School gardens coming to kindergartens and primary schools in Greece starting next academic year

Starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, kindergartens and primary schools across Greece will introduce vegetable gardens as part of a new educational initiative launched by the Ministry of Education. The program, titled:

“School Gardens: Collaborating with Critical Thinking and Vision, We Enjoy, Create, and Grow”, aims to place hands-on environmental learning at the heart of everyday school life.

Back to Nature in a High-Tech World
In an era dominated by screens, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, this initiative offers children a much-needed return to physical interaction with nature — through seeds, soil, watering cans, observation, and teamwork.

Greek Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, emphasized:

“Our goal is to turn schools into living spaces of learning for sustainability — not only through textbooks but through real-world experience. School gardens cultivate critical thinking, environmental awareness, teamwork, and joy.”

More Than Knowledge: Values for Life
The program aims to go beyond the simple transmission of knowledge. It seeks to instill long-lasting attitudes and values — responsibility, solidarity, ecological consciousness, and the joy of creating something meaningful. Students will learn how a single seed can grow into something important — just as an idea, when nurtured collectively, can lead to a better future.

Government Support and Materials Provided
To ensure the successful implementation of the program, the Ministry of Education will provide participating schools with:

• metal garden beds
• soil and gardening tools (small shovels, watering cans)
• greenhouses
• seed kits for the first planting sessions

Design team members explained that the goal is to transform the school garden from a simple patch of earth into a “living learning lab,” where children playfully discover how to care for the environment and grow up with values that make the world a better place.