Experiencias educativas en relación a la agroecología en la educación superior española contemporáneaPresentación de la red universidades cultivadas

Resumen

This work presents a series of educative experiences that have in common the use of organic gardens as didactic resources and learning environments, which we name ““Learning Organic Gardens” (ODG). Firstly, examples are given of experiences at Pre-School, Primary, and Secondary Education in which either school gardens, municipal gardens, or gardens promoted through regional programs are used. Afterwards, a range of current initiatives occurring at some Spanish universities are described, which are either promoted by students themselves, or by some level of the institution, constitute a response to different needs. We reflect on the potentialities of using organic gardens in education, from different perspectives: methodological, to transmitting knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personal values, and to developing emotions and affective bonds. Finally, the Red Universidades Cultivadas (RUC) is presented; a Spanish association constituted by an interdisciplinary group of people, mostly tied to university, who incorporate Learning Organic Gardens to their teaching or researcher activity from different areas of knowledge, including experimental and social sciences. RUC is considered an alive learning community through which sharing experiences and knowledge, a place for collaborative work where joining efforts in common directions, and a seedbed from where spreading knowledge. Educative experiences presented here are initiatives of RUC’s members, or were shared during the I Meeting of Learning Organic Gardens (may 2016, Soria, Spain).