The project of the Ecological Garden of the Campus of Álava started about eight years ago, when several professors realized the need for this space. Although the project took its first steps, five years ago it took an important leap: they rented a land to the convent next to the university and there they began to cultivate the orchard.

The garden lessons and research topics

“We needed a classroom of nature for the students and, at the same time, a space like this offers us new opportunities to create new models of relationships and research,” explains Dani Zuazagoitia, professor and participant in the garden. The garden of Álava is part of the Campus Bizia Lab project of the University of the Basque Country to promote sustainability.

The project is developed in three lines: the first is the most practical subject: students from all faculties use the garden for the practices. “For example, students who study the earth are doing internships in it.” The second line is that of the courses, which each year organize courses related to ecological horticulture. And finally, the line of research is as follows: “This is another field of study to investigate from the world of psychology, didactics, sociology… For example, how are the relationships between students and human beings in these types of environments?”

Driving the urban garden

An additional year has been organized the “Urban Organic Garden Initiation Course” in the garden of the Campus. Although the students, faculty and staff of the University have priority, it will be open to everyone. As of March, eight sessions will be held, with a theoretical and practical part: how to design and work an ecological garden, what are the maintenance works, how to take advantage of organic waste through composting, what are the seasonal products, how to combine the plants with our health… The participants will receive a lot of lessons.

And what about the products they receive from the garden? This is what Zuazagoitia says: “We usually put the winter bench: we collect peas, beans, onions, garlic, etc. And, in most cases, it is the students themselves who bring home the fruits of the vegetable garden.”