Kaihagen: Urban Garden

projects

Apr 1

Bioregion Institute is excited to initiate the Kaihagen project: we want to show the variety of edible plants that can grow in our climate. We want to inspire people to grow their own food, which reduces one's carbon footprint.

Nature and gardening are showing us circularity of materials and nutrients, and with composting we connect ourselves to this process. With this small oasis of biodiversity on the dock, we aim to create a social hotspot for people of all walks of life.

On the same quay that we are located, the landowner, Marin Eiendomsutvikling AS, develops much more. The neighboring building, Smien, is becoming a room for a lot of activities and events such as Food and Beer Festival, concerts, street food, youth cultural activities, regular Farmers Market and more.

Led by Rick Akerboom, in collaboration with the Bioregion Institute, Kaihagen, fruit of the pre-project Urban dyrking, is ongoing and carried out in collaboration with our landowner.

The Kaihagen project aims to get people together and revalue their relationship to nature and food towards holistic thinking and behaviour. We want to show the wide variety of food that can be grown in our climate, even in urban spaces. Growing locally severely reduces one's carbon footprint and can increase both mental and physical health. The garden will serve as an intergenerational sharing space for local knowledge on self sufficiency, as well as a place to meet or just hang out.

*Photo 1: releasing tiger worms into the compost bins.*

*Photo 2: gathering local resources in Laksevåg to add nutrients to the compost.*

We are structurally piloting to replace carbon intense gardening objects with sustainable alternatives. Currently we are developing an easy DIY raised bed blueprint and we are looking for alternatives to plastic raised bed lining. Our planning phase turns into establishing phase: Valuable garbage wood from several of our partners is starting to accumulate to build gardening modules, outdoor furniture and more. Our composting system is coming alive to provide next season's nutrients.

We are very happy and thankful for the funding from Klimaetaten and Bergen Kommune in Mai 2022 to realise Kaihagen!