Permaculture is not just gardening – it is a holistic approach to designing spaces that uses traditional knowledge, modern technology, and ethical principles to create sustainable systems.
On Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Brda Elementary School, we held the fourth module of the VolonTERRA educational program for teachers, this time focused on permaculture and ecological awareness. The workshop was led by Marin Kanajet and Ivan Mateljan from the association Permaculture Dalmacija, and the goal was to introduce teachers to permaculture principles and their application in education through practical activities.
Marin Kanajet emphasized how permaculture, through systemic thinking and connecting different elements, enables the building of more resilient communities and harmonious coexistence with nature.
Designing school gardens: from idea to realization
The program began with an introductory lecture on permaculture and its principles. Most of the teachers agreed that they were familiar with the term but couldn’t say for sure what it fully entailed.
– Students would say they know but can’t explain it…” – one of the participants joked, referring to Marin Kanajet’s question about their familiarity with the concept.
To help the participants better understand the principles behind how permaculture works and how they could effectively transfer this knowledge to children, they participated in practical tasks after the short lectures.
The first activity involved creating and designing elements to scale. The participants were divided into four groups to come up with as many creative ideas as possible. The task was to incorporate elements made from collages into a scaled map, which served as guidelines for designing a garden for their school. The goal of the exercise was to stimulate creative thinking and provide the participants with knowledge that they would later be able to share with their students when designing a school garden.
Vertical gardens: innovative solutions for urban spaces
The second part of the module included a presentation on vertical gardens, which are ideal for smaller areas and can be placed almost anywhere. Not only do they look aesthetically pleasing, but they can also serve as an insulator, keeping space cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This type of garden is not only economically but also aesthetically and ecologically more beneficial.
One of the key elements of the workshop was creating a vertical garden element from recycled materials. Participants made their own vertical gardens using sewage pipes. The process began with drilling round holes at specific intervals, which were then smoothed with sandpaper to remove sharp edges. To allow the soil to stay in place and enable controlled watering, PVC caps were placed on both ends of the pipes, and various plants, such as flowers and herbs, were planted in the prepared holes.
This type of garden is especially useful in spaces with limited surface area, and it contributes to biodiversity and the aesthetic enhancement of the environment. However, it is important to pay attention to regular irrigation due to faster soil drying in such systems, as noted by Ivan Mateljan.
The role of children and parents in ecological projects
– Planning and analysis come as the first step in designing a future project. It’s important to start from the whole and move to the smaller details, listening to nature and utilizing existing resources,- emphasizes Marin Kanajet.
Permaculture projects in schools have multiple benefits – in addition to their educational value, they encourage children to actively participate, work in teams, and develop a sense of responsibility. They are particularly useful for children with excess energy, for whom practical activities have been shown to help direct their energy in a constructive way. Furthermore, involving parents in these projects strengthens community bonds and support within the school community.
Moreover, school gardens can become places of community gathering, where students, parents, and residents collaborate on joint projects and develop ecological awareness.
The importance of educational modules in the VolonTERRA project
At the end of the workshop, the participants completed a questionnaire analyzing the needs and possibilities for establishing a school garden, and the evaluation showed a high level of motivation for further work on this topic.
Teachers felt proud and fulfilled by the positive impact their work would have – not only as aesthetic additions to the space but also as an educational example for students on the importance of recycling and sustainability.
This workshop once again confirmed the importance of implementing educational modules as part of the VolonTERRA project – active schools are driving change! and how many positive changes it has already brought. If you want to encourage your school and students to participate in sustainable initiatives, follow the Sunce website and social media – we’ve prepared a special activity for participation on Earth Day 2025!
