By Isabel Pancake
You can snack on every corner of this 367 square meter summer paradise! Grapes, pears or apples – all of this is available in Petra and Klaus Neumann’s (both 72) allotment garden in Schmargendorf.
They have been enthusiastic allotment gardeners for more than 20 years, and since 2015 the Oeynhausen colony has been their happiness. The two come to the arbor for coffee in the morning. They sit on the grass in their high-back chairs.
Put the summer paradise series in a special offer. Still belongs to the allotment garden of Klaus and Petra Neumann (both 72) in Oeynhausen. The historical photo, so to speak. Photo: private
“I throw a handful of seeds to the sparrows and they eat breakfast with me,” says Klaus. Every two days he feeds the birds in the extra houses with sunflower seeds and wheat.
Listen to what’s chirping. The birdhouse gets a lot of visitors. Every two days, Klaus Neumann refills with sunflower seeds and wheat Photo: Christian Lohse
Everything the couple harvests in the garden is processed directly in the kitchen. “The apple harvest starts at the end of August. At the weekend, my grandnephews come over and pick the pears,” says Petra.
The apple harvest doesn’t start until the end of August. Petra processes everything that the garden has to offer right away in the kitchen Photo: Christian Lohse
The kohlrabi didn’t grow that big in the raised bed this year. Petra: “We put too much horse manure in the ground. That’s why the leaves have shot, but the tubers haven’t.” And voles have them, too. The turnips are eaten anyway: Petra breads the kohlrabi slices and then puts them on the grill: “A vegetarian schnitzel.”
The Oeynhausen eV allotment gardeners’ association from a bird’s eye view. The garden of the Neumanns (district) is 367 square meters Photo: Christian Lohse
The pride of Klaus: the rose garden. His tip: “Always dig up the soil fresh and cut down the rose bushes in autumn.”
Such a beautiful garden is a lot of work! “We can’t just go on vacation in the summer, because we always need someone to water,” says Petra.
The rose garden is Klaus’ pride and joy. He prefers the yellow rose because it always has several flowers at once Photo: Christian Lohse
The two have been traveling to Binz on Rügen for almost 20 years. They have also brought a piece of beach and sea into their garden: lighthouses, ships and captain figures are everywhere, and the arbor furnishings are also maritime.
A piece of the Baltic Sea coast in the middle of Schmargendorf. The Neumanns always spend their holidays in Binz on Rügen. Your windship sets sail in the countryside Photo: Christian Lohse
Once a month, Klaus organizes his own small flea market in front of the fence: “The neighbors bring me everything they want to get rid of and I sell it for a few euros.” The pensioner later uses the proceeds from the grill, stereo system and crockery to buy new ones seeds for the garden.
The maritime gable picture shows: Berliners who also love the sea have made themselves comfortable under this roof Photo: Christian Lohse
Sometimes Petra and Klaus just relax. Then friends from football, tennis or bowling drop by for a cold beer. They love the Neumanns’ summer paradise too…
Nice living in the arbor. Lots and lots of wood, a big cozy bed with pillows, pictures. The furnishings bear the signature of Petra Neumann Photo: Christian Lohse
The weather house is a souvenir from a holiday. A very handy reminder. Then the Neumanns always know in advance when they have to water Photo: Christian Lohse
Arbor taken over for 10,000 euros
► Our historical paradise: The colony of the allotment garden association Oeynhausen eV at Friedrichshaller Strasse 3-5 in Wilmersdorf has existed since 1904 and is one of the oldest and largest in Berlin. Part of the gardens had to be given up for apartments.
► We’ve been waiting for this for so long: Petra and Klaus had an allotment garden at the southern end for 25 years, but the colony was demolished. In September 2015 they came to Oeynhausen, where their garden had to make way again. They have been enjoying their current paradise since the end of 2016.
► It costs: They took over the arbor for 10,000 euros.
► Our greatest happiness here: “I like the yellow rose best,” says Klaus, “it always has three or four flowers at once.”
Join us!
Dear BZ readers, we would also like to get to know your summer paradise! Whether you spend the hot days in the garden, on the balcony or on the boat: we come to you! Send us a photo or video and a few sentences at [email protected].