Youth & Self-picking gardens

Mahecor and Bert are two friends who met through their children's school and started a self-picking garden together to fulfill their dream and turn their passion into reality. Bert's background in land and forest management studies and Mahecor's experience from Senegal enabled these friends to set up sustainable projects. In 2019 they started with one garden in Herne, where they started growing dozens of types and varieties of fruit and vegetables. They then opened a second self-picking garden in 2021, this time in Gooik. In the self-picking garden, people can not only harvest what they ripen themselves but also introduce their children to agriculture in a rather interesting way.

Have you ever thought of a hobby such as growing a garden? What about linking it with technology? We are going to tell you about one of the examples of urban agriculture - the Groeituin 5.0 - an open-air lab in Gooik where children and young people aged 10 to 18 are involved in science and technology as a full-fledged hobby. Urban agriculture has a long history, it served to supply urban dwellers with food, was crucial during war times. There are different forms in which it can exist in cities today besides rather usual greenhouses and street gardens - e.g. vertical gardens, roof farming, green walls, etc. The Groeituin 5.0 despite being rather a “traditional” form of urban agriculture invites children and young people not only to plant but also to innovate. The growth garden is located behind the Photonics Innovation Center in Gooik (Vellezelestraat 46) and will develop into a picking garden, conservatory, animal area and trees.

The project itself is a collaboration between the Brussels Photonics Team of VUB (B-PHOT), VUB research groups such as MICR – Microbiology or PLAN – Plant Genetics, and also other eleven partners from Pajottenland.

Participants are invited to think about the garden from the bigger perspective of sustainability and be conscious of their use of raw materials such as water and nature. They start their projects from thinking about the bigger topics: 'Water', 'Food' and 'Life on Land' every start from a social challenge, which is also linked to the sustainable development goals. Then, they replicate the possible solutions to these challenges in the garden.

Water

Young people are encouraged to think about more sustainable water management. This module emphasizes the importance of sustainable water management, which is a crucial element in the success of many companies, but also in this case the development of a picking garden. The aim of this module is to get the children to think about a design of an optimal and circular water system for the Groeituin.

Food

Young people will be challenged to apply technology to automate organic horticulture. This module covers how everyone is responsible for responsible food consumption and production, not just large producers and the food industry. Children learn how to produce useful biomass from spontaneous natural processes, and how biodiversity, crop rotation and mixed crops are important factors to consider when determining the need for seed drills.

Life on the Land

The challenge lies in applying automation and digitization to create a safe and animal-friendly environment for the animals that are bred in the growing garden. This module teaches the children about the diversity of animals, their role in the ecosystem and what types of legislation apply to animals raised for consumption. Moreover, it also integrates the concepts of technology, digitization and AI to encourage the children to think about alternative ways of monitoring and feeding animals.

What can I get? Just Start

Learn through Action

For the coming years, young people will be able to participate in STEM activities under the guidance of experts in the form of both after school meetings and summer camps. They see major challenges for the future. “To produce 'with nature', you have to understand it well, and what about extreme drought and heat, too much rain in too short a time, keeping the soil healthy and animal happiness?”, says farmer Bert, “The children and young people will become acquainted with the best scientific knowledge on these various themes, but will above all be challenged to look for new solutions themselves.”

Inclusive & Engaging

STEM activities of the Groetuin take place once a week in the afternoons. These sessions are free in which anyone between 12-18 can participate. In 2021 the first summer camps were held with the focus on water 2 summer camps (5-12 years & 12-18 years) 20 kids per group The standard fee is €150; if you want to support the garden you can pay €200; if you are struggling financially, you can contact them to find a tailor-made solution.

Let's raise awareness about the local climate actions from the young age! Starting from the small local garden today we grow not only plants but also the generation of future leaders able to act globally!

By Eda Nur Yilmaz & Karine Jegiazarjana