Back to Green – changing food culture as a way to improve the lives of Europeans. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Back to Green – changing food culture as a way to improve the lives of Europeans.

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Natural sciences; Regional dimension and cooperation; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

In the years 2019-2021, we implemented the EU project “Back to Green – changing food culture as a way to improve the lives of Europeans”. The assumption of the project was the Detroit syndrome after the industrial crisis. Both Łódź and Lillebonne experienced such a crisis. After the factories were closed, the poor people could not move out. Our cities are post-industrial with lots of abandoned factories.
Why not create vegetable and herbal gardens? Freshness for residents and an example for students from 47 Secondary School in Łódź (Poland) and College de la Cote Blanche in Lillebonne (France)!!!

Our main goals were:
– improving the quality of school work by establishing contacts with other institutions,
– creating our own biology teaching program,
– broadening the horizons of thought,
– making students feel Europeans.

The main assumptions of the project were largely realized.

First, we improved the quality of the school’s work by establishing cooperation with educational institutions (Lodz University of Technology, Lodz Center for Teacher Training and Practical Education, Primary Schools No. 205 and 114), the “Batory” Housing Estate Council, College de la Cote Blanche in Lillebonne.

Second, on the school premises, we have created a didactic garden “Plantacja47”, which is used by students and teachers to conduct educational classes in botany and has a recreational value. Thanks to this activity, students acquired basic gardening skills.

Third, we created a biology curriculum with the use of “Plantacja47- didactic garden in the 47th Secondary School in Łódź” and it is to be published in a periodical published by the Łódź Center for Teacher Training and Practical Education.

Fourth, students participated in a mini French language course and, during the first year of the project, they established contacts with French students using English, which is related to increasing their competence in communication in foreign languages.

Fifth, new educational solutions have been created: our own curriculum and conducting outdoor activities in the didactic garden.

Sixth, we revitalized the green areas around the school and replaced the vegetation in the school (along with information boards under the slogan “We are ECO – we feel green”).

Seventh, through participation in numerous lectures, trainings and workshops (including workshops with a mycologist entitled “Mushrooms – their role in human nutrition”, workshops entitled “The genesis of the Back to Green project” according to the script: 1/ The Detroit Syndrome. 2/ Tyson Gersh’s Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. 3/ Oakland’s Urban Farm and Zero Waste Institute. 4/ Global warming. 5/ Recycling at our level, at home and at school. 6 / Recycling in France – a video from National Geographic about environmental pollution, an action under the slogan “Little secrets of gardens” planned and carried out during the summer vacation, scientific session conducted by an online dietitian under the slogan “Nutrition in the eyes of an expert”, scientific lecture conducted by an engineer doctor from the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Lodz University of Technology, workshops “Diet in harmony with nature” in three versions) students developed healthy eating habits and strengthened their pro-ecological awareness.

Eighthly, students strengthened their independence and self-esteem by preparing and presenting the results of their own activities (numerous multimedia presentations and videos: Herbal medicine, Health from the windowsill, The healing role of trees and shrubs during a walk, The role of plants in air purification, Application and health benefits of synanthropic plants, Healthy food, Food storage and preservation methods, FitMeal, World Erasmus Days and Erasmus run).

Ninth, the students had a chance to verify their knowledge during competitions, surveys, quizzes and live programs (What’s in your refrigerator, Wildlife in the closest vicinity, I know what I eat, Live Cooking Program, online culinary book Herbs and weeds that heal, Guess what kind of plant it is? – photo competition, We arrange aphorisms to plant names, What can plants and herbs be useful for – unusual applications in cosmetics, gastronomy and industry, creating a base of accessories for the preparation of healthy eating workshops). Students developed the ability to recognize herbal and spice plants occurring in nature and they know how to use them in practice.

Tenth, students participated in field trips deepening the knowledge acquired during school workshops.

The mobility did not take place due to the covid19 pandemic.

We implement our achievements in the everyday life of the school after the end of the project by:
– conducting scientific extracurricular activities at school with the possibility of participation of the local community,
– creating educational programs for lessons from materials obtained during the project,
– creating environmentally friendly areas in the vicinity of the school,
– dissemination of the project results among educational institutions.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 18000 Eur

Project Coordinator

47 Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Collège de la Côte Blanche