Describing Farm Animals and Plants

To talk about farm animals and plants in German, use the articles “das,” “die,” or “der” according to the word's gender. For example, if you're walking around a farm or working in the garden, you might see or discuss:

• Das Feld refers to the field where plants are grown, while das Weizenfeld is specifically a wheat field with das Weizen (wheat).
• In a der Gemüsegarten (vegetable garden), you'll find a variety of edible plants.
• Common animals on a farm include die Esel (donkeys), das Pferd (horse), das Huhn (chicken), die Pute (turkey), die Gans (goose), das Ferkel (piglet), die Kuh (cow), das Rind (cattle), die Schaf (sheep), and die Ziege (goat).
• Animals are kept in der Stall (the stable/barn), where they have a place to sleep and sometimes eat and drink (das Trinken).

Example sentences:

• Die Hühner laufen im Garten.
• Im Stall steht eine Kuh.
• Die Gänse trinken Wasser.
• Auf dem Feld wächst Weizen.
• Die Schafe bleiben hinter dem Zaun.

Describing Gardening Activities

Many verbs are used to explain what you are doing in the garden or on a farm. These activities often relate to planting, caring for, or managing plants and animals.

• anpflanzen and pflanzen both mean to plant something (plants, seeds, etc.).
• To water plants, use gießen or wässern.
• When plants get old or lack water, they can verwelken (wilt).
• Plants wachsen (grow) in the field or garden.
• You can mulchen (mulch) to help soil stay moist.
• eggen is to use a harrow on the field, usually after plowing.
• When it's time to collect crops, use ernten (harvest).
• To keep farm animals fed, you will füttern.
• Animals also need to drink (trinken).
• Keeping out unwanted animals or marking an area, use zäunen (to fence in).
• To ensure everything is working well, you need to kontrollieren (to check).
• If you can’t find something, you suchen (search).
• Sometimes, you invite someone to come (kommen) and see the garden.

Example sentences:

• Wir pflanzen Tomaten im Gemüsegarten.
• Die Pflanzen müssen wir jeden Tag gießen.
• Im Herbst ernten wir das Gemüse.
• Die Ziegen füttern wir jeden Morgen.
• Nach dem Regen wachsen die Blumen schnell.

In German rural life, gardening and farming have deep traditions, especially in smaller villages where local food and animal care are important aspects of community and family routines.