Heiligensee celebrates 123 years of agriculture: a festival for the future!

Heiligensee celebrates 123 years of agriculture: a festival for the future!

Heiligensee, Berlin, Deutschland - Agriculture is very important in the Heiligensee district of Reinickendorf. The Zorn family has been managing the farm place there for 123 years and celebrated the second “field festival” on the Nordfeld last weekend. At this event, not only residents came, but also numerous visitors from Berlin who experienced the farm shop as a relaxing trip to the country. District Mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner (CDU) took the time for a tour of the courtyard, which is operated in the fourth generation, while the fifth is already in the starting blocks.

son Marco, who is a newly qualified farmer, is ready to take over the family business. This handover is particularly important, since the Zorn family has switched to biological agriculture in sidelines since 2023. The brothers rely on mechanical weed control and avoid the use of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides. They see biological agriculture as forward -looking and appeal to the urban visitors to better understand the charm of agriculture.

urban agriculture in focus

urban agriculture, which has established itself as a platform for food production in urban areas, is becoming increasingly popular not only in Heiligensee, but more popular worldwide. This includes various forms of agricultural production in urban areas, including animal husbandry and horticulture. It is important that urban agriculture goes beyond simple house and allotment gardens and also includes agriculture and innovative cultivation methods such as aquaponics that aim to master the challenges of urban food supply. In Berlin, this is supplemented by local initiatives that explore the potential of urban cultivation systems.

The anger brothers carry out direct measures to improve sustainability on their farm. For example, they supply 85 cattle with self -grown food, which supports local food supply. At the same time, the urban framework conditions result in many challenges. In this way, innovative solutions have to be found to get the limited urban space and the changing soil quality under control.

The challenges of urban agriculture

In urban areas such as Berlin, access to fresh food is not always guaranteed. Urban agriculture aims to facilitate this access through the use of limited areas and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions. Challenges such as the availability of water resources and planning policy require creative approaches and joint commitment. For example, technologies such as rainwater collection and efficient irrigation methods have to be expanded in order to make the cultivation sustainably.