In this Project, we wanted to promote a new, alternative kindergarten approach. Eco Farm Kindergartens (EFK) is a unique, highly innovative project based on enhancing the skills of kindergarten teachers and children to carry out more effective eco farming activities.Seven countries were involved in this project (Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Romania and Turkey) with a total of 925 children aged 2-7 and 125 teachers and teacher assistants with different experience, knowledge, beliefs, but common educational ideals.The EFK partners took part in a variety of activities to enhance their own and children’s skills in more effective ecological farming activities which enabled kindergarten teachers, assistants, leaders, parents and other educators to engage in a holistic and sustainable Farming Education with the children they were working.For this program, our main OBJECTIVES were as follows:•TO OBTAIN PRACTICAL AND APPLICABLE SKILLS for our teachers and children on farming activities•TO EQUIP OUR CHILDREN WITH AGRICULTURAL TASKS, to observe the cycle of life firsthand•TO NURTURE OUR CHILDREN’S LOVE FOR ANIMALS especially FARM ANIMALS to build connection, empathy and stewardship•TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN’S ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS through different tasks on 4 elements and pollination to help them to shape sustainable future.•TO ENGAGE OUR CHILDREN IN ENGLISH CLASSES with the theme on ‘Farm Life’•TO IMPROVE OUR EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES via collaboration with other colleagues from different Eco Farm Kindergartens.In order to achieve these objectives, we have chosen 4 THEMES for which we developed four workshops (LTTs):1. Four Elements (Earth, Sun, Water and Air) in the Nature2. Flowers and Flower-visiting Insects3. Our Happy Farm Animals4. Learn, Grow, Harvest and Eat.Throughout the project (about 24 months), the kindergarten teachers guided the children in various farming tasks such as:-Making a simple greenhouse, Bee hotel, Competition kite-Growing veggies and fruits in the garden-Catering at least one farm animal in the garden- Planting a tree/ flowers-Producing a dairy product-Cooking their own harvested crops-Visits to various places-Welcoming visitors from different occupations-Celebrating important days related to farming, food, animal, ecology and animals-Organizing events (Harvesting Day, Planting a Tree Day, Mother’s Day, etc.) at the kindergartenDuring the implementation of the project, the following METHODOLOGICAL TOOLS were used:-Pre and post surveys with children, questionnaires with teachers, evaluation forms with workshop participants. The project had a significant impact on kindergarten children and teachers, families and local communities. Some of the expected impacts are as follows:-The improvement of the skills and competences of kindergarten teachers and children on Farming activities.-The development of agricultural skills of children through planting and harvesting their own crops.-The increasing awareness of the importance of organic food and healthy eating at an Early Childhood.-The nurtured love and sympathy of children through catering animals.-The enhancement of children’s cooking and food preparation skills using necessary gadgets-The increasing knowledge of children, teachers and parents about different places (farm, dairy farm, botanical garden, agricultural center, green market, etc.) and different jobs (farmer, bee-keeper, vet, nutritionist, florist, etc.) and their duties.-The increasing satisfaction of parents with the education of their children by taking active roles in some activities throughout the project.-Having more teachers, children and parents feeling themselves as part of the European Community.-Having more teachers, educators, parents, local people become familiar with some aspects of the European dimension and Farm Education.

"Things we do to live comfortably can affect the world around us, and the quantity of garbage we produce every day is something we should take more care of. Little actions and care from each individual can radically change humanity's impact on our planet. In order to reduce our continuous production of waste and to apply a real sustainable development, It is necessary that we make changes in our consumption habits, daily behavior, lifestyle and ways of doing things. And the sooner we learn how to make these changes, the better will be for our planet. That's why we want to start from very early childhood: kindergarten education.The seven partner kindergartens are from Iceland, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Norway and Turkey, all of them are already very active on environmental education and recycling activities, with a total of about 400 children and 150 school staff members involved in this project. We are the perfect team to identify, develop and test the 3Rs best practices (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) with children aged 2-7 years. In the 7 partner countries educators will engage children in opportunities to learn about environment, 3Rs and sustainability, involving families and local communities.Four leitmotivs will run throughout the whole project:-RUBBISH FAMILY: a family of waste bins composed by Father, Mother and Babies, that will contain all the waste of the school, so that children and staff can be aware of the quantity (and quality) of waste produced.-COMPOSTER, the King of Rubbish, where children can see first hand, that waste can turn in a valuable resource!-SCHOOL FLEA MARKET, open to children's families and to local community to ease the exchange of cloths, toys or any item that can still serve someone else.-ROSE OF JERICHO (also called Resurrection Plant), a desert plant that seems totally dry and dead, until it gets a little water to open and turn back to life, green and strong, to amaze children with the miracle of water.We have adapted the 3Rs to our little children, and they became 4 as follows :1. RECOGNIZE – children will learn about the different materials we use in our everyday life: plastic, glass, paper, organic, etc. through games, sport competitions, simple agricultural tasks and outdoor activities. Children will learn how to recognize natural and sustainable materials from those that are not.""We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children"" (anonymous) 2. REDUCE – we will all get acquainted to replace non-sustainable materials and products, with more sustainable ones, schools will help families organizing purchasing groups to get sustainable productions at a lower price. Experts will involve parents in easy lessons to learn how to produce simple every-day low-impact products at home.""Do not pretend that things will change if we always do the same"" (Albert Einstein)3. RECYCLE (and Reuse) – children will get used to separate garbage in the correct bins and reuse everything possible, making handcrafts, shopping bags and decorations for the school, using items in the bins.""The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not everyone's greed"" (Gandhi)4. ROOT – this part will be fully focused on teachers, who will share, discuss and consolidate the aims, activities, methods and results of the project, with other teachers (of local kindergarten and primary schools) and with University Professors. Every school will also apply for the ECO-SCHOOL certification of the worldwide Foundation for Environmental Education, in order to root the good habits learnt during the project and make it a permanent curriculum program.""Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"" (Nelson Mandela)Our main aims and desired impacts in short:-connecting our children with the wonders of nature and create environmental awareness to respect and protect our planet,-improving competence and skills in environmental education of kindergarten teachers,-consolidating and disseminating the 3Rs best practices to kindergartens children and teachers, but also to their families and local communities,-exchanging good practices among different countries,-raising awareness in children and families about the impact that products we use have on environment, and become aware of how little changes in our lifestyle can help our planet to stay healthy,-rooting all good habits learnt during the project to make them a permanent lifestyle and curriculum program in our kindergartens,-improving, consolidating and disseminating new teaching methods for 3Rs best practices in kindergartens, -increasing the quality level in our kindergartens,-creating a stronger feeling of belonging to the European Community and therefore continue improving our performances as teachers and educators.""Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world usually do"" (Steve Jobs)"