Learning with Nature – Gardening Workshop in Bad Schussenried23. April 2025 by Humboldt-Institut

Spring is just around the corner and it’s showing in our leisure program.

The gardening workshop in Bad Schussenried is all about hands-on experience, but theory and relevant vocabulary are also an important part of the activity. Topics include soil, irrigation, plants, and gardening in general.

These topics and new vocabulary are introduced and reinforced continuously during the activities. One fun example is the word “Mist,” which in German refers both to fertilizer made from animal waste and straw [manure], and informally to something worthless or nonsensical.

Fresh herbs and more

Students learn how to grow their own vegetables and herbs. They started with sowing basil, chili, cress, rocket and chives, among others. The pots with the hopefully thriving plants will be placed in the dining hall and entrance hall. Responsibility for caring for and watering the plants also lies with the students of the gardening workshop.

In the end, however, all students will benefit, as the herbs will be used both in the institute’s kitchen and in the student kitchen. There, the students cook various dishes as part of the leisure program. For example, students may cook dishes from their home country so that all students can learn about and taste the different cuisines of the world!

Time to get to work
But there was still more to do. With shovels, rakes and other tools, students helped to dig up the courtyard, remove roots and much more to make space for new garden beds.

The inner courtyard was not only redesigned, but also beautified with new plants – and the students’ ideas played an active role in the transformation.

Even local wildlife benefits from the gardening workshop. Insect hotels and birdhouses, built by the students, will soon ensure that there is even more life on campus. Bad Schussenried is more than ready for spring!

From soil to stove
With that, the gardening workshop wraps up for now — but its work continues in the cooking workshop. There, students build on the knowledge they gained about plants, nutrition, and sustainable food production, with a special focus on regional ingredients.

Please check our website for more information on our year-round school in Bad Schussenried.