The summer urns at Astrid Lindgren's childhood home on the outskirts of Vimmerby are this year filled with edible plants such as cabbage, beetroot, parsley, fennel, and sage. An inspiring and obvious choice when this year's theme is food at Astrid Lindgren's Näs. In the former rectory, the exhibition FOOD – more than a meal is currently on display. In the garden house, which is nestled in the facility's lovely gardens, there are activities for both young and old, examples of urban gardening, and – to the great joy of Astrid Lindgren's Heritage – the Odlingsakademien film produced by Mattias Eliasson, Obygdens Film.
During the summer months, we thus have the opportunity to spread the Odlingsakademien message about gardening on nature's terms to both locals and visitors in the tourist town of Vimmerby.
The exhibition FOOD – more than a meal highlights themes such as gardening, production, transport, storage, as well as use and reuse. With objects and stories from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, it provides a picture of how food traditions have been shaped and changed while also looking forward and aiming to inspire sustainable development in food production. It is produced by Regionmuseet Skåne together with the Norwegian open-air museum Maihaugen in Lillehammer and the Danish Den Gamle By in Aarhus with support from the Nordic Culture Fund and Nordic Cultural Contact.
– The exhibition addresses many aspects of food. The questions are closely related to Astrid Lindgren, in her commitment to animal husbandry and pastures, but also in the many fantastic food stories she wrote. Through them, she has spread our Småland ”food heritage” and much more that meals give us, and therefore the exhibition feels obvious to show here, says Anneli Karlsson, exhibition producer at Astrid Lindgren's Näs, who is also a gardener and initiated the collaboration with Odlingsakademien.
Hillevi Helmfrid, course leader at Odlingsakademien, was one of the speakers at the opening of the exhibition in May.
Astrid Lindgren's Näs, and all exhibitions, are open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM until September 20.
Be sure to book a guided tour in Astrid Lindgren's childhood home and see the permanent exhibition about the author's life, works, and contributions; Astrid Lindgren's and the power of fairy tales.