In the volunteer editorial team, Volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
Andrea lives in Chemnitz. Before retiring, she worked as a teacher. As a result, she has a good feel for language and an eye for detail - all qualities that she brings to the volunteer editorial team of Chemnitz 2025.
My husband was actually supposed to write this article, as he is the one who was on site both when the trees were planted and after 100 days. But as it is with men, they never do what they are supposed to. So I'm going to report on this wonderful idea in his place. Actually, I am also the part of our partnership that is interested in gardens and plants.
Apples - perhaps the Germans' favourite fruit and, with more than 2000 varieties, also one of the most widespread in the world! And 174 trees with 174 different apple varieties have been standing in Chemnitz City Park for exactly 100 days thanks to the Living Neighbourhood project. In the summer heat, they were watered by hard-working helpers and even had time to form fruit, which was removed so that they could grow big and strong. Only two trees were probably overlooked. And they are all 174 still there! Even if one or two of them look a little damaged thanks to boisterous youngsters who had to indulge in their destructive behaviour. A pity really, because they will be the ones to benefit. A tree like this takes a very long time to reach its full size.
When they were planted, the weather was not at its best, with constant drizzle causing problems for the many volunteer planters. Those who had wellies were well advised to wear them. I didn't envy my husband and expected him to return home very soon due to a lack of participants. But I was completely wrong: People from Chemnitz are not made of sugar and are not easily impressed by the weather. So many people turned up that the trees were planted very quickly!
On 9 July, exactly 100 days later, I looked out of the window and had déjà vu: it was raining, the sky was grey and I didn't really want to get out of bed. But the closer it got to the start, the better it got. In the end, it didn't rain the entire time. But there was a lot going on: Radio T provided the music, the people from the project had provided refreshments (apple crisps, apple pie, hot and cold apple juice, apple pieces to nibble on), but also some comfort (sun loungers, beer table sets) - you immediately felt at ease. The interesting information and conversations also contributed to this. My very special thanks go to Mr Amme, an apple expert, who very patiently answered all my questions about apples and apple trees and organised a very interesting tour of the grounds for everyone.
The highlight was a planting certificate for those who had planted in the spring. And this is where my husband comes into play again - he also got to take one home with him as a volunteer who helped with the planting!