Diversity in farmers' homegardens in Eastern Tyrol (Austria)

Farmers’ homegardens, their diversity of the plant species used and the associated knowledge of the garden managers are an integral part of the cultural landscape of the Lienz district of Eastern Tyrol. Scientists and scholars of the BG/BRG Lienz, together with high-school teachers of Biology, Mathematics & English investigated farmers ‘ homegardens, i.e., the plant inventory and the use of plants. The results were compared to data collected from surveys conducted 20 years ago in the same gardens and helped identify transformations of the gardens and their management.

To obtain a better understanding of the local perception of the significance of these homegardens, additionally the perception of the garden managers and their neighbors on ecosystem-services delivered by the gardens were recorded. In the course, the management techniques that adapt to extreme weather conditions and the securing of sustainable management practices were explored. Within the scope of a complementary citizen science module the local community was invited to collect additional data on ecosystem-services in their homegardens.

Scholars were integrated into the entire research process with regard to their affinities and resources. In workshops they prepared for their cooperation. The research process, the analysis and the communication of the results were reviewed with them. The preparation of in depth pre-scientific papers allowed particularly motivated scholars to monitor birds, insects or soil parameters in farmers’ homegardens. Complementary the project offered a gender sensitive approach and promotion of women in MINT studies.

With the integration of the project into the schools subject mathematics a highly professional quantitative analysis of the results was intended. Also with the integration into the subject English the use of a technical correct terminology was accomplished. Communication about the research process and its results were supported by the use of the scholars’ mobile phone cameras. Experts taught scholars, the professional handling of video and photographic images, for the purpose of documentation supplemented by inputs on creative writing techniques. Web-sites, science blogs and science slams provided information to the broader public.