Garden culture in the Starnberg district: Awards for green heroes!

Garden culture in the Starnberg district: Awards for green heroes!

A celebratory reception was recently held in the picturesque Starnberg district to honor the achievements and commitment of gardeners in the region. Annemarie Pentenrieder and Ralf Maier were honored for their special achievements in gardening. Thanks to their tireless commitment and innovation, natural gardens and sustainable gardening practices are very popular in the region.

During the event, 13 natural gardens in the Starnberg district that underwent certification were also honored. This award under the motto “Bavaria is blooming – natural garden” is intended not only to emphasize the beauty and diversity of the gardens, but also to promote awareness of ecological practices. The District Association for Horticulture and Land Conservation Starnberg e.V. is an important contact point for garden owners who want to opt for environmentally friendly design. For just 40 euros for members and 80 euros for non-members, interested gardeners can have their own garden paradises certified, according to the websites of Merkur and District Association for Horticulture and Land Management Starnberg.

For diversity and sustainability

The aim of the certification is to create habitats for numerous plants and animals, with the focus on promoting biodiversity in settlements and the open landscape. The term “natural garden” stands for conscious design in harmony with nature, and not for an uncontrolled wilderness. Information is available in various brochures and PDFs that provide information about the criteria and the registration process.

A highlight of the reception was the recognition of the participants in the “Open Garden Day” as well as the first place winners in the “Scattered fruit – colorful and lively!” competition. This competition illustrates the valuable contribution of fruit and horticultural associations to the promotion of orchards. This year eight horticultural clubs took part, and the top three winners, as a true role model for all garden lovers, are the Breitbrunn fruit and horticultural association, the Gilching fruit and horticultural association and the Machtlfing fruit and horticultural association.

Inspiring personalities

The awards for the natural garden certifications went to a large number of committed gardeners, including Jekaterina Bayer from Perchting and Angela Schuster from Berg. In addition to them, schools such as the Montessori school in Gilching were also honored for their contributions to the natural garden movement.

The work of Annemarie Pentenrieder, who launched the “Orchard Fruit for All” program and used it to provide 300 fruit trees to gardeners, is particularly commendable. Ralf Maier is known for his voluntary work in fruit growing, which includes, among other things, founding a club press and conducting pruning and refinement courses.

In the context of natural gardens and their importance within society, NaturGarten e.V. also plays an important role. This not only advocates for natural public green spaces, but also shows how nature-friendly gardening can work in any living environment. Especially in times of insect extinction and the climate crisis, it is important that private garden owners can also actively contribute to biodiversity, according to Naturgarten.org.

The activities in the Starnberg district are not only a contribution to the beautification of the region, but also a sensible measure to promote a more sustainable environment. A good reason to discover your green thumb yourself and actively participate!