Mystery 46 Modular Gardens

Children learn to make gardens using new technologiesA parallel action for children, ages 8 to 14, as part of the first ever Ecoculture Festival organized in Elefsina and the wider area on the environment, ecology and sustainability. Register to participate here

2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture, in collaboration with Decode FabLab and SYN FabLab, organize on Saturday, September 24, Mystery_46 Modular Gardens. Three educational workshops on the design and construction of mobile gardens for children, ages 8-14, aiming to cultivate and pass on ecological consciousness to the younger generations and connect the ancient practice of cultivation with new digital technologies.

The workshops are held as part of Mystery_50 Ecoculture Festival, the first ever Ecoculture Festival, which takes place on Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25 in Elefsina and the wider region, on the environment, ecology and sustainability. They have been designed and will be implemented by designers and trainers from Decode Fab Lab and SYN Fab Lab, while their programme is structured with an emphasis on 3D perception, communication and teamwork skills, creativity and imagination. The use of new technologies and experiential learning aims at the understanding of sustainable development goals and environmental awareness.

The equipment and tools to be used during the workshops are safe to use under the continuous supervision of the instructors. The detailed programme of the Workshops follows.

WORKSHOP I | Sustainable development objectives & garden model design
10:00-12:00 (20 children, ages 8-14)
Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of gardens: What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals? How can we act today to achieve these goals? What is the importance of gardens in our daily lives?

Garden bed design, in groups, with garden kit to scale. The designs and small kits/ models made by the teams will be used as a guide for the realization of the full-size garden beds in the next workshop. During the workshop, the children will have the opportunity to see how the garden bed kit is made on the laser cutting machine, which will be available in the workshop area.

WORKSHOP II | Implementation & Assembly of Garden Beds
12:30-14:30 (10 children, ages 8-14)
In this workshop we examine the differences between mass and personal construction and the importance of design in order for the result to best suit our needs, our aesthetics and the impact of each construction on the environment. Each garden kit is designed to allow multiple combinations in its assembly. The children will assemble the large garden bed they designed, select plants according to their qualities and needs and… plant.

WORSKHOP ΙΙΙ | Design & Digital Construction of Gardening Tools
16:30-18:00 (10 children, ages 8-14)
Design and digital construction of information about each plant: Manufacturing is done on site, using 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutting machines. The children will learn the operation of the machines, the materials used, the limitations and the possibilities.