In 2025, the Municipality of Ljubljana will continue with extensive activities at the Rakova Jelša mini urban farm. The year 2024 was full of challenges and valuable experiences in the field of horticulture, education and research of fauna and flora. The children’s enthusiasm for learning and exploring was priceless.
In autumn 2024, we carried out a “Peer to Peer visit” between Ljubljana and Zagreb as part of an EU project. Ljubljana visited Zagreb in September, where we visited the allotment areas, the public orchard and the Sesvete therapeutic garden. The meeting was aimed at exchanging views, good practices and solving gardening challenges. We were particularly impressed by the therapeutic garden, which is a great asset for the local community as it has a positive impact on the physical and mental health of visitors. The Ljubljana team believes that a therapeutic garden should be part of every ecologically sustainable city.
In November 2024, Zagreb visited Ljubljana. We showed our work on the Rakova Jelša mini urban farm and visited the Oskar Kovačič Primary School, where we were treated to a surprise presentation of the school garden and children’s stalls. Together, we visited five city gardens, including one accessible to people with disabilities. We ended our visit with a funicular ride to Ljubljana Castle, where we prepared a final lunch for our guests with a sophisticated rendition of traditional Slovenian dishes.
During the winter months, we have been actively preparing for the new calendar of activities for the learning garden polygon – the Rakova Jelša mini urban farm. In spring 2025 we will start with the first crops and new adventures on the farm. In February, we will organise a free six-hour workshop on sustainable farming and food practices, inviting Ljubljana primary school head teachers, nutrition managers, mentors of pilot schools, city administration staff, representatives of neighbouring municipalities and ministries. The programme will be very rich as it will include a chef.
In April, we will organise a “Spring Day” at the Rakova Jelša mini urban farm, similar to the event we organised for the pilot schools in October 2024. Children and mentors will take part in spring cleaning, preparation of the beds, garden and high beds. The event will take place in the morning under the auspices of a team from the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Mala ulica Public Institution.
May will also mark the important CoFarm4Cities partnership meeting, which will take place between 12 and 14 May 2025. For the first time, we will be hosting all nine project partners in Ljubljana, whom we are looking forward to welcoming.
Welcome to the most beautiful city in the world!