Before moving to Ecodorp Bergen, I had a few goals that I had set up for myself. One was that I wanted to learn more about gardening. I grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden, and was lucky to have a forest almost around the corner. Already at an early age I became interested in nature and plants. However, we lived in an apartment with no garden so I never learned any gardening skills. We would also buy all of our food, so I’ve always felt like I’ve been disconnected from the food supply chain. When I worked in the garden of Helen and Paul in Scotland I was a complete beginner but my oh my how much I liked it! It was such a pleasure to be able to eat freshly harvested vegetables and know exactly where they came from. In Ecodorp Bergen I feel the same way. I can pull out a carrot from the soil and cook something with it fifteen minutes later.
Roughly I have two gardening days per week here, Thursdays and Fridays. On Thursdays I usually work with the other ESC:er I’m here with, María, and this ecovillager named Klaas. Klaas is a friendly man, very knowledgeable in gardening and I learn something new every time. On Fridays we have the ‘meewerkdag’, a day where all the villagers come together and do something for the ecovillage, so that is also an opportunity for me to put my hands into the soil.
There are many fascinating things to be found in this garden. One of my favourite plants so far is ‘ijskruid’, sometimes known as iceplant in English. I had never heard of it before but it’s just so nice! Its crispy, juicy leaves look like they are covered with glistening pearls, and interestingly they taste both a bit sour and salty, which you typically wouldn’t expect from leafy greens. Apparently the plant used to be grown in the United States and Europe the 18th and 19th century but then it fell into oblivion for some reason. This is really a shame and I definitely think it deserves to be enjoyed by more people. Two vegetables that I have opened my eyes to are pumpkin and aubergine. I haven’t really thought particularly highly of either of them previously, but after having had a few pumpkin soups and stews I must say that pumpkins are quite great. You can actually eat the skin of them as well, I didn’t know that! As for aubergine, if you cook it correctly it can become incredibly silky and delicious.
Once a month, the Youth house cooks for the whole ecovillage and today is the day. We are going to make roasted tomato soup and brussels sprouts served with rice and green kale salad, so tasty! (Veggies from the garden, of course.)