Sustainable Food

Addressing sustainable food from a theoretical framework can be complex, especially when explaining it to children. That is why we bring you five proposals from organisations, collectives, or facilities that approach it from a practical perspective, aiming for a change in the food system without forgetting traditional processes.

From Garden to Plate with Ortiga Collserola

Ortiga Collserola has a very clear objective: to revive agriculture at the Park and promote sustainable, locally sourced food. In addition to offering their organic products in home delivery baskets, they also provide a wide range of activities for schools, training sessions to introduce the city residents to self-sustaining organic agriculture, and urban allotment consultancy services for administrations and organisations.

In addition to being tailored to students’ learning stages, the activities they offer focus on the journey food takes from planting to plate. This highlights the importance of seasonality and proximity when harvesting food, usually sourced from the Can Monmany estate in Sant Cugat del Vallès.

Discover and Honour Maritime Tradition with Cap A Mar

At Cap A Mar, they know the Moll del Rellotge in La Barceloneta and the fishing profession like the back of their hand, which is why they aim to bring them closer to the citizens of Barcelona. They do this by showcasing the cultural heritage of their family’s profession, reclaiming their origins, and promoting the dissemination of fishing values.

To do this, they offer individual and group maritime experiences that allow participants to explore the Moll dels Pescadors and discover its secrets through the daily work of fishermen and fisherwomen.

The fishing practised in La Barceloneta is artisanal and more mindful of the environment and marine ecosystems than other fishing practices. At the Moll, one can discover seine and trawling boats and smaller fishing vessels, such as those used for trammel netting.

Observing Rural Life to Imagine More Sustainable Futures at the Terra Museum

The Barcelona Hall at the Terra Museum invites you to connect with the land and the wisdom of the rural world through culture. It is part of a vibrant cultural centre promoted by the Carulla Foundation in Espluga de Francolí, which aims to preserve and disseminate ethnological heritage to understand life in the rural world while encouraging a reflection on the importance of more sustainable futures.

The agricultural education programmes they offer have expanded to include Poblenou as well. The services they propose include activities on sustainability, workshops to connect with farming’s roots, and exhibitions on the importance of connecting with and caring for ecosystems.

At the Terra Museum, they advocate for museums as pedagogical projects and offer activities for various educational communities, from Early Childhood Education to Secondary Education and Vocational Training.

Rethinking the Use and Availability of Water at the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona

The Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona has been hosting the exhibition ‘Water, an Unfiltered Exhibition’ since February of this year, and it will continue until the same month next year. This interactive exhibit, designed for both young and old, invites reflection on water access and use in a drought emergency.

The exhibition is divided into four thematic areas, exploring the contrast between life with and without drinking water. It emphasises best practices, addressing concepts such as water footprint, the importance of households’ efficient water management, and its crucial role in ecosystems and biodiversity. It also proposes solutions to ensure a future where everyone has access to water.

The activity is part of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development. Admission is free for children under 16, and the exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday during the museum’s regular opening hours.

Environmental Education to Discover the Collserola Nature Park

The Can Coll farmhouse has been an environmental education centre since 1988. Located in a privileged setting in the heart of the Collserola Nature Park, it has become a reference point for teachers who want to include the Park in their curriculum. During the week, it welcomes members of the educational community, especially those from early childhood, primary, and secondary education, and on weekends, it is open to the general public.

Their teaching methods are based on experience and the students’ shared knowledge development. The activities have a strong component of self-discovery of the environment, with three specific objectives depending on the type of exercise: walking and discovering; getting closer and learning, which involves the flora and fauna of Collserola; and finally, engaging and delving deeper through the active participation of children and young people in the management and conservation of the Park.