Spring Festival at Campus Bemke – A Celebration of Community, Nature, and Biodiversity
On Saturday, April 5th, the Educational Village at Campus Bemke was filled with life, joy, and spring energy during the long-awaited Spring Festival. The event attracted local residents as well as guests from across the region and beyond. It marked the symbolic start of the gardening season and served as an inspiring gathering for people passionate about the environment, healthy living, and community action.
The festival was officially opened by the Mayor of Wadowice, Bartosz Kaliński, alongside Dobrochna Lama, President of the Foundation, Kasper Jakubowski, Director of Forest Maker, and Daniel Packie, Director of FarmLab and the event’s main initiator.
The highlight of the event was the planting of one of the region’s first pocket forests—a small but important green space designed for relaxation and biodiversity education. The passion and energy of the Forest Maker team inspired everyone, and despite uncertain weather, each participant had the chance to plant their own piece of forest.
After the outdoor work, participants enjoyed warm meals and snacks provided by the Campus Bistro, including traditional Polish dishes like bigos, which warmed everyone up and provided energy for more activities.
The local product market drew a crowd, offering natural goods and the chance to speak with producers. Visitors could buy field-pressed oils, honey from the Ćwiertnia family apiary, lavender products, handmade Easter decorations from a local care home, and other artisan items.
Upstairs, guests found a cozy café with homemade cakes, hot drinks, and a relaxing atmosphere. Volunteers took care of the space, and the Parent Council organized a cake sale to raise funds for equipment for the Bemke School.
In addition to planting activities, educational stations and workshops were organized for both children and adults as part of a family adventure game. Attractions included nature zones, bean planting, wreath making, and traditional butter churning with the Zarąbianki Rural Women’s Circle. A popular highlight was the bee education station by Łysoń Apiary and Apilandia Center, featuring a giant bee sculpture. Street Workout Wadowice also led physical training workshops.
As part of the gardening season launch, plant lovers could join workshops on tomatoes, fruit trees, and lavender growing, hosted by Krzysztof Wawro, local garden associations, and regional homesteads.
Thanks to cooperation with the Grunt od Nowa Foundation, guests received free natural mineral fertilizer and tips on how to use it in their gardens.
The event was truly a celebration of the local community—schools, foundations, volunteers, partners, educators, exhibitors, families, and all friends of the Campus. Thank you for your participation and contributions!
For those eager to learn more about pocket forests, Forest Maker is organizing a free workshop series on biodiversity to explore the potential and role of microforests on Campus Bemke.
