The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge 

In Lüneburg, a medieval city of 70,000 people in northern Germany, many elderly residents own gardens with fruit trees but are no longer able to harvest their produce. As a result, large amounts of fruit go unused and wasted each year. At the same time, younger people such as students, refugees, and residents of high-rise buildings do not have gardens but are eager to learn how to process and preserve food. The ageing population means this challenge will only increase, while knowledge and skills around food preservation risk being lost. Bringing these groups together offers an opportunity to reduce waste, build connections across generations, and strengthen the community’s awareness of the value of local harvests.

The Initiative

The Ratsbücherei Lüneburg – the city’s public library – is stepping in as a connector and facilitator. It brings together fruit tree owners and citizens who want to pick and process fruits, using a digital platform and its network of community partners. The library purchases and lends essential tools such as apple pickers, cherry pitters, juicers, dehydrators, and preserving jars, making food processing accessible at no extra cost. Throughout the project, the library hosts “fruit talks” on preservation methods and sustainability, and culminates the season with a harvest festival where participants celebrate and share the products they have made. In this way, the library not only supports practical skills and ecological awareness but also strengthens social bonds and helps residents—from retirees to students—find purpose and connection.

What’s Next?

The ambition is for these new connections between fruit donors and fruit preservers to endure beyond the project, creating lasting networks of exchange, recipes, and knowledge. Over time, more initiatives may develop around food sharing and preservation, building on this foundation. The library will increasingly be seen not only as a provider of books but also as a community hub that offers tools, fosters sustainability, and helps solve local challenges. In the long term, elderly people gain support and companionship, younger residents benefit from free produce and skills, and the town as a whole grows into a more connected, resilient, and sustainable community.

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.