The Lippe palm (Lippische Palme) is an old, regional variety of leaf cabbage from Lippe with palm-like growth. It grows up to 1.50 m high, is hardy and tastes milder than kale. As a traditional winter vegetable, it was once widespread. Today, it is a symbol of regional diversity and rural gardening culture. At the LWL-Museum Hellerlecht, we preserve 14 varieties of Lippe palm. In this way, we not only preserve the plants, but also the knowledge and stories associated with them.
Green garden orache is an ancient cultivated plant that was once widespread in Westphalia, particularly in the Münsterland region. As a leaf vegetable, it was often used as a substitute for spinach and was valued for its undemanding nature and early harvest. Today, it has been almost forgotten, even though it is easy to grow and versatile in use. At the LWL-Museum Hellerlecht, we preserve 15 varieties of green garden orache.
Garden beans have been one of the most important crops in Westphalia for centuries and were an integral part of home and farm gardens for self-sufficiency. Several traditional varieties are particularly well known, such as the Krüperbohne, which was valued for its resilience and good taste. The LWL-Museum Hellerlecht currently cultivates 31 varieties of bush beans, 12 varieties of pole beans, and six varieties of runner beans. In this way, the museum preserves the diversity and cultural heritage of garden beans.
Wild Garlic (Johannislauch) is a traditional plant in home and farm gardens in Westphalia, known for its spicy flavor and versatile uses. Since the plant does not produce seeds, it is propagated exclusively via daughter bulbs. Six different varieties of Johannislauch are cultivated at the LWL-Museum Hellerlecht in order to preserve the genetic diversity and cultural heritage of this ancient crop. It is closely linked to regional customs and is used in traditional recipes such as roux with onions and raisins.
