With his idea, Hien Do, who is pursuing both degrees of sustainable agriculture at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), wants to transform small or medium-sized gardens into tiny edible forests in the long term. Not alone, but in a group of like-minded people. The vision behind his idea is a big one: ‘I want to preserve land ecosystems by maintaining green spaces and revitalising the urban landscape on an individual level.’ Put simply, Hien wants to motivate people to green the planet, one person at a time.
Greening with native plants, with a focus on edible and beneficial species. As the name suggests, food is at the heart of food forests, also known as forest gardens. As a rule, various edible plant species are cultivated in several layers of vegetation – from tall fruit and nut trees to berry bushes, herbs and vegetable plants to bulbous and tuberous plants. For this reason, a food forest usually requires a great deal of planning.
Making the vision a reality
Planning is being carried out by Hien and garden owners through collective knowledge shared by the enthusiastic predecessors. ‘Through recommendations among friends, we already have four pioneer gardens in Kleve in development, which are going through four phases: mapping the area, planning and design, selecting native plants and preparing the materials, and planting,’ says Hien, listing the steps from lawn to food forest.
In Kleve, everyone is invited to participate: garden owners as well as gardenless individuals. They are encouraged to connect through Hien’s network and form a community to assist with planting, maintenance, harvesting, and sharing the yields.
‘I want people to be generous and compassionate. Giving can also be possible without immediate remuneration.’
This type of giving and taking is also known as gift economy. This is why Hien offers his consulting and planning services free of charge.
An interactive website is also part of Hien’s plan for community engagement through sharing knowledge and experiences within the community and with other individuals or groups, such as consumers, farmers and people with similar interests, enhancing agricultural communication. Other activities, such as workshops and harvest festivals, are also in the pipeline.
‘Let nature take care of us!’
Back to Hien’s vision that everyone should green the earth on an individual level. Not only does this promote sustainable land use and native biodiversity, among other things, but it has also been scientifically proven to improve general well-being. ‘Gardening is a meaningful activity, helps with anxiety and mental health issues, and offers a counterbalance to unpredictable world events,’ says Hien, inviting people to plant one or more trees.
Curious? View individual introductions to this year’s finalists here on our website or on our social media channels in the coming weeks leading up to the Klever Birne award ceremony on 11 September 2025 and find out more. Admission to the award ceremony is free of charge, but registration is requested.
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