Self Sustaining on Ertholmene

Life on the small, poor isolated islands was tough in the old days and being self-sustaining as much as possible was important – growing vegetables became a tradition the locals still master

Vegetable gardens on Christiansø

Watercolor and text by Frits Ahlefeldt

Today along the North-east of the large Christiansø island there is a soccer field where the young play ball games and beside it there is an area where the old grow long rows of cabbage, onions, carrots and potatoes among other things

Bernt, the old carpenter on the islands, is one of the most active in the gardens here, most days I see him tending to the different kinds of vegetables he grows here.

The mild sea climate and the many hours of sunlight not only helps his potatoes grow, but also makes his eyes water from the strong light.

He waves when he sees me, he is one of the locals always helping and supporting. He shows me a wheelbarrow filled with fresh vegetables, proudly he picks up a large onion – look at this he says and smiles

keywords: Ertholmene, Christiansoe, Christiansø, Baltic sea, architecture, buildings, art, akvarel, Denmark