Berlin's Pankow District Transformed by Couple's Green Thumb and Community Effort
In the heart of Berlin's Pankow district, Siegfried and Margitta Mechler have called an apartment on Oderbruchstraße home since 1962. Their residence has seen a unique transformation, thanks to Siegfried's green thumb and a community effort.
The Mechlers, who have a son and a daughter, moved into their 67-square-meter apartment provided by the AWG of the Humboldt University. Back then, the area was barren, with construction debris from the newly completed apartment blocks and few trees. Inspired by the 'Tree Vote' initiative, Siegfried decided to change that.
He discovered a young oak tree on the gable wall of their apartment block and transplanted it to the middle of the lawn. This sparked a community effort. The house community signed a contract with the Green Space Office for 120 marks a year to maintain the area themselves. Neighbors, eager to green the space, brought back small trees and plants from their vacations, contributing to the transformation.
Today, the Mechlers' apartment block is a greener, more inviting space, thanks to Siegfried's initiative and the collective effort of their neighbors. The once barren area is now a testament to how community involvement can transform a place into a more pleasant living environment.
