Local Foods: EcoMarkt Schöneweide

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A market is a place where attractions meet. Or are created.

Last weekend, I went to a fascinating market event. I have to call it an “event” because it is so much more than a market. It was set amid an industrial monument that was once the heart of Berlin’s famed “Electropolis” by the River Spree. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the AEG (Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft), formerly the German Edison Society for Applied Electronics, turned ideas into innovations, including light bulbs, televisions, and even electric cars! The Rathenau family was the driving force behind the company, setting standards not only in electronics, but also in social responsibility. AEG was one of the first companies to provide health insurance, social services, cafeterias, and a company kindergarten.

Those surroundings are the ideal backdrop for the EcoMarkt Schöneweide. It is organized by the nonprofit organization Schönevibes Kollektiv e.V., which launches community initiatives, cultural events, and creative projects for people of all ages in Schöneweide. Since sustainable living and nutrition are two of the Kollektiv’s main objectives, they have partnered with Slow Food Berlin for the market.

Although it was a bit warm last Saturday, the market itself was simple splendid. There was a wide range of stands offering organic groceries, cheese, and even yoga. Food trucks had hot and cold treats for sale. Arts and crafts vendors, along with stalls selling delicious fresh vegetables and fruits, provided a vibrant palette of colors and patterns, beautifully framing the venue by the river. Meanwhile, impromptu performances of indigenous music floated through the air. Everything came together to create … a unique momentum of inspiration for authentic living. Which kind of fits the place in another respect: Once, this was a beautiful green space by the river. That’s how the name of the district came about: “Schöne Weyde,” meaning “Beautiful Meadow.” So, in a way, the EcoMarkt Schöneweide is now recreating both the spirit of innovation and awareness of nature.

As I said, it’s very fascinating. I will obviously have to go back and explore some more next month.

Six pictures above: These are some of the impressions and products from Wilde Gärtnerei, a local farm which had a stand there. The foods are simply gorgeous and produced according to the highest ecological and ethical standards.
Did I mention that they taste delicious, too?

Side Notes:

  • The EcoMarkt Schöneweide has been taking place on the second Saturday of every month since May and will continue to do so until October of this year (next dates September 13 and October 11). You can easily reach the market via public transportation at the Wilhelminenhofstraße/Edisonstraße stop, which is accessible via the Schöneweide S-Bahn station and streetcars crossing the bridge to Oberschöneweide. For more background and event information, see the [InfoByteSized] page under “M” for “Markets.”