Summary

An organic farm offers educational activities about the CO2-neutral production of healthy food, specifically that grown in the traditional meadow orchards of the Mariazellerland region. The programme is part of the nationwide initiative ‘Schule am Bauernhof,’ which brings children closer to sustainable food production. As part of its annual cycle of activities, the organic farm in Mariazell, used EAFRD funding through LEADER to purchase fruit trees which were planted on the farm by school children and observed by them over the course of a school year.

Results

40 orchard trees (old, more resilient varieties of apple, pear, plum, and creeper) planted by 60 children from the Mariazell elementary and secondary school.

In a few years time, the trees will bear fruit and the school programme will be further adapted to include the processing of the harvested fruit.