Cultivate for growth

By establishing its own kitchen garden, Bråbygden's parent cooperative has not only reduced vulnerability and increased the amount of locally produced organic vegetables in the preschool's kitchen. The project has also contributed to more families growing. Additionally, both the number of children in the preschool and the number of moving families with children have increased.

About the Project

Sustainability has long been a guiding principle for Bråbygden's parent cooperative. When the community-supported agriculture that supplied vegetables to the preschool was discontinued, the organization began to explore the possibility of growing its own vegetables in its own outdoor area. In the project Cultivate for growth a low-maintenance kitchen garden was created, with the help of part-time employee Luise Carr, with the capacity to make the preschool partially self-sufficient in vegetables – while also spreading knowledge about cultivation.

The 500 square meter garden with 40 planting boxes was established in the spring of 2019 and filled with everything from potatoes and carrots to cabbage and leafy greens. The work started late and combined with a dry summer, the harvest in the first year was smaller than expected. In the second year, the soil was built up with biomass and nutrients, and an automatic irrigation system was installed, which resulted in a significantly better harvest.
– In the second year, we also adjusted the sowing according to what the children liked to eat. New Zealand spinach became a big favorite. The radishes were fewer and the peas more, remembers Luise.
The children participated in the daily activities and the parents were involved during the parent cooperative's workdays.
– Both children, parents, and staff in the child groups and kitchen were curious and interested. Many were also inspired to start growing themselves in their own gardens, says Louise, adding that several families also chose the preschool because of the focus on cultivation. During the project period, several families with children moved to Bråbygden.

When the project ended in 2021, a gardening group of parents was formed to take responsibility for the kitchen garden. Managing the cultivation on a voluntary basis naturally means completely different conditions than having a gardener employed part-time. However, there is no stress or pressure regarding the cultivation in the parent cooperative. Cultivation should be enjoyable. Last summer, potatoes, garlic, corn, tomatoes, and peppers were among the harvest.