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II. Info on organic food and farming (in Slovenian)

III. Events Calendar - organic food and farming, sustainable lifestyle (in Slovenian)

IV. Slovenian Presidency to the EU Council (1.1.-30.6.2008): Involvement of Environmental NGOs

ORGANIC FARMERS’ MARKET IN LJUBLJANA

Location:

Pogacarjev trg, Ljubljana / smaller part of the main market place in the city centre (look for the location marked with “EKO” on the info tables!)

Working hours:

On Wednesdays: 8:00 – 14:00 (2-3 stalls/farmers)

On Fridays: 8:00 – 14:00 (2-3 stalls/farmers

On Saturdays: 8:00 – 14:00 24 (stalls/farmers)

The vendors are organic farmers coming from all over the country. On the market they are offering mostly seasonal vegetables, fruits, cereals, juices, vinegar, oils (olive oil, pumpkin oil), herbs and spices…

A certificate on the stall is a guarantee of the organic status of the farm and the organic origin of the products.

There is also an offer of organic products in the covered part of the market place, where there is one shop with organic bread and one with organic meat. Opposite the open farmers’ market, in the small shops under the Plecnik’s Arcades, one of the shops is offering also organic cheese.

Note: The Slovenian expression for “organic” is “ekološki” or short “eko”.

Most of the farmers are using private organic label BIODAR, owned by the Union of Slovenian organic farmers – USOFA (Zveza združenj ekoloških kmetov Slovenije)

"Book of praises and complains": you are invited to send your remarks related to the Organic Farmers’ Market in Ljubljana to: info@itr.si

CONVERSION OF FARMS IN THE CITY COMMUNITY OF LJUBLJANA TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

The project 'Conversion of farms in the city community of Ljubljana to organic agriculture' started in the year 1998. The main aim of the programme is to stimulate the farmers in the community of Ljubljana to convert to organic farming and offer them relevant advisory services. Our Institute provides the support for farm conversion, future farm development and development of marketing strategies.

Why organic farming in the City Community of Ljubljana?

City community of Ljubljana is supporting development of organic farming because it has been recognized as a helpful tool for:

protection of drinking water resources of the community which are endangered by pollution;

the supply of the citizens of Ljubljana with high quality organic food;
offering a better income to the farmers in the rural surroundings of the city, therefore contributing to the maintenance of inhabited rural areas and of the landscape that offers opportunities for leisure activities of the urban population;
the protection of important nature protection areas, especially the Moor of Ljubljana.

Program activities

I. Work with the farmers

stimulate farmers for conversion by presentations and events;
help them in elaboration of conversion plans for the farms;
individual ‘on farm’ advising;
support them in development of new activities (connected to organic farming);
organisation of training courses, seminars, excursions, presentations, workshops;
encouraging cooperation between organic farmers.
Since 2004 our work is additionally focused on farms on water protected areas.

II. Market development:

building up the organic farmers’ market in Ljubljana (1999) – the first organic farmers’ market in Slovenia;
coordination of operation and of further development of the organic farmers’ market;
providing support for other market-related initiatives.
III. Education and awareness raising
educational and experience programmes on organic farms for primary schools’ children;
‘Organic festival’ (ECO-FESTIVAL) in Ljubljana (2^nd Saturday in September);
organisation of other promotional activities and providing information.
Within this programme we co-operate with several institutions/organisations:

Community of Ljubljana – Department for Economic Activities and Tourism/Service for Agriculture (financing the programme)

Community of Ljubljana – Department for Education,

Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning;

Organic Farmers’ Associations (Organic Farmers’ Association Central Slovenia);

Control and certification bodies for organic farming;

Agricultural Advisory Service;

DOPPS – Bird Life Slovenia;

Umanotera – Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development.

ORGANIC FARM AS A WORKSHOP ON ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

'We are a school, but not a school that you are used to. Our school building is wide nature, our classroom is golden field, colourful meadow, secret forest and a stable full of animals. Our teachers are plants, animals and people, who are living on the farm.'

Joseph Cornell

Organic farming is realizing sustainable development in practice!

This is why organic farms are the greatest example to show the children, how to manage natural resources not to damage the nature itself.

In the year 2000 we developed the program ‘School on the farm’ to show the children (mainly in primary schools in Ljubljana) what is going on on the farm. Nowadays school-classes can choose between several programs (listed below) to bring children closer to the happenings on the farm trough getting to know better the life on the farm, production of the food and understanding of the effects of organic farming on the environment.

Offered topics

Organic farm – a living place for many animals and plants
Organic farm and its biodiversity
Our beloved animals! 4. ‘From the grass to the milk’
From the fruit-tree to the table
Farmer as a job: to become a farmer for one day!
Children as young consumers
Secret forest and products made from wood
Healthy nutrition
Saving energy
What to do with the waste?

Program is held on an organic farm in the surroundings of Ljubljana. Children are guided by the ISD staff and the farmer himself through the farm, involving them also into a simple farm work. The different adventures are creating unforgettable experiences on which the children can base a positive relation to the nature and all the creatures.

Contact person: Ariana-Lucija Tratar-Supan

EDUCATIONAL KIT FOR YOUNG FARMERS IN CANDITATE COUNTRIES

Our project "Educational Kit for Young Farmers in Candidate Countries - YOUTH FARM" was concluded in January 2006.

As a result of a project we made printed handbooks and a CD rom (Manual for Young Farmers) regarding 5 different topics:

European Union and the Common Agricultural Policy

Agriculture and Environment

Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture

Quality and Safety in Food Production

Environment Friendly Agricultural Activities and Complementary Economic Activities

Here you can find Manual for Young Farmers

GREEN TOURISM ON ORGANIC FARMS IN SLOVENIA

Institute for Sustainable Development got involved in green tourism in countryside in 1998 when we took over the co-ordination of ECEAT for Slovenia (ECEAT – European Center for Eco Agro Tourism) In 1999 we have prepared »Green Holiday Guide for SouthEast Europe« in English which was publisjhed by ECEAT. Until 1998 there was no certification sysztem for organic farming, therefore we have been offering individually evaluated traditional farms that fulfilled basic requirements of ECEAT. Since 1999, we promote tourism on certified organic farms. However, detailed standards for »organic tourist farm« stating what should an organic farm also offer to its guests apart from being certified organic, are currently under development.

In 2000-2001 we were a partner in the project Eco-agroturismo (program Leonardo da Vinci, EU) together with AGOEL (Germany), AIAB and University Molise (both Italy). The project was devoted to the research on the education and training needs of organic tourism operators (farms) and to the development of an adequate training program.

In 2003 we developed a national project EcoAgroTourism (implemented by the financial support of the Delegation of European Commission in Slovenia) dealing with development of green tourism in rural areas. It included also an intensive 5-day training course for organic farmers involved in tourism on farm.

Institute for Sustainable Development is a member of ECEAT International.

ORGANIC TOURIST FARMS in Slovenia (location, address, offer…):

The Slovenian Tourist Board

Organic tourist farms in neighbouring countries:

Austria http://www.farmholidays.com
Italy http://www.aiab.it/agriturismi/

EKOPRAZNIK (ORGANIC FESTIVAL) IN LJUBLJANA

In 2002 we organized 1st EKOPRAZNIK (ORGANIC FESTIVAL) in Ljubljana, in cooperation with the Association of Organic Farmers of Central Slovenia, with the intention to bring organic food and organic farming closer to the public. Since then, we have organised these events every September.

Photo: Dr. Janez Drnovšek, former President of the Republic of Slovenia, buying organic foods on 4th Ecofest.

In the first years, ORGANIC FESTIVAL was primarily intended for promotion of organic foods by the organic farmers from all over Slovenia, but also from Austria, Italy and Croatia. However in 2005 we decided to give the event a new boast by including other products and activities based on supporting organic and healthy life style: eco /bio building - architecture, certified organic cosmetics, ecological detergents, organic tourist farms, organic gastronomy (restaurants and hotels offering certified organic meals), fair trade products... There were different workshops, presentations, lectures, as well as eco & organic events for children. In some local bars they also served organic snacks, teas and drinks.

Photo: Table of one of the restaurants offering certified organic meals.

Photo: Live music on Pogačarjev trg (Ljubljana Central market).

The 4th ECOFEST therefore carried a new slogan: »GoodLife: ECO and healthy«.
On ORGANIC FESTIVAL people can also get into direct contact with the organic farmers associations, environmental and other NGOs, organic inspection bodies...

Last year's ORGANIC FESTIVAL

5th EKOPRAZNIK took place on 6th till 8th of September 2006 in the old town centre of Ljubljana, with a big organic market and live music on Pogačarjev trg (Ljubljana Central market).

Areas of activity