Converted into open-air classrooms, the school gardens are gaining ground in centers throughout Spain as a resource that combines environmental education, science and coexistence. Against this backdrop, a state meeting which focuses on how to consolidate and connect these initiatives.
Far from being a one-time activity, gardening fosters more practical and personal learning, reinforces sustainability, and promotes healthy habits. Along these lines, notable experiences include those of the IES Juanelo Turriano (Toledo) and the IES Playa Honda (Lanzarote), where the garden is used for inclusion, participation and connection with the environment.
The national meeting in Madrid gains momentum
The third edition of the National Meeting on Agroecological School Gardens and School Food Culture brings together teachers, families, organizations, and administrations over the weekend under the motto "Enredándonos" (Getting Connected). Its goal is to weave a stable network between territories and consolidate the garden as a structural element of the school. The event is organized by Tangente and CERAI, with the support of the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda, Madrid City Council, Mensa CÃvica and Teachers for Future, and in collaboration with the Biodiversity Gardens program (Global Nature Foundation, Ecoembes, and ADEAC).
The program focuses on active participation through workshops, roundtable discussions, and experience sharing. Among the lines of work, the following stand out: curricular integration from the garden, the connection between food and learning and the relationship of the classroom with the circular economy and sustainability.
In addition to training, the meeting will include specific proposals to influence public policies linked to ecological transition and social justice. The organization calls for more institutional support so that garden projects can move from inspiring experiences to established measures in the educational field.
Learning and values ​​that flourish in the garden
The school garden provides a experiential learning in which theory is contrasted with practice: observing, measuring, sow and care and evaluate results. This process develops scientific, social, and emotional competencies in a motivating environment.
Civic and personal values ​​are also worked on, such as patience, cooperation and responsibility, while encouraging teamwork. All of this boosts the student autonomy and their ability to solve real problems.
Another key axis is the healthy and conscious eating: Growing, harvesting and cooking helps us understand where our food comes from and adopt more balanced habits, with a direct impact on well-being and academic performance.
Experiences in centers: Toledo and Lanzarote
At the IES Juanelo Turriano (Toledo), the garden was born as a way to take the pulse of school coexistence, connect with the neighborhood and protect the environment. The initiative involved the entire educational community and part of the neighborhood with contributions such as those of Mr. José and Mar Galán, from the NGO Paideia.
Paideia works for the inclusion of minors and young people and support for their families, with special attention to situations of risk or social conflict. Its approach combines prevention, intervention, and critical and reflective look to improve the quality of life.
After a period of pause, the Toledo center project picked up pace again thanks to the drive of teachers like Susana, and according to the participants themselves, positive effects are already being noticed on the school climate and student engagement.
At IES Playa Honda (Lanzarote), the garden is promoted as a tool for inclusive education, facilitating accessible activities for different abilities, strengthening coexistence, and opening the center to the participation of families and local stakeholders.
Networks and institutional support
The growth of school gardens has led to local and regional networks They share resources, training, and support. In the Community of Madrid, the Sustainable School Garden Network already coordinates more than 200 centers, and in other areas they are integrated into municipal and regional environmental education programs.
These networks promote practices such as composting, efficient water management or the design of climate-adapted crops, and encourage collaboration between teachers, students, and families. The result is a educative community more cohesive and aware of the impact of its decisions on the environment.
The combination of a national meeting that aligns objectives, experiences that work in centers like those in Toledo and Lanzarote, and the expansion of regional networks paints a picture of progress. The challenge is to ensure stable resources, training and coordination between administrations and schools so that the school garden continues to grow with firm roots.
