PROJECT-SUPPORT SWITZERLAND

Association Acker Schweiz, Zurich, Switzerland

Country / Place

Switzerland, German-speaking area

Locations - Acker Schweiz

General

More appreciation for nature and food - this is what the non-profit organisation Acker Schweiz is committed to.  

With the two educational programmes “AckerRacker” (field dedication) for nursery and kindergarten levels, and “GemüseAckerdemie” (Vegetable Academy) for schools, children sow, tend and harvest their own vegetables. By growing over 30 vegetable crops, the boys and girls recognise the importance of healthy soil and biodiversity as the basis of our existence. Through practice-oriented educational materials and work in the field, the programme contributes to contemporary education that strengthens children's and pupils' environmental skills, sustainability awareness and healthy nutrition.

Beneficiaries

Fewer and fewer children know where and how vegetables actually grow. This is not surprising, because many of them have never seen vegetable plants growing in the ground. Under these circumstances, it is difficult for children and young people to establish a connection to the origin of food and to understand its production processes. At the same time, natural spaces where children can discover, and play are disappearing.

The consequences are a lack of awareness of the dependence on a healthy ecosystem and a lack of knowledge about how food affects human health and the environment. This leads, among other things, to alienation from nature and a loss of skills in the areas of food production and agriculture. Through the educational programs, children understand how vegetables are grown, develop a greater appreciation for nature and food, exercise more regularly in the fresh air, and eat healthier.

The main focus is on the Vegetable Academy educational program with theory and practice on growing vegetables. This is aimed at primary school children and is designed to support teachers in implementing the vegetable field and integrating it into everyday school life. While planting, tending, and harvesting in their own plots, students experience where the food on their plates comes from and learn how they, as the generation of tomorrow, can contribute to sustainable development.

Project-support

Project: Vegetable Academy School Hünenberg

The girls and boys experience directly how a seed becomes a crunchy carrot. They take responsibility together and understand the impact of their actions. In the field, they understand natural connections and actively explore their natural surroundings.    

The support for the implementation of the vegetable field at the Hünenberg school in the canton of Zug lasts from 2024 to 2026. The approximately 120 children from grades 1 to 6 look after 14 patches for two field hours per week. By growing over 25 vegetable crops, the children recognise the importance of healthy soil for planting and biodiversity. With the long-term anchoring of the vegetable garden at the Hünenberg school, all future students will benefit from this natural learning place.