InclusiGardens: Digital and Sustainable Pathways to Social Inclusion through Urban Gardening is an Erasmus+ Small-scale Partnership project in the field of adult education. Bringing together three partner organizations—Društvo za permakulturo Slovenije (Slovenia), Pučko otvoreno učilište Čakovec (Croatia), and eVRgreen Studio (Netherlands)—the project aims to empower adult learners, particularly those in urban areas, by providing accessible, hands-on resources for sustainable micro-gardening and zero-waste cooking. By promoting an inclusive approach, InclusiGardens supports marginalized and disadvantaged adults in acquiring new skills, improving community connections, and reducing their environmental impact.

This work "InclusiGardens Zero waste e-Cookbook" is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Recently, the project management team met in Čakovec, Croatia, for a two-day transnational meeting. This in-person gathering allowed partners to review the Zero-Waste e-Cookbook, which features leftover transformations, ingredient preservation, and simple ways to establish a zero-waste kitchen. Drawing on recipes inspired by Slovenia, Croatia, and the Netherlands, the cookbook emphasises affordability, creativity, and flavour. Although the e-Cookbook is now available in the EPALE Resource Centre, the team also devoted time to discussing the upcoming e-Toolkit. Designed to help urban learners set up micro-gardens and adopt eco-friendly cooking techniques, this toolkit will include gamification strategies and interactive scenarios, inspired in part by a study visit to the Treasury of Međimurje. The interactive exhibits there highlighted how playful learning elements can heighten engagement and facilitate greater knowledge retention for adult learners.

This work "Visit to Treasury" is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

By merging digital resources with practical strategies, InclusiGardens focuses on improving adult education outcomes and fostering inclusion. Ultimately, the project supports adult learners in growing their own produce and preparing nutritious meals while reducing both food waste and environmental impact. 

More details, along with access to the Zero-Waste e-Cookbook and future materials, can be found on the official InclusiGardens website.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for Mobility and European Educational and Training Programmes – CMEPIUS. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.