Tag: environment

🌱 Small but Wise Practices in Germany

by Dr. Nelson Kattikat

I am visiting Germany for the third time, especially the Ausfriesland region. The people here are so friendly, and everyone on the street greets each other with a cheerful “Moin – have a beautiful day!” The surroundings are incredibly clean. Most people have dogs, and if the dogs defecate, the owners collect the stool using plastic bags provided in public areas and dispose of it in waste bins.

Nature is so well-preserved—especially the lakes, trees, and greenery. Even large trees on private land must maintain a certain distance from one another so that emergency vehicles can access the premises at any time. Residents maintain the roads in front of their houses themselves and trim the roadside hedges. Additionally, the narrow canals in front of the houses are cleaned by the homeowners.

The traditions of the people in Ausfriesland are quite interesting. They have various types of tea, and I noticed many small cups and saucers in their homes. I visited a few houses, and the people were incredibly warm and welcoming, offering me tea and snacks. After drinking the tea, I noticed that the small spoon is placed inside the cup—this indicates that tea drinking is finished.

Another fascinating tradition I observed occurs before marriage. On the evening before the wedding, during a party, family and friends gather to break all the old cups and saucers. This ritual symbolizes the idea that the old is gone and a new life is beginning. Close relatives of the bride throw and break the crockery, and others strike the broken pieces with their feet. This creates a unique sound, almost like the jingling of coins, mixed with laughter and singing—a joyful celebration of change.

Another thing I noticed relates to food products available in supermarkets. Plastic bags are almost entirely banned in Germany, and instead, people use glass bottles. These bottles can be returned to shops and deposited in automatic collection machines. After depositing, the machine provides a coupon based on the number of bottles returned. This coupon can be used for discounts during shopping.

One thoughtful and sustainable practice I observed in Germany is how small vegetable plants—especially herbs and leafy greens—are sold in supermarkets in pots, ready to be taken home. These are not just cut vegetables wrapped in plastic, but living plants like basil, mint, parsley, chives, spinach, or even cherry tomatoes. You can place them on your kitchen windowsill, water them, and harvest them fresh as needed.

This simple practice reflects a deeper cultural approach to food that blends sustainability, health, and mindfulness.

🌿 Developed Concepts from This Practice

1. From Consumer to Cultivator

Rather than being passive consumers, people become micro-growers. Even with no garden space, a small pot on a windowsill connects people directly to the source of their food.

2. Freshness & Nutrition at Hand

Harvesting herbs just before cooking maximizes flavor and nutritional value. It encourages home cooking and reduces dependence on processed seasonings or packaged condiments.

3. Sustainability & Reduced Waste

Less packaging: Unlike cut herbs wrapped in plastic, these potted herbs come with minimal or biodegradable packaging.

Less food waste: You pick only what you need—no wilting leftovers in the fridge.

Reusable: The pot can be reused, and the soil composted or refreshed.

4. Aesthetic and Emotional Benefits

A living plant in your kitchen isn’t just useful—it adds beauty and calm. Studies show that indoor greenery reduces stress and enhances creativity, even in small urban apartments.

5. Educational for Children

Children can learn about plant life, responsibility, and healthy eating by helping care for these small edible plants. It can spark curiosity about where food comes from and how it’s grown.

💡 Broader Applications & Ideas

Schools and communities can adopt this idea through mini kitchen-gardening kits to teach children about food, sustainability, and self-reliance.

Urban living projects could incorporate balcony or rooftop herb gardens as part of housing design.

Health campaigns might promote the “grow what you eat” model to fight processed food dependency.

NGOs could distribute herb kits to low-income households as a low-cost nutrition and wellness intervention.

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