Museum of Natural History has won the eku Future Prize
Chemnitz families made raised beds for themselves and the general public
In December 2023, the Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz was honoured by the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture (SMEKUL) for its educational concept and the supporting programme "Families make Chemnitz green: On the beds, get set, go!" for the museum's educational concept and supporting programme.
A total of 15 families took part in the project. Together with the Holzkombinat, individually planned raised beds were built for the participants' own balconies or gardens, taking into account their previous craft skills. A second raised bed was built for each of the following community gardens in Chemnitz:
- Excavation site Museum of Natural History "Window into Earth History"
- University garden "UniPaRadieschen"
- "Beetkultur" of the St. Nikolai-Thomas parish
- Intercultural garden "mittendrin"
- Square 49
- Seed garden "Nachhall e. V."
- Intercultural garden "Bunte Erde e. V."
- Environmental library
The project kicked off in the university garden "UniPaRadieschen". Among other things, the participants learnt about the concept of permaculture. The importance and construction of raised beds was also discussed. The principle of mixed cultivation was explained in an interactive game in which raised beds were planted with certain types of vegetables. A treasure hunt through the university garden gave even the youngest participants a sense of achievement.
This project addressed complex scientific relationships and sensitised participants to environmentally relevant topics (e.g. saving water in the garden). Holistic learning of children and young people was promoted through the didactic connection between head, heart and hand. Natural products were used to experience real materials beyond the digital world and strengthen social interaction.
The eku Future Prize for Energy, Climate and Environment was launched in 2020 and honours projects that make an exemplary contribution to ecologically sustainable development in Saxony and to the protection of the climate, resources, nature and the environment.
The prize money will be used again next autumn to build raised beds with gardening enthusiasts.
Further information: https://medienservice.sachsen.de/medien/news/1071613