spring in raised bed

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A raised bed on the roof of the Ringier building: Blick garden specialist Scarlet Allenspach (35) has been running the season from here since last spring. Now the bed wakes up: with weekly tips on Blick TV.

Allenspach and Blick want to make it easier for beginners to start gardening and to motivate them in that direction. Because it doesn’t matter whether on the balcony or in the garden: In just a few simple steps, you can grow your own vegetables in a small area. Allenspach sows only what is useful, whether for humans, animals or nature: “If I do something for worms and insects, then they do something for my vegetables. That’s how the cycle closes.”

New project in Mallorca

Allenspach used his winter vacation for his new permaculture project: Son Selva, his lifelong dream, is growing up in Mallorca. A huge forest garden will be created on a piece of land the size of three football fields – at some point the entrepreneur wants to live there entirely. But that will take some time: “First we planted a total of 100 trees and shrubs – a huge job.” Because the old almond field has a rocky ground. To dig holes for roots, you need an excavator and a budget.

“It also takes a lot of work to refill the gaps,” Allenspach says. So with compost, horse manure and biochar. In the meantime, there is a water tank for the operation of the irrigation system. All this is possible only because the project is supported by a community. A sponsorship for 30 large trees planted is CHF 300 each. Almond trees are also being reforested: “At first I thought almost all of them were dead. But we managed to save almost half of it.”

Seven plant layers

Allenspach is experimenting with different forms of sustainable farming, including Syntropic Farming, developed by Swiss geneticist and farmer Ernst Götsch (75) at Son Selva. This means that not only trees are planted, but also seven layers of different sizes: “This goes from bush near the ground to the top,” says Allenspach. This is especially important in the Mediterranean climate so that the plants can shade each other.

Allenspach is never alone when he works in the fields: his Border Collie Pino accompanies him every step of the way. She adopted him from an animal shelter in Mallorca late last summer. “He’s a good digger, we’ve taught him that – dogs of his breed need to be trained.” And even when he’s out in the field with Pino, he never feels alone. “So far 100 people have supported the project and somehow they are always there for me – it’s a good feeling.”

After three months on the island, Allenspach has returned to Switzerland and is starting out with fresh gardening tips on the roof. Three raised beds have just been planted, one of which will be three sister beds with corn, pumpkin and beans. And perennials, artichokes and strawberries will bloom again.

Source : Blick