It’s finally Saturday and the way leads to Zehlendorf – directly to the flower stand of Sonja and Jim Reifferscheid, the creators of Von Hand. Here you can find everything your heart desires: flowers, herbs and grasses, perennials and annual cut flowers. There is not a week in the year in which not even a branch makes it into one of my vases – preferably an indication of each season and from the region. The month of August is at its best and the flower stand is a splendor of vibrant pink and yellow. Countless containers full of dahlias, roses, ox-eyes, zinnias, snapdragons, as well as burnets, thyme and fragrant phlox – a sea of cut flowers from the countryside. The neighborhood knows Sonja and Jim’s flower stand, and it’s not long before one bouquet after another leaves. The last of the fiery dahlias are gone – I have to hurry with my selection!
Back to Sonja and Jim: she is a cultural manager, he – a landscape architect. Both were drawn out into the countryside – away from the noise of the city and working on the computer every day. After taking over a former farm in Werder an der Havel, they founded their business Von Hand. On their 1.5 acre field they grow not only flowers, but also fruits and vegetables – following the ideals and approaches of permaculture, No-Dig methods and other ecological principles. They sow, harvest and process their plants and do so without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and are part of the Slowflower movement. Their awareness of handwork and seasonality is what sets them apart. In the future they want to deepen and teach this through workshops about food, agriculture, handicrafts and sustainable floristry. A taster and daily companion is their vegetable box – full of seasonal varieties and also regional and gorgeous, like the flower selection at the stand in Zehlendorf.
Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: MERK & MARK
Hof von Sonja & Jim Reifferscheid, Bliesendorfer Str.55, 14542 Werder an der Havel; map
Flowers: Every Sat 09-15h (May to October), corner Argentinische Allee/Sven-Hedin-Straße, Berlin-Zehlendorf (near S-Bahn station Mexikoplatz)
You can find the vegetable box here. The size of the boxes varies seasonally in volume and offer. Delivery always on Tuesdays (southwest of Berlin, Werder/Havel and surrounding area)
@vonhand.gemuese.blumen
