URN_NBN_SI_doc-48XSAZ72

560 Šolska kronika • 3 • 2015 Summary Fruit growing culture in school gardens Janez Gačnik There is much we can learn from fruit growing. During these times of economic crisis, increasingly more people are turning back to nature and many are finding relaxation and satis­ faction in nurturing fruit-growing plants. We fruit growers know that in order to achieve top yields in fruit production, care must be taken already in the planning of an orchard and the cul- tivation and nurturing of the trees during their early period of growth. The same also holds true regarding the education of children and the formation of their personalities. The knowledge we impart to them in their youth will bear fruit at a later date. Fruit-growing has scope for much educational content which could encourage young people to observe and respect nature, be independent, persistent, economical, learn about healthy nutrition, engage in intergenerational cooperation and assist each other. The Slovene Fruit Growers’ Association, which was founded in 2015, brings together 16 fruit growing associations from 10 regions of Slovenia. Among its members are numerous enthusiastic fruit growers who are already engaged in passing on their knowledge and experi- ence to the younger generations. Seven of its associations are also suppliers to school gardens. It is the Association’s aim to further enhance such positive experiences based on good practice, standardize them and introduce them into other environments as well. Our wish is to cooperate with educational institutions and other like-minded people in the design of school gardens and the transfer of knowledge. We could participate in various different environments in the concep- tualization of gardens endemic to the area. We could design gardens with berry-bearing plants, low or high trees, and multi-purpose gardens with fruit tree cultivars or wild fruit-bearing as- sortments for children of various age-groups. We can bring together the knowledge of intensive, ecological and permacultural and biodynamic fruit growers with their varying forms of produc- tion. In short, connecting, participating with and fostering respect for all who strive to pass on their knowledge to the younger generations is very important to us and we are convinced that there is much we can learn from the school gardens of the past – particularly respect for the rich and varied achievements and knowledge of our ancestors.