It is getting cold, and not only do we have to prepare ourselves for the winter, but the plants do as well. This week, Krystina, Maria, and I went to the community garden to prepare the plants for the upcoming season.

For Maria and me, it was a new experience, and that’s why we were so grateful that Krystina, our gardening expert, showed us how to deal with different plants. We cleaned the four beds and removed grass and those plants that are not winterproof. In doing so, we harvested a few more things, such as radishes, beans, and onions. Even though there wasn’t much left, I was still impressed by how easily it seemed to grow your own vegetables and herbs.

In the fruit section, we sorted the strawberries and replanted them in a different order to maximize their growth. It was helpful to learn how to plant them correctly so that they don’t float as soon as it starts to rain. Pro tip: dig a deep hole and push the plants as deep as you can, with the roots inside. It doesn’t matter if you can still see the leaves, because in winter they will die anyway. The roots are the important part.

Overall, we had a lot of fun and learned more about growing plants from scratch. And now, we are prepared to repeat the process in spring.

Article Paula,
European Solidarity Corps volunteers.

Daily life and activities article for European Solidarity Corps volunteers from 16/10/2025