage each other. Some become mulch rollers, others become world planting champions. And everyone is amazed at how much can be achieved in one morning.
Sustainable consumption and conscious purchasing decisions help to protect the climate and biodiversity. They strengthen rural structures and counteract the loss of local cultivated landscapes. They also promote health, enjoyment and fair prices.
Organic vegetable cultivation, mixed crops, communal manual work, mulching and seed production increase the value of the harvest and whet the appetite for red potatoes, palm kale chips, stuffed zucchini flowers or colorful chard kimchi.
There are close interactions between climate protection, adaptation to climate change, food security and food production. We try out solutions on the Future Field!
Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes is important so that plants and animals can adapt to climate change and our cultural heritage is preserved. Only then can soil organisms ensure soil fertility, natural enemies minimize pests and insects pollinate plants.
A good project needs cooperation partners: a committed organic farmer, qualified educational experts and numerous participants who want to help shape the future in the field

Learning together to change the world - we are farming for the future!

What do my consumption and the cultivation of our food have to do with our own health and the well-being of the world? How are climate protection and biodiversity linked to organic vegetable growing? And what added value do regional products have for local agriculture and the local cultural landscape?

Planting vegetables is not just about producing food. We also learn to understand the impact of our own actions on the world and to make responsible decisions.

The Zukunftsacker in Büchenbach is an experimental space for living sustainability, where we can get active together: planting and sowing, tending the beds and harvesting, mulching and harvesting seeds.

Trying out sustainability on the Future Field means talking to others and taking action. This sprouts impulses for small, personal changes and the big, global challenges. But what the Erlangen Future Field has in store for us above all are fruitful ideas for helping to shape a sustainable city. Because change starts with us!

We look forward to you working with us for the future!

Urban farming workshops for everyone

Fancy a vegetable experience? With fun, ease and the right mix of theory and practice, our field experts impart knowledge about organic vegetable cultivation: from correct sowing and care during the field season to glorious harvest successes. Sustainability and climate protection are brought to life in a practical way, connections to agriculture are shown and tips for everyday life are given. Everything is ready for the workshops, anyone can take part - whether you're a newcomer to the field or an expert: there's plenty of room for questions and time to talk shop!

Various workshop formats will take place between May and October as part of the Zukunftsacker educational project:

Planting & harvesting workshops - two-hour, interactive urban farming workshops under the guidance of arable experts
Field care workshops - One-hour field consultations on bed care and bed check by our field coaches
Themed workshops - evening field talks with professionals on various sustainability topics relating to the future field
Bee workshops and cooking courses (on request) - Workshops on beekeeping and bee science - Cooking courses for a climate-friendly diet

School mornings and workshops for children and youth groups

The Zukunftsacker as an extracurricular place of learning - easy to integrate into the curriculum

The Future Field can be visited between May and September as an extracurricular learning venue for the topics of agriculture, nutrition, climate protection and biodiversity. The educational units are led by experienced environmental educators and usually last an entire school morning.

Structure

1. DOUBLE LESSON:

Field tour
Basics of organic vegetable growing
Practical unit including handling gardening tools: sowing, planting, weeding, mulching, watering, preparing nettle slurry
Discovering the field stations: Observing insects, weather station, soil science, creative market, handicrafts
Tasting of herbs and vegetables

2ND DOUBLE LESSON:

Bee excursion
Sensory exercises
Getting to know the cultural landscape: fallow deer, chickens, cattle, ponds, cereals, hedges/meadows, birds, insects
Mini fields for at home: vegetable harvest, bouquets of herbs, sunflower pots, seed bombs
Games related to the topic
Reflection round

→ Schedule and content may change depending on the season.

On request, we also offer follow-up multi-plikator appointments where the children can visit the field with their families and pass on what they have learned.

Ecological focus topics

Healthy nutrition and regional food
(Organic) agriculture and cultural landscape
Environmental protection, economic interests and global justice
Responsibility as a consumer
Soil pollution and the water cycle
Farm animals (bees) and crops (vegetables)
Plant and animal species in nature
Sensory experiences
Craftsmanship vs. mass production
Sustainable development as a social task

Social skills

Equal handling of tools
Mindfulness for others and self-strength
Assumption of rights and duties
Promotion of (own) well-being

Further information:

Visit by appointment only
There is a contribution towards expenses
Materials (tools, gloves) and basic infrastructure (toilets, water, rain protection, grassy area for breaks) are available
Packing list (food, clothing) by arrangement
Recommended target group: 3rd/4th grade

Thank you for your interest in education for sustainable development!

I know why the Future Field is called that: Because that's how the future should be - completely environmentally friendly.

Pupil

My best field experience was dirty hands.

Workshop participant

I learned how many animals live in a handful of soil.