Initial Beet Salad Recipe

Celebrating Harvest Day at the Grafschafter Diakonie's Communal Kitchen

Fridays at the Grafschafter Diakonie's Stationary Youth Welfare mean communal cooking and a hearty meal. Lilly-Sophie and Simon worked together on Friday, May 30th, stirring and whipping, while brainstorming ways to decorate the table. This wasn't just another cooking day; it was the celebrated Harvest Day!

The secret ingredient? Homegrown produce! The facility's culinary team, with help from the Association for Civic Engagement e.V., built a raised bed garden from recycled materials a few months back. The young adults at Grafschafter Diakonie nurtured the seeds into thriving herbs, like chives and garlic, for their very first time.

Karina Stelkens, co-leader of the cooking group, sees immense benefits from such experiences: "We work here to help them understand they can achieve something on their own. It may seem impossible at first, but they can."

Named home to 18 young adults and 4 young parents with emotional and social development needs, the Grafschafter Diakonie offers a nurturing environment. In two-person flats, family apartments, or single apartments, residents learn skills necessary for independent living, like shopping, cooking, and upkeep. They even have a cooking group every Friday from 4:30 PM to find creative, nutritious meal ideas.

The communal kitchen garden offers more than just fresh produce. It serves as a unique setting where life skills are honed, and confidence built.

A Closer Look at the Benefits

Practical Skills

Gardening Techniques: Young adults learn hands-on how to cultivate various plants.
Cooking & Nutrition Awareness: Nutritious meals are prepared with fresh, homegrown ingredients, educating residents about healthy meal choices.

Teamwork and Cooperation: Working together builds teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
Community Engagement: Opportunities for residents to connect with local community members, school groups, or volunteers boost social networks and combat feelings of isolation.

Emotional and Personal Development

Responsibility and Accountability: Residents gain a sense of responsibility through caring for plants and maintaining the garden.
Self-Confidence and Achievement: Successfully growing and sharing food can bolster self-esteem, pride, and overall sense of accomplishment.
Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being: Gardening has therapeutic effects, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.

Pre-Vocational Training: The garden project can act as a stepping stone, introducing horticulture, catering, and community work skills.
Time Management and Organization: Planning and organizing garden activities help develop organizational and time management skills.

In summary, the communal kitchen garden does more than mere food production. It fosters vital life skills, encourages confidence, and prepares young residents for greater independence or future employment. This unique environment provides a profound positive impact on those who partake in it, ensuring a vibrant future for them all.

The homegrown produce in the communal kitchen garden at Grafschafter Diakonie, such as chives and garlic, is used to prepare nutritious meals, promoting awareness about healthy meal choices and cooking techniques.
In addition to fresh produce, the communal kitchen garden at Grafschafter Diakonie serves as a setting where young adults and parents can hone practical skills like gardening, building their responsibility and accountability.
Teamwork and cooperation are cultivated in the communal kitchen garden as residents work together, creating opportunities for them to build communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills.
By successfully growing and sharing food from the communal kitchen garden, young adults and parents at Grafschafter Diakonie can boost their self-confidence, pride, and a sense of achievement, contributing to their emotional and personal development.
The communal kitchen garden at Grafschafter Diakonie acts as a stepping stone for pre-vocational training, introducing horticulture, catering, and community work skills, potentially leading to future employment opportunities.