Biodiverse edible schools link local urban nature and healthy food

This study is framed by the evidence-based understanding that school gardens offer numerous benefits to students but that the potential of such gardens is rarely fully utilized. This study is also supported by research indicating that childhood experiences in nature provide a basis for further interactions with nature and increased awareness of environmental issues. A case study design is used to examine the components of a biodiverse edible school project in Berlin, Germany. This project focused on enhancing the benefits of school gardens for students while also promoting conservation goals. The process involved bringing together the usually distinct fields of environmental education, food production, and biodiversity conservation.

The biodiverse edible school project was established in 2014 at a secondary school in Berlin. The project consisted of four major components: (1) Collaborative activities in planning, managing, and using the school garden and a wild wasteland site; (2) A school kitchen supplied with food from regional producers; (3) A garden on the schoolgrounds for producing local food; and (4) A neighboring wild urban site as a habitat for wild edible plants. The use of the wild site expanded the concept of school gardens beyond cultivated species and was the critical to linking food and biodiversity in students' daily lives.

Sectors of the community involved in the process of planning and implementing the biodiverse school project included education, farming, urban gardening, and biodiversity conservation. Individual participants included school staff, pupils, parents, the staff of three municipal offices, members of environmental organizations, and researchers. The group was successful in establishing a school garden which now provides the school with fresh, local and organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Making a neighboring vacant wild site an integral part of the biodiverse edible school project expands students' awareness of healthy food while also raising awareness of biodiversity issues. An increased awareness of the intersection of food and the environment can promote children's health and wellbeing through better diets and increased outdoor activity and nature contact.

The concept of biodiverse edible schools highlights the potential use of wild urban land for reconnecting children with nature and strengthening their sense of place. These outcomes may contribute to a more sustainable way of living in future generations.