To maintain ecological balance, we must first develop a detailed understanding of local flora and fauna, and a keen awareness of nature’s cycles. In response to the challenges posed by climate change, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has developed Manuterra, an educational programme dedicated to the living world. By introducing young generations to permaculture, Manuterra encouarges them to foster a deeper connection with nature and to highlight the major challenges in protecting and preserving it.

This programme offers immersive sessions for primary and secondary school pupils in an edible plant garden. During school hours, and under the guidance of a horticultural professional (such as a gardener, horticulturalist or market gardener,) and a mediator, pupils are invited to create, plant and maintain a plot of land using a range of permaculture techniques.

Various environmental topics are explored through a hands-on approach over the sessions: the skills of gardeners and other nature professionals, water management, the life cycles and identification of plants, the life of the soil and natural fertilisers, to name but a few. These sessions require the active participation of pupils, who are invited to use tools and get their hands dirty to learn specific skills: creating a compost, planting a mulch in autumn or a straw mulch in spring, planting and sowing, and harvesting fruits and vegetables at the start of summer. Crucially, Manuterra allows the children and teenagers to take ownership of a living environment as a way to understand the importance of preserving biodiversity.