As part of the project CoFarm4Cities, project partner DOVES – FEE Slovenia (Eco-Schools programme Slovenia) launched and coordinated a national competition titled Urban Garden Stories, dedicated to promoting school-based urban gardening and sustainability education across Slovenian cities.
The competition was carried out within the framework of the broader Eco-Schools Gardens (Šolska VRTilnica) initiative. It aimed to strengthen awareness of local food production, engage young people in hands-on gardening activities, and highlight the educational value of school gardens as living classrooms.
The response was remarkable:
A total of 358 educational institutions, 1,667 mentors, and 17,494 children, pupils, and students participated in the broader Eco-Schools Gardens programme in 2025.
In the competition, schools were invited to document the development of their school gardens through video or photo stories – from preparing the soil and planting crops, to composting, cooking with harvested herbs, and building insect hotels. Teachers were encouraged to incorporate educational materials developed within the CoFarm4Cities project, including the Gardening Etiquette, Gardening Journal, and Urban School Garden Teacher’s Guide.
A total of 36 urban institutions joined the challenge – among them 7 kindergartens, 19 primary schools, 4 secondary schools, and 6 special education institutions from various cities, including Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj, Novo mesto, Slovenj Gradec, Tolmin, Jesenice, and others. More than 1,380 children and young people actively contributed to their school gardens through a wide range of creative activities:
• planting vegetables, herbs, and flowers
• creating sensory and vertical gardens
• making herbal teas, spreads, and baked goods
• drying herbs and producing syrups
• building compost bins and nesting boxes
• working together with parents and grandparents
• and connecting garden tasks with the school curriculum and community life.
Five schools were selected as winners for their outstanding creativity and commitment. Among them are two CoFarm4Cities pilot schools, as well as schools from Ljubljana, Maribor, and Črna na Koroškem.
To honour and preserve these inspiring stories, DOVES – FEE Slovenia created a photobook featuring all participating urban school gardens. The collection captures the essence of what school gardens represent: not only places to grow food, but spaces that nurture environmental responsibility, cooperation, and well-being.
The award ceremony will take place on August 22, 2025, in Čatež, where the most successful schools and mentors will be recognised for their contribution to the growth of sustainable urban communities.
Photobook:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGrXgXJroI/xoA1KAI8Myq_vnbCCz69eg/view