Growing organic School Gardens - University of Milan

8/8/2019 Growing organic School Gardens - University of Milan

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Growing organic! School gardens and organic food

Giuditta Vittadini, DiProVe Faculty of Agriculture University of Milan


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The didactic and pedagogic mean of a school garden

One

of the main

challenge today

is

to

build

and to

feed

sustainable

communities:

social, cultural and physical

environments

in which

we

can satisfy

our

needs

and

our

aspirations

without

reducing

the prospects

of future generations

In organic

farming

every

action

is

considered

for

its

effect

on the totality

cycles of the plants and of soil

local territory and traditional farming

A school

garden is

the ideal

place

for

teaching

the merit

of organic

farming

to

our

children: teaches

these

foundamental

facts

of life

an ecosystem doesnt generate waste matter cycles continually

diversity assures resilience

the suns energy drives the ecological cycle

life take over the planet by cooperation, partnership, networking


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Teachers

and children

are taken

over

an

educational experience

rich

of goals:

Ecological

and environmental

education

relationship between natural elements

the ecological concept of food cycle (sense of place)

periodicity of agriculture production

knowledge of some indigenous plants

the practical experience infuses into children respect for earth

Food

education

to eat seasonal vegetables and fruits

the involvement of families

The pedagogic

aspects

of gardening are also

very

important

children experience growth on a daily basis

integration of every school s activity with gardening

parallelism between the natural community and the humans one


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School gardens and their contribute to Food Security The didactic role of school gardens is also important for FAO

The major aims

of FAO

s School

Garden Programme

are:

Educational:

relevance and quality of education for rural and urban children;production and consumption of micronutrient-rich fruits and green leafy vegetables;active learning by linking gardens with other subjects;

environmental issues and practical nutrition education.

Economic/Food security:

sustainable production of food is important for household food security;

income-generation opportunities;

food availability and diversity.


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Slow Food and its school gardens projectsSlow Food

is

a no-profit organization

that

supports

local

food

production, territorial

origin and high rate quality

food.

In 2001 Slow Food

USA led the first national

project promoting

School

Garden:

The Edible

Schoolyard

In 2006, at the Slow Food

Italy National Congress

in Sanremo, it

was

resolved

to

create 100 gardens in Italy. Today

in Italy over

125 school

gardens

are part of the

national

program

Orto in Condotta

School

gardens

follow

the three

principles

ofGood, Clean

and Fair

Partner of the project arestudent, teachers, grandparents,parents, local

services, Slow

Food

and local

producer. All

togheter

are able

to

establish

a

learning community


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The italian

national

program

is

called

Orto in Condotta

and includes

a

three-year

curriculum and its

characteristics

are:

First year is focused on vegetable garden and sensory training;

second year is based on alimentary and environmental training;

third year on the food culture and the regional know. Children must use organic production methods

and choose local product;

OGM are forbidden; Food production with didactic value is preferred.


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The example of the school garden in San Mauro Torinese

The municipality

of San Mauro Torinese was

one

of the first Italian

towns

that

began

the project Orto in Condotta. After four years the results are seven school gardensallocated in four

primary

school

and one

nursery school

The children

with

teachers

and grandparents

realized

the Campo dei Semplici

where

cultivate officinal herbs and aromatic plants and another vegetables garden called Campo Coccinelle where

are cultivated

marrows, tomatoes, aubergines, peas

and

strawberries

(the typical

fruit

of San Mauro Torinese)


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The educational point of wiew

Creation

of sense

of responsibility

Cooperation with other children and with grandfather

Children

are happier

and less

aggressive

Creation of a net with territory: educational school trip and breeders

workshop

Children of San Mauro Torinese cultivated little gardens in pots with old and disabled person


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The didactic point of wiew

Children

recognize

different

plants: next every plant is puta tag with its name andinformation about cultivation Knowledge of the soil and ofthe basis of organic horticulture is developed:

intercropping, mulching,composting

Meaning of recycling and ofseparate refuse collection is explained

Children learn to eat seasonal vegetables

and fruits


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The project Orto in Condotta at the primary school A. Scarpaof Milan

On February 2009 the project will start in the primary school A.Scarpa of Milan

There will be two important goals in the first year:The school garden has to be projected with children

The importance of composting


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Planning with children The explanation of the meaning of natural community and the relationships between

natural elements: nature journal simple experimental activities:

investigation of the soil; understanding intercropping;

learning

what

elements

plants

need

to

grow

the school garden planning


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The importance of composting

Explaining to the children the technique to producecompost It will be better to begin with activities that explain to

children the decompositions process: creation of a decomposition corner

carrying out experiment with compost tounderstand how organic matter changes


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Conclusions

School gardens can contribute to increasing the relevance andquality of education. Gardens can be used for practical work related to biology,environmental studies, mathematics as well as reading, writing and

arts.

School garden activities can include nutrition education, foodpreservation techniques, sustainable natural resource management,recycling and composting.

The project Orto in Condotta strength the didactic syllabus byproviding alimentary education as well as environmental education. Children will acquire basic organic farming knowledge and acomprehensive regional knowledge.


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Thanks for your attention!!

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Growing organic School Gardens - University of Milan