The “1001 Tomatoes” Biodiversity Project

Environmental Interest Group of the German Association of Bahá’í Studies:
The “1001 Tomatoes” Biodiversity Project

The biodiversity project was initiated by the Environmental Interest Group of the German Association of Bahá’í Studies. After reading about Adassiyih, a Bahá’í village in Jordan that became a model farm community with support from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, several group members felt inspired to take action. The idea emerged to involve children and junior youth in a meaningful initiative that would foster environmental awareness and service.

The group selected a project called “1001 Tomatoes”, a collaborative effort between group members and the organisation Essbare Stadt e.V. (“Edible City”). The project aimed to explore the remarkable biodiversity found in a common vegetable, while also teaching growing and propagation methods. At the same time, it offered an opportunity to engage young people in a service-oriented learning experience.

Following several Zoom meetings, the project was launched in 2024. Animators of local junior youth groups were invited to participate and to present the activity to their groups as a service project. Initially, it was challenging to spark interest among the junior youth, with some groups showing only limited enthusiasm. Over time, however, a few groups became actively involved and more young people joined.

Participants received seeds and written instructions on how to sow and grow them into seedlings. The seeds — donated free of charge by the Hofheim Seed Library — were sent to the animators.

Sowing began in March 2024, and by mid-May the young tomato plants were ready to be transplanted. The cultivation site was a plot of land located between the Hazira and the House of Worship in Langenhain. On 25 May, up to 30 children, junior youth, and adults took part in the planting.

Throughout the day, participants learned about biodiversity, the difference between open-pollinated tomatoes and hybrid varieties, and how to harvest seeds to either return to the seed library or grow in their own gardens. By the end of the day, nearly 100 tomato plants had been successfully planted, fertilised, staked, and watered. The planting proved to be a joyful and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

In the following weeks, the gardener of the House of Worship continued to care for the plants through regular watering, securing them to support stakes, and applying lime to protect against snails and slugs.

A couple of months later, the tomatoes were ready for harvest. Passers-by were invited to pick the ripe tomatoes. The tomatoes varied from red, round, and small to oval and orange, or even blue-green and heart-shaped. The diversity was striking, and the flavour far superior to tomatoes from the supermarket.

Looking back, it became clear that while motivating the junior youth at the beginning required effort, once the seedlings were in the ground, all age groups worked together with joy and enthusiasm. Having a dedicated gardener nearby to tend to the plants proved invaluable.

Growing the seedlings required careful planning, patience, and attentiveness. Once the seeds had germinated, the young plants had to be pricked out and repotted. As they matured, side shoots had to be pinched off. After many weeks of care and learning, participants were amazed by the diversity of tomatoes and the experience of growing their own food.

For the youth and children, the project offered more than just gardening — it fostered responsibility, patience, and cooperation, as well as a deeper appreciation for the natural world.