Liquorice root
City of Bamberg / Jürgen Schraudner
Re-cultivating urban fields with traditional crops
Bamberg Heritage Garden
City of Bamberg
Vegetables from the Heritage Garden
City of Bamberg / Hannah Röhlen
Uncultivated land was used to establish a Heritage Garden with endemic plants and to re-cultivate liquorice. Europe-wide trade in seeds and liquorice root once formed a significant part of the local economy. The plant was used for medical purposes and as a sweetener. However, liquorice root from Bamberg lost its competitiveness during the 1960s. Correspondingly, the knowledge about cultivating, harvesting and processing liquorice has diminished. The Liquorice Society is committed to the re-cultivation of the plant and tries to reconstruct methods of harvesting and processing. International competitiveness no longer plays a role today. The liquorice root is now a connoisseur product for tourists.
- Committed individuals: one of them owns a piece of land; others are interested in gardening, however, don’t have a garden to themselves.
- Available land.
The commitment needs to be maintained beyond the initially funded period: positive media feedback as well as experiencing the community of like-minded people inspired continued commitment.