Voluntary Ecological Year

The tropical greenhouse is a botanical garden with a large collection of useful plants and an attractive teaching and learning garden with many vegetable species and varieties. It is part of the Department of Ecological Agricultural Sciences at the University of Kassel with around 1000 students. There is a canteen on site. As part of a university, we fulfill tasks in teaching, research, education and public relations. The core topics are global agriculture and horticulture in the context of biodiversity and global justice. We also have around 12,000 guests every year and offer numerous educational events. The University of Kassel and the German Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture (DITSL) jointly run the project site.

The job site is located in Witzenhausen, a small town in North Hesse with around 9,000 inhabitants. It is located in the Werra Valley between Kassel and Göttingen and has good public transport connections. It is rural here, but very lively due to the university.

Presentation of the tasks of the FÖJ by Kieu Anh Tran (FÖJ participant 21/22)

Accommodation on campus in the guest house and protective clothing are provided, and there is financial compensation for meals.

Presentation of the site by the curator of the greenhouse Marina Hethke as well as the technical manager Rainer Braukmann and the gardener Catherina Merx

The focus is on horticultural activities:

• Assistance in the greenhouse and in the teaching and learning garden with everything that arises..., sowing, hoeing, watering, harvesting
• Biological plant protection in the greenhouse (checking plants, releasing and propagating beneficial organisms, combating pests...)
• Educational work: taking part in a seminar and then guiding groups of visitors through the tropical greenhouse; sitting in on the FerienKinderUni, supporting public events, ...
• Maintain and support the Instagram account: @tropengewaechshaus

Depending on the suitability and inclination of the applicants, the tasks can be weighted. The FÖJ can also "get a taste of university life", for example by sitting in on lab sessions or attending seminars.

Applicants should have an interest in natural history/agriculture and be willing and able to do physical work. We are a very small team, but we also have volunteers and student employees.
Applicants must be of legal age.