Ecological Folk High School in Grzybów, (EUL) was established in 2015 on the initiative of its founders, Ewa and Peter Stratenwerth. The main purpose of the foundation is to promote Grundtvigian pedagogy and education in the field of agroecology.

 

Since the beginning 2015, EUL has been working to support local communities and promote environmental education, particularly in the field of agroecology. In the area of traditional folk culture, the EUL has organized many events promoting local culture, customs, and crafts, as well as local and organic food and agroecological practices. Regular events on the calendar include: St. Michael’s Day—a presentation of folk culture and customs; St. John’s Day; the “Good Harvest” organic farming seminar; and Eco-Saturdays in Grzybow—environmental and cultural education at a certified organic farm.

 

The Ecological Folk High School, with support from the Danish VELUX Foundation, offers: A long-term organic farming course (five two-year sessions have been held; a one-year course is currently underway), short courses promoting short supply chains, a community-supported agriculture course, a climate education course, and a course on biodiversity and organic gardening.

 

In 2024, the EUL launched The Weaving Lab of the Middle Vistula Valley Bioregion. Our bioregion comprises 18 municipalities. That’s over 200,000 hectares of exceptionally valuable natural habitat. We want to develop this region in harmony with nature, mindful of its ecological and cultural richness. In the face of global challenges, such as biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, we want to act locally. Weaving is a metaphor for cooperation. We bring together organizations, institutions, and people to work together to increase biodiversity and protect areas of natural value, promote cultural and historical heritage, and strengthen ecological and regenerative practices in agriculture. We encourage mutual support and cooperation to build a crisis-resilient environment and inspire action.

 

We also implement projects under the Erasmus+ Adult Education program. Below is a link to our latest publication, the result of an international small-scale partnership project carried out jointly with the Danish think tank Grundtvigs Forum in Copenhagen and the University of South-Eastern Norway. Project title: “Grundtvigian Pedagogy in the Face of Anthropocene Challenges—How to Train Folk High School Teachers?”