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Two passionate hobby gardeners, a new field and many plans: A seasonal garden is being built at Theresienhof in the west of Fulda, for which Maren Faulstich and Ines Kimmel are still looking for fellow gardeners.
Fulda – At the moment, the field that Ines Kimmel and Maren Faulstich have leased behind the Theresienhof still looks inconspicuous. But in just a few months, dozens of different types of vegetables will be growing here: potatoes, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, corn, chard, beans, radishes, spinach, peas, zucchini, tomatoes, leeks and others.
“Everything is organic,” emphasizes Ines Kimmel. “Everything is framed by a strip of flowers. To attract bees – and for insect diversity,” she adds. It still takes a little imagination to picture the new vegetable garden at Theresienhof in Fulda, but the two women know what they are talking about.
Seasonal garden in Fulda moves from the Eisweiher to Theresienhof
Since 2019, Ines Kimmel has been harvesting her own vegetables in the seasonal garden, which was then still located at the ice pond. Maren Faulstich joined five years ago. At that time, everything was still done through Tegut, but the grocer's project ended in 2024. Since 2025, the three Fulda seasonal gardens have been under the sponsorship of the Culture and Environmental Education Support Association.
The three Fulda seasonal gardens are located at Theresienhof, at Sprengelsrasen and on the roof of the Karl concept department store. The hobby gardeners organized the garden themselves for the first time – initially at the ice pond, where the seasonal garden was located for 16 years. But then the city canceled the lease in order to use the site to build a new sports field for FV Horas.
Background: Theresienhof seasonal garden
Plots in three sizes are available: 30, 40 and 60 square meters. Around 30 different organic seeds and plants are provided for all plots. The usage fees including seeds, young plants, garden tools and water are between 110 and 235 euros for one season. Registrations by email by mid-April saisongarten-theresienhof@gmx.de.
The gardeners had to look for a new location. This season, Faulstich and Kimmel will be gardening next to Theresienhof for the first time. “We have a great cooperation with Antonius, and Perspective “It's also really helpful,” says Maren Faulstich. “Initially it was difficult to set up the new location, but we now have 14 registrations.”
The plots are available in sizes between 30 and 60 square meters. At the end of April, around 30 different types of vegetables are sown per plot. “Everyone tends their vegetables independently, but everything is prepared together in advance,” explains Maren Faulstich. “We are not professionals, we just garden as a hobby.” Nevertheless, we help each other when support is needed.
“Everything is available on site. From the rake to the watering can to water – you practically don't have to bring anything with you.” The season runs until October or November, depending on the weather. “We give the area away in the fall, Antonius prepares it, and next year we take it back for the seasonal garden,” says Maren Faulstich.
Friendship grows between beans and potatoes
The two women plan to divide the field into around 24 plots. “It’s even more beautiful here than it used to be at the ice pond,” says Ines Kimmel. The seasonal garden there was directly on the street, while the field behind the Theresienhof is in a much quieter environment. Nevertheless, it can be easily reached by car, bike or bus.
Ines Kimmel and Maren Faulstich see many advantages in gardening in a seasonal garden. “You get great organic vegetables – you can’t find this quality in the supermarket,” says Ines Kimmel. “And having your own salad is just something fantastic.” For Maren Faulstich, it is also valuable to be able to show children where their food comes from and how much time and care goes into a plant.
“Harvesting potatoes is like digging gold,” she says. “You never know beforehand how the tuber will turn out.” For both of them, the garden is a balance to their everyday working lives and a place to meet. People from all different backgrounds come together in the seasonal garden: families with children, students, pensioners. This makes the garden a special place.
“It would be nice if young people from Perspektiva could also be there in the future so that we can combine the two,” says Maren Faulstich. The two have long confirmed that the garden brings people together: at least one friendship has already grown here – between rows of beans and potato beds.
