The Terrae Vivae programme engages schools, communities, and farming realities in pathways of ecological education and agroecology. Within this framework, the ecological education project developed with the Agricultural Technical Institute of Bracciano involves students in activities that weave together theory, practice, and active participation.
As part of this journey, a workshop took place at Le Bricchiette Organic Farm, where young participants experienced firsthand what it means to care for the soil through an agroecological lens.
An important part of the work focused on composting, a key practice in organic and regenerative agriculture. The soil was placed at the heart of the experience, understood as a living system to be known, nourished, and regenerated, rather than as a simple inert support for crops. By creating and then monitoring a compost pile, checking its temperature and carrying out a first turning, the students were able to observe directly the role of microorganisms in transforming organic matter.
Building on this, the workshop then explored the microbial life of the soil as a central element of fertility. The students prepared a microorganism accumulator known as “Teku Cana”, an agroecological preparation used to enrich the soil with beneficial microorganisms, a kind of “probiotic” for the land. Using forest litter collected near the farm, together with bran, molasses, and water, they activated and fed local microbial communities already adapted to the area, with the aim of increasing soil biodiversity, improving nutrient availability for plants, and reducing the development of pathogenic organisms.
The workshop also included a hands-on session on mulching, beginning with the care of an avocado plant. This offered a chance to observe how mulching helps retain moisture, protect organic matter, and keep weeds in check, while paying attention to the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the materials used and to the continuity of the organic matter cycle.
Throughout the activities, students moved between direct observation and field analysis, comparing soil in open fields with soil in the greenhouse, and linking the practices they tested to agronomic planning. Drawing on farm data and soil analyses, they then developed an agroecological advisory report, which became a space to discuss possible management strategies that integrate composting, biological fertility, and organic certification, while strengthening their analytical, design, and collaborative skills.
In the final part of the workshop, experiential learning became an opportunity to explore the professional role of agricultural technicians. The students were able to see how agroecological practices can be woven into the real-life management of a farm, connecting production, soil care, and long-term sustainability.
Within the Terrae Vivae programme, this ecological education project aims to nurture future agricultural technicians who can navigate the complexity of farming systems and design solutions rooted in agroecological principles. By learning to care for soil, biodiversity, and local landscapes, a new generation of agronomists and citizens learns to recognise its role and responsibility in reshaping our food systems.