The Wetterau region in Hesse is known for its fertile soil and, as history shows, has always been highly coveted and contested. It is understandable that the Romans already made an ‘engaging’ arc into the Wetterau with their Limes. Our plants working group is not just about a few herbs, shrubs or fruit trees. In addition to food, clothing and building materials (wood, willow, flax, reeds), medicine with a small medicinal and herb garden is also important. We have already had contact with archaeobotany at the Celtic World on the Glauberg and the Lauresham open-air laboratory in Lorsch, which has become an important partner for our plant group in particular.

The planning group plans the buildings/houses to be built on the development site and then the locations for gardens and trees can be determined. Of course, many questions arise here. How was this approached in the 11th century? What did people eat and what did they eat, how were minor illnesses treated? Were only regional plants and medicinal herbs used?

In 2025, we want to start the first test plantings and work trials with our own customised tools on our trial site. Otherwise, we will continue to expand our network and research everything to do with plants and gardens. It’s really amazing what interesting projects with common interfaces there are across Europe. We will also continue our search for old apple tree varieties. Here we have a great co-operation with the Nabu Ortenberg and the Pomologenverein/ Landesgruppe Hessen. If we have now aroused your interest and this is exactly your passion, then we look forward to hearing from you.