Oogstfeest & SIT-PLU Lab Kick-off
12 - 14.09.2025LUCA Campus Ter Beken
Beekstraat 1-3, 9030 Ghent
The SIT-PLU LUCA Lab Kick-off took place on the weekend of 12–14 September 2025, alongside the celebratory Harvest Feast of Common Terre at Park Ter Beken. The elements made their presence felt – wind roaring, rain falling, thunder rolling. Wrapped in rainjackets and gathered around fire, we shared three festive days of eating from the land, music and stories by the bonfire, historical guided tours, apple harvesting, voices from Palestine, the inauguration of the collective oven, and the launch of the SIT-PLU LUCA Lab.
The Common Terre community gathered around the bounty of the harvest, opening the weekend with a colourful meal from the land prepared by Karoot & Kar-Wij, followed by bonfire stories shared by Amadou Ba & Jan. With the trees heavy with apples, participants joined ‘bridge-farmer’ Bart on Saturday and Sunday mornings for collective harvesting and apple-pressing.
Pouring rain and lightning became our companions during the historical guided tour of the Ter Beken site with city guide Pieter Duysburgh– voices of humans and water equally present. At times the rain demanded silence; when it softened, our voices joined into dialogue. On Sunday, the same tour unfolded in sunshine, transforming the experience entirely. Meanwhile, children found shelter under the tent, where kamishibai stories brought the cycles of farming and seasonality to life.
Throughout the weekend, we presented our intentions with the SIT-PLU LUCA Lab, the spirit of the Lab, and our upcoming calendar of activities. Saturday evening gave space to Palestinians living in Ghent – listening deeply to their stories, testimonies, songs, and food.
The weekend closed with the festive inauguration of the collective oven, where Bakker Klaas baked sourdough pizzas – reviving the ancient symbol of the communal oven as a place of gathering, resilience, and collective strength.
Special thanks to Brugboer Bart, Weder, Fleur Couleur, Dries Meddens, Wim Forceville, and the Stem & Vork project.