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The persimmon fruit of Kirchberg

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The juicy orange fruit is one of the main varieties of the “first edible community” of Kirchberg by the Wagram. A fruit garden open to all. Tasting allowed!

This garden isn’t a garden. Not in the classic sense. Welcome to Kirchberg by the Wagram, a community wholly dedicated to the wonderful diversity of fruits. Here visitors can admire, and taste, more than 300 different varieties in a public space. The “edible community” is open to all. The mastermind behind this idea is Sigi Tatschl. We went on a walk with him through this sympathetic community by the Wagram. 
 

Eingang zum Alchemistenpark
Sigi Tatschl im Alchemistenpark Kirchberg am Wagram
Kaki-Frucht
Let’s go to the Alchemist’s park

The Alchemist’s park is a good starting point as well as an exciting trip destination. Here you can experience the great diversity of the Kirchberg in a small area - persimmon, blue bean shrub, honeyberry, Chinese dates, red-fleshed peach and more. The plant rarities are Open Source which means they can be sampled! Visitors can also take seeds with them to grow at home. In this way, everyone can become part of the project and make a contribution to the worldwide diversity of fruit and nut varieties.

 

At a glance

•    Display beds & herb plot
•    Fruit & nut rarities
•    Kid’s playground with climbing tower and more
•    Viewing hill 

Onwards to the Marktplatz & Kirchberger Naschmarkt

The “edible community” can be felt in many corners. It is recommended you walk from the Alchemist’s park over the bridge towards the Wagramhalle. Here guests and pupils stopping for a break can look forward to magnificent persimmon and fig trees offering sweet snacks. Continue on to the Marktplatz where fruit bushes are planted in many flower beds. Every Saturday from May to end October the Kirchberger Naschmarkt food market is held here. The square then showcases the whole diversity of regional foods from Wagram trout to local wines and the “Kirchberger” persimmon. It’s all there! 

Explore on your own or with a guide

And if you turn the corner from the Marktplatz you will come to the courtyard of the former court building. Here, too, you will discover rare plants such as the blue persimmon and the pomegranate. Are bushes and trees in the “edible community” are labelled with the most important info. If you would like to find out more, book a tour with a guide for the community’s fruit diversity. Contact the market town:
telephone +43 2279 2332-0,
e-mail: marktgemeinde@kirchberg-wagram.gv.at

Hand voller Kaki-Früchte
Sigi Tatschl, Initiator der Essbaren Gemeinde
Alchemistenpark Kirchberg
Schautafeln im Alchemistenpark
Granatapfel-Baum
Hand voll Früchte
Sigi Tatschl, Initiator der Essbaren Gemeinde

Fruit tip: Mulberries in the summer! They can also be used to make juices and syrup. How about champagne with mulberry instead of orange?

Insider tip from Sigi Tatschl, initiator of the “Edible community” Kirchberg by the Wagram
When is the best time of year for visiting the Kirchberg?

There’s plenty to see throughout the year. Many people from the towns come again and again to see new things. The first berries start to ripen early May. Most fruits have ripened in summer and autumn. Cockspur thorn can be enjoyed from December to January.

And you’re allowed to pick the fruits?

Yes, that’s exactly what we want! I developed the “Edible community” to make the public space a fruit garden for everyone. Everyone can help themselves here. It’s also really interesting to see how differently some people use it. There are some who really use it, perhaps even really take advantage of it and then there are others who are a little reticent to pick the fruits. Like everywhere else ... everything in moderation. You can also learn this here!

Alongside wine, the persimmon is the main fruit variety of the Kirchberg. Why is this such a great fruit?

Because it creates such lovely orange colours in the whole area here in the autumn.  Together with wine it will become one of Kirchberg’s culinary emblems in the coming years.  It also grows well with the increasingly warm summers and dryness and produces even more. And what most people don’t know is that persimmon is also a fruit which stores well. If stored in the right conditions you can even keep it until March. We planted various persimmon varieties throughout Kirchberg - in the Alchemist’s park, in front of the Wagram hall, by the Marktplatz ...

Can you recommend a restaurant which embodies this great fruit diversity?

Gut Oberstockstall – an exclusive and beautiful restaurant, vineyard and farm. 

Dates for garden enthusiasts

Spring awakening in the Alchemist’s park – 1st Saturday in March. Experts and volunteers tend the fruit areas together. It’s also a good opportunity to ask the experts questions on growing your own fruits at home.

Fruit diversity festival – 3rd Saturday in September. Perfect for sampling many fruits.
 

 

DID YOU KNOW...?

The Alchemists Park was laid out according to permaculture principles in 2007 as the core of the first edible community of Lower Austria. The object is to present all annual and perennial varieties of fruits and nuts that grow in this climate zone in public space. The collection currently encompasses more than 200 varieties and is designed as an edible landscape.

Any questions?

Josef Humer from the municipality of Kirchberg am Wagram is happy to answer them!

Marktgemeinde Kirchberg am Wagram
Marktplatz 6
3470 Kirchberg am Wagram

+43 2279 2332-15 Website Alchemists Park