Lush greenery and colorful flowers – the front gardens of Möllendorffstraße 69 are a valuable contribution to the neighborhood. Behind this lies the work of three tenants who have been maintaining the green spaces on a voluntary basis for ten years.
Choose your language *
An idyll on the doorstep
* This page has been translated via Google's Cloud Translation API. HOWOGE does not edit the content.
Two insect hotels stand in front of the entrance to Möllendorffstraße 69 in Berlin-Lichtenberg. Right next to them, birds splash in water bowls and peck for food in lush flowerbeds. People frequently pass by, stop, and smile at the sight of the flowers. Heinz and Sigrid Fietz, along with Sabine Matz and Günter Siewert, are responsible for the design of this and two other front gardens. They have been working together for over ten years to create a small idyll in the public space.
“No work, no joy”
The Fietz couple, both 84 years old, have lived here since 1975. Since they no longer have their own garden, they devote themselves to tending the small area in front of their door. Fietz says he transplanted many perennials and plants from his own garden to the Möllendorffstrasse site. This includes the hedge he grew himself, which he regularly trims. Mrs. Fietz grows other plants on the balcony before planting them six floors below.
Heinz Fietz composts the soil himself in closed compost bins in the yard behind the garbage cans. "Without work, life is only half as much fun," the retiree explains his busy work. He once trained as a typesetter and then worked as a customs officer until 2006. Today, he spends many hours volunteering in his front garden, bringing great joy to his neighbors.
Neighborhood care in the garden
"The people who live here are full of praise and very grateful," says Fietz. Some regularly donate small amounts of money or flower bulbs. Fietz has placed a special sign in the flowerbed to thank the donors. Others use the plants. One tenant, for example, is always very interested in rosemary, using the brew to make a hair wash. Above all, the garden is a place for communication: "This little patch of greenery contributes greatly to neighborhood building," says the volunteer gardener.
A volunteer position with appreciation
After HOWOGE took over the building from Vonovia in January 2025, there's now even a contract for volunteer work – and a watering sponsorship. Just recently, at HOWOGE's Volunteer Day at the Wohnungsmacherei building on Anton-Saefkow-Platz, Fietz and his colleagues received a certificate and a sign, which now stands in the garden and highlights their volunteer work. "We are very pleased with the commitment of our tenants, who are committed to the greenery in our neighborhoods as watering sponsors. Such initiatives strengthen community spirit and make an important contribution to quality of life. We therefore extend our heartfelt thanks to all those involved," explains neighborhood manager Wiebke Rosenheinrich.