Book of Abstract (incl. addendum) - IFSA symposium 2012

Workshop 1.2 Family Farms as Educational Farms – Possibilities and Perspectives
Learning on the farm – definitions of basic concepts
Johanna Schockemöhle, Hans-Heiner Heuser and Ulrich Hampll
Compentence Centre of Regional Learning, University of Vechta, Germany
Jschockemoehle@ispa.uni-vechta.de
The increasing application of learning on the farm in theory and in practice has led to an equally
increasing variety of concepts and interpretations of concepts. This contribution represents an attempt
to clarify the terminology used when we talk about learning on the farm in order to facilitate the
advancing exchange and cooperations on international level both in theory and in practice. To start
with, a definition is suggested for the central term 'farm education'. Additionally, definitions are given
for two further concepts which are commonly used in Germany and have the potential to encourage
considerations on a clear terminology: 'farm as a learning place' and 'farm pedagogics'. The definitions
have been developed by the author in close cooperation with the German Federal Association 'The
farm as a Place of Learning' and are open to discussion.
Designing community supported agriculture projects as living learning
environments – a dialogical approach to child education and farming
Tobias Hartkemeyer
Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Germany
Csa@hofpente.de
Supported by the German Fund for Environment (www.dbu.de), an innovative intergenerational
education program was initiated on the community supported agriculture farm “Hof Pente“ in
Germany. It focuses on connecting consumers with the social, economic and ecological aspect of
production and consumption by turning the farm into an intergenerational learning environment that
produces food for a regional community.
Green Pedagogy and Research at Educational Farms
Renate Mayer, Claudia Plank and Bettina Plank
Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Austria
Renate.Mayer@raumberg-gumpenstein.at
In todays’ community, target group oriented teaching of knowledge for all levels of education is vital.
This counts especially for green disciplines. This kind of knowledge transfer is important in the area of
agriculture. The population is dependent on sustainable primary production, even if the number of
workers in this sector decreases. The “research workshop farm” offers the access to diverse
occupations, but it also creates a reference to environmental and natural circuits. Themed to the motto
“research to touch” complex knowledge is transferred in a playful way. Green pedagogy includes
nature, environmental protection and economy. Also the interaction between nature and agriculture is
important whereby sustainability serves as a main concept for the future.
Agrarian education contains the topics nature and animal protection, agrarian circuits and the
coverage of sustainable sources of income. Farmers gain additional qualifications in multidisciplinary
topics. They develop the economical, ecological and social interaction between agricultural production
and a natural and cultivated landscape. The communication of knowledge from research contributes to
the development of interdisciplinary innovative networks. Methods for innovative know how transfer
are connected to theory and practice. Authentic Learning is a possibility for promoting the cooperation
between practitioners, teachers and students. There are many fields of occupation on educational farms.
The development of competences of young people is depending on the activities they carry out. Fun,
play and adventure are very important when working with younger target groups in such “green
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