Successful completion of the annual experiential education program on green skills at the Petroupoli Community Organic Vegetable Garden, supported by the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

Organization Earth, in collaboration with the Municipality of Petroupoli and with the support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, successfully completed its annual experiential education program on green skills at the Petroupoli Community Organic Vegetable Garden, which ran from April 1, 2024, to March 30, 2025.

The main objectives of the program included the development of green skills, the enhancement of environmental awareness, the promotion of healthy eating habits, and the empowerment of sustainable cultivation practices. Participants gained valuable knowledge on how to manage the vegetable garden independently, improving their quality of life. At the same time, the program supported vulnerable social groups, strengthening social cohesion and solidarity.

An innovative aspect of the program was the training of organic gardeners as educators, enhancing the project’s sustainability and ensuring the continued sharing of knowledge within the community. The garden has become a hub of learning and social empowerment, establishing Petroupoli as a model for similar initiatives.

From April 2024 to March 2025, the program delivered a total of 40 two-hour urban organic farming workshops, 24 educational sessions with school participation, and 9 collective action workshops open to the general public.

In total, 40 individuals were directly benefited by the program, actively participating in the organic farming workshops and acquiring practical skills and knowledge in self-managing the garden.

Additionally, approximately 680 people were indirectly benefited — including students, local community members, and relatives of the participants — who gained from the dissemination of knowledge and sustainable practices cultivated through the program’s activities.

The successful completion of the program lays the groundwork for transforming the vegetable garden into a model climate refuge, offering cool spaces, rich biodiversity, and sustainable solutions to the challenges of climate change.

This initiative will include the promotion of green practices, the use of renewable energy sources, and the active involvement of the local community, aiming to protect the environment and enhance social resilience.

The project will be implemented under the framework of the European Grant Program “EIT Community Connect NEB: Citizen-generated solutions and initiatives to advance sustainability, beauty and inclusivity – 2025.”