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Skierniewice Festival of Flowers, Fruits and Vegetable – INHORT
September 14 – September 15
Osada pałacowa, Skierniewice, Poland
EXHIBITION: SENSORY GARDENS in chambers of the Prymasowski Palace
On the third weekend of September, the 47th “Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables Festival” was held in Skierniewice. It is one of the largest cultural and trade fair events in Poland, attracting crowds of citizens and tourists from Poland and abroad, known for its colorful parade, numerous accompanying events, also organized by the National Institute of Horticultural Research (INHORT). This year, INHORT organized a unique exhibition entitled ‘Sensory gardens in the chambers of the Primate’s Palace’, which took place at the Institute headquarter. The exhibition was part of the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Poland’s membership of the European Union. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Czesław Siekierski, granted his honorary patronage to it, and together with the Marshal of the Łódzkie Region, Joanna Skrzydlewska, personally attended its opening. The “Sensory gardens” presented how the diversity of the plants’ world can be experienced with all human senses. Eight rooms of the Primate’s Palace were arranged, creating a space where people could enjoy the different tastes of plants and specially processed food, the aroma of their extracts and perfume of dozens of rose varieties, the sound of a garden and… touch of soil and substrates. Indeed, SPIN-FERT prepared the special exhibition ‘The breath of the Earth’ („Tchnienie ziemi”), showing how soil and soil substrates can be perceived with all human senses. The smell of a soil substrate was associated to a classic tune, thus connecting the senses of hearing and smell, which turned into a symphony when the substrate was complemented with microbial inocula. The fractions of different soils and substrates gave the experience of touch. The color of various soils served to attract the sense of sight and was also associated to its taste (with white, brown or black chocolate!). The participants (about 6.000) took part in activities combining cultural and scientific perspectives that delighted both young and old, including word games, interactive presentations about soil biodiversity, as well as a soil-inspired raffle, receiving microbial inocula to improve soil life (prepared by INTERMAG and INHORT) or compost-based substrate to substitute peat (prepared by ENOMONDO) as gift samples.
Soil, one of the most essential elements of life on Earth, is not only the basis for horticultural production but also has a sensory effect on humans, affecting their senses, memories and emotions. As part of the exhibition Sensory Gardens, the SPIN-FERT team of InHORT organised a workshop related to the scent of the soil that combined scientific and cultural perspectives.
