In collaboration with the Sustainability and Environment Department of the National University of San Martín (SEyV), we launched the project “Living Laboratory: cultivating, experimenting, and learning at UNSAM.” This initiative aims to create a space for experimentation and learning about the evaluation of important food crops, bringing the participatory evaluation experiences that Bioleft has been developing to the university campus.
In this context, two working days were held in the vicinity of the “Casita Astro” on campus. The first took place on August 10th, where we collectively built an experimental wooden garden bed. This demonstration space is intended for the production, evaluation, and improvement of tomato and maize seeds.
What is the difference between a vegetable garden and an experimental garden bed?
While in a vegetable garden we seek to produce vegetables for consumption, in the experimental garden bed we seek to observe the development of the crops we want to improve, in this case tomatoes and corn. Everyone is invited!
To this end, we will install a series of signs and QR codes with access to spreadsheets so that students, neighbors, and UNSAM workers can record the evolution of three native tomato cultivars: Variety 7, called Aimé; Variety 56, called Nomeolvides; and Variety 172, called La Piqui. In addition, two tomato varieties provided by INTA AMBA – Agencia de Extensión San Martín (San Martín Extension Agency) will be added to this evaluation: UCO 16 and Lomitero. Observations are very important for the development of tasty and agroecological tomato seeds.
We also participated in the Workshop and Fair for the Exchange of Garden Seeds and Native Plants, organized by the Sustainability and Environment Area of the Directorate of Welfare and Extension of the Secretariat of Extension and Outreach of UNSAM, with the participation of the INTA San Martín Extension Agency.
During the workshop, guided by Elba González and Alejandra Lara from INTA AMBA (San Martín Extension Agency), we learned about planting vegetables in seedbeds. We also practiced pricking out and transplanting. The day continued with an enriching seed, cutting, and seedling exchange fair for garden and native plants, and closed with a ceremony to Pacha Mama.
On September 24th, we met again for a day dedicated to maintenance, transplanting, and a seed exchange fair. During the meeting, we filled the previously constructed experimental garden bed with substrate, using 2 m³ of compost and black soil. The garden bed was ready to receive the native tomato seedlings that will be evaluated.
In addition, autumn-winter vegetables such as broccoli, fennel, cabbage, chard, green onions, and parsley were harvested to make way for the transplanting of spring-summer species such as tomatoes, lettuce, basil, and aromatic species such as calendula, rue, and mint.
The day ended with a seed, seedling, and native plant cutting exchange fair, and we shared a healthy breakfast provided by the SEyV’s Nutritional Diagnosis and Treatment Service.
We would like to thank the Sustainability and Environment Department, our colleagues at INTA, and everyone who joined us in sharing these experiences.
