How would you like it if you are able to go to your local park and pick some tomatoes, potatoes or even bananas for dinner. Sounds too good to be true, right? For residents of Andernach, a German city, it’s not just a Utopian dream — it’s the reality. In 2010, Andernach began its “edible city” project, planting 101 varieties of tomatoes in public green spaces around the city centre. Its 30,000 residents are free to help themselves to whatever grows, as are any other visitors. Every year a new type of plant is introduced. In 2021, 100 types of beans were planted, while 2022 saw the introduction of 20 onion varieties. The town’s motto (座右铭) is, “Picking is encouraged — help yourself!”
It’s a community effort, as local citizens are encouraged to help plant and maintain the gardens. This offers an opportunity to socialize as well as to learn about planting, cultivating and harvesting food. “I often drop by to pick some herbs that I’m missing at home. Everything is easily accessible. There aren’t any fences. You just take what you need. The only thing is you have to be quick once the fruits are ripe or they’ll all be gone!” said a local historian.
Andernach may be the first, but it isn’t the only edible city. It’s part of the Edible Cities Network, an EU-funded project connecting green urban food initiatives around the world. Other edible cities include Carthage in Tunisia, Havana in Cuba and Šempeter-Vrtojba in Slovenia. In February 2022, the first Edible Cities Network Conference took place. Dr. Ina Säumel, director of the Edible Cities Network, called it “a unique opportunity to invite researchers and people involved of Edible City Solutions to the same table and unite theory with practice”.
Ultimately, the Edible Cities Network aims to create “greener, more edible and, above all, more livable cities”. It is a response to the pressures of climate change, and a cause for hope.
【小题1】What is paragraph I mainly about?| A．The development of a German city. |
| B．The popularity of Andernach’s city design. |
| C．Approaches of planting vegetables. |
| D．The green food project in Andernach. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Ignorant. | C．Doubtful. | D．Discouraged. |
| A．Edible cities hold meetings on a regular basis. |
| B．German rural areas will also follow the steps. |
| C．Asia will join the Edible Cities Network soon. |
| D．Green urban food is in the upward trend. |
| A．Start a green food campaign now | B．Gain easy access to German food |
| C．Make your cities edible as well | D．Respond quickly to climate change |
