{"id":28350,"date":"2024-10-18T11:18:40","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T09:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/news\/sadi-kompostiraj-i-uci-djeca-kao-cuvari-bioraznolikost\/"},"modified":"2025-02-03T18:27:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T17:27:19","slug":"sadi-kompostiraj-i-uci-djeca-kao-cuvari-bioraznolikost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/sadi-kompostiraj-i-uci-djeca-kao-cuvari-bioraznolikost\/","title":{"rendered":"Plant, compost, and learn: children as guardians of biodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How can we introduce children to the topic of biodiversity conservation? Our answer lies in education in nature, which not only stimulates curiosity but also allows children to develop an emotional connection with the environment! In this context, let’s briefly recall the background of the VERA project. The agricultural biodiversity of Puglia and Dalmatia is insufficiently researched and protected. The dominance of monocultures, intensive agriculture, and urbanization has led to the disappearance of traditional fruit tree varieties, which has a detrimental impact on our ecosystems. This problem is further exacerbated by the increasing disconnect from nature, especially among younger generations. Therefore, through the VERA project\u2014Sustainable Agricultural Models for Biodiversity Preservation<\/a>, we developed an educational program for students of Ostrog Primary School<\/a> and Le\u0107evica Branch School<\/a>, in collaboration with the students of Bra\u0107a Radi\u0107 Secondary School<\/a> and teacher Marijana Bjeli\u0161<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning about nature in nature, in Croatia’s only school botanical garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ostrog Primary School Botanical Garden is a protected monument of park horticulture, the only one of its kind in Croatia. Naturally, the garden must be maintained, with dried trees and branches removed, and new plants planted in carefully chosen locations. It was the perfect place to conduct our educational activities with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The educational program consisted of three activities: planting plants, creating a composting area, and making an insect hotel, carried out over two workshops on October 9 and 16, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"O\u0160<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"rukavice<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In consultation with Iskra Mara Zub\u010di\u0107 Svalina<\/strong>, the manager of the School Botanical Garden, we selected new planting spots for plants missing from the garden\u2019s collection, such as castor bean (Ricinus communis<\/em>), spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica variegata<\/em>), Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica<\/em>), and coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"pjegavi
Spotted laurel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"koraljno
Coral tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Suru\u010dica
Japanese spirea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ricinus\"
Castor bean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When little hands come together: planting, composting, and caring for insects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although planting may seem like a small act, it has a much deeper impact on children’s development. Direct contact with nature fosters emotional connections with the environment and a sense of responsibility towards it. Children learn about plant growth and sustainable practices, gaining important skills and knowledge about natural processes. Additionally, working in the garden promotes collaboration, creativity, and physical activity, strengthening their love for nature and sustainable principles. During the workshop, students and teacher Marijana Bjeli\u0161 from 3rd grade at Bra\u0107a Radi\u0107 Secondary School demonstrated proper planting techniques<\/strong> to 2nd grade students of Ostrog Primary School:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 <\/em>We need a deep enough hole, good tools, soil that\u2019s not too dry or too wet, proper soil tamping, watering, and a little luck, \u2013<\/em> explained teacher Marijana Bjeli\u0161.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"djeca<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"djeca<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the 2nd-grade students, with teacher Marijana Sudar<\/strong>, collected household bio-waste (fruit and vegetable peels), while the necessary branches and dry leaves were gathered from the gardens <\/strong>of both schools. For composting, it is crucial to fill it with 50% green and 50% brown substrate, aerate it periodically, and water as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"djeca
Students building a compost area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"djeca
Children shredding organic waste<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Komposti\u0161te
Finished compost area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the second workshop, students from the environmental group of Le\u0107evica Branch School, led by teacher Sandra Tuta<\/strong>, joined us. Together, we created and installed an insect hotel<\/strong>. These “hotels” play a key role in preserving biodiversity by providing shelter for many beneficial insects, such as bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. All the materials for the project were prepared by representatives from Bra\u0107a Radi\u0107 Secondary School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Materijal za izradu hotela<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Okvir za hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hotel za kukce u izradi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Iskra Mara Zub\u010di\u0107 Svalina, the manager of the Ostrog Primary School Botanical Garden, also conducted a guided tour of the garden for the students of the Le\u0107evica Branch School’s environmental group, offering them a deeper insight into the secret world of plant species, some of which they were seeing for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"djeca
u\u010denici 2. b O\u0160 “Ostrog”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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u\u010denici ekogrupe P\u0160 “Le\u0107evica”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Enriched school gardens and empowered children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Osim \u0161to smo obogatili \u0161kolske vrtove, nismo ni u\u010denike ostavili praznih ruku. Projektom smo nabavili knjige za djecu ekolo\u0161ke tematike<\/strong> Velika knjiga cvije\u0107a<\/em>, Kukci<\/em>, Sadi<\/em> i Sunce za doru\u010dak<\/em> kako bi pri\u010dama o prirodi, djeca nau\u010dila o va\u017enosti o\u010duvanja okoli\u0161a i razvila osje\u0107aj odgovornosti prema planetu. Nadamo se da \u0107e u\u010denici pod vodstvom svojih u\u010diteljica nastaviti provoditi ekolo\u0161ke aktivnosti u \u0161kolskim vrtovima,  a i saznati jo\u0161 vi\u0161e o razli\u010ditim vrstama cvije\u0107a i kukcima.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only did we enrich the school gardens, but we also made sure the students didn’t leave empty-handed. Through the project, we provided children with environmental-themed books <\/strong>like The Big Book of Flowers, Insects, Plant, <\/em>and Sun for Breakfast<\/em> to help them learn about the importance of preserving the environment and develop a sense of responsibility for the planet. We hope that the students, guided by their teachers, will continue to engage in ecological activities in the school gardens and learn even more about different flower and insect species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we conducted a quick evaluation of our activities and are proud to report that we received almost all top marks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Get Involved in Activities That Connect Children with Nature!<\/strong> Whether you’re a teacher, educator, or parent, encourage children to explore the world around them, learn about different species of plants and animals, and develop a love for nature so that together we can preserve the biodiversity of Dalmatia!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How can we introduce children to the topic of biodiversity conservation? Our answer lies in education in nature, which not only stimulates curiosity but also allows children to develop an emotional connection with the environment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":28336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1252,5,1077],"tags":[1085],"class_list":["post-28350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environmental-education-and-sustainable-youth-development","category-news","category-vera-sustainable-agricultural-models-for-biodiversity-preservation","tag-vera"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28350"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28355,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28350\/revisions\/28355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}