We had barely started the new year when we were already on our way to the first trade fair. So much for recovering from New Year's Eve ;-) We had big plans for 2020. Our first stop was on January 4th: Trendset in Munich. There we had to mobilize our strength and unpack the van, carry several fruit crates to the booth, set up the booth, arrange the products nicely, happily inspect the booth, take a quick breather, and then - the next morning - greet the first visitors. Then it all happened very quickly... the days practically flew by. So many people, so many impressions, so many conversations. Did we expect so many people? We hoped so. Did we expect SO many people? Never. After three days, we loaded up our van again and drove back to Nordhorn, completely exhausted and at the same time totally happy about this first successful trade fair.

Feeding birds: yes or no? Yes! We've listened to various opinions, scoured blogs, and studied expert knowledge. It may be true that feeding birds isn't actively contributing to species conservation, but the fact is: it doesn't harm anyone! And you get the chance to attract native birds and observe them up close. This is a fantastic experience, especially for kids. Equipped with a telescope, they take up the observation post and learn about different bird species and their behavior. Environmental education at its finest, yet somehow also a small contribution to species conservation, right? After all, what you value, you protect!

They're small, spiky, and somehow really cute: hedgehogs. It's a joy to spot one, because hedgehogs are generally rather shy, and you rarely see one. But where exactly do hedgehogs like to hang out? What do they actually need to feel at home in your garden? We'll tell you how to make your garden hedgehog-friendly and why you absolutely should ;-)

That's a wild headline, and one that made us chuckle at first. As part of our 2019 Advent calendar, we asked our friends at Nearbees if they'd be interested in contributing a guest post and telling us and our readers a bit about bees, or rather, honey bees. After all, they're the experts in the field. To our delight, they were very keen and sent us this wonderful article, which we're happy to publish on our blog. A big thank you to Nearbees, and we hope you enjoy reading it!

The Christmas season is about to get sweet for all urban gardeners! You can conjure up something truly special from the last apple harvest or, alternatively, from stored apples: Carolin's Apple Sugar. Allotment gardener Carolin (plot 14) shared the recipe with us in an interview, and we're now pleased to share it with you. The ingredients are quickly gathered, and you're ready to go.

The pre-Christmas season is such a wonderful time: Windows light up everywhere, and you can faintly hear the first notes of contemplative Christmas carols. And let's not forget the cookies, which taste as delicious as they smell... Yum! Haven't baked any cookies yet? Then it's about time! In addition to classics like vanilla croissants and cinnamon rolls, we can recommend a new creation from our friends at KptnCook: Christmas cookies filled with figs, oranges, and walnuts.