Cultivating Harmony: Agroecology and Ecofeminism as Tools for Rural Youth Empowerment

Aims of the tool

The tool aims to:
— Connect rural youth with regenerative agroecological practices through hands-on, experiential learning.
— Introduce ecofeminism as an analytical and practical framework, helping participants understand the structural link between environmental exploitation and gender inequality.
— Build a sense of belonging and agency in rural young people, countering the social and demographic decline of inner areas.
— Develop competencies in sustainable food production, soil regeneration, biodiversity conservation, and participatory community design.
— Create spaces where gender justice, ecological care, and collective knowledge are integrated into a single transformative learning experience.

Description of the tool

"Cultivating Harmony: Agroecology and Ecofeminism" is a non-formal education programme developed by GÒ CARO ETS, a youth-led non-profit based in the hills of Marostica (Vicenza, Italy). The programme was designed in response to the double marginalisation experienced by young people in rural areas: the lack of accessible education on sustainable agriculture, and the absence of feminist spaces that connect ecological issues to gender justice.

The tool is structured around five interconnected learning modules, delivered through workshops, field activities, and participatory dialogue sessions held at the Togonegro educational farm and in collaboration with regenerative farms and ecofeminist cooperatives across the Veneto region:

Module 1 — Introduction to Agroecology and Biodiversity: participants explore the principles of regenerative agriculture — soil health, polyculture, seasonal rhythms, seed saving — through direct contact with the land. The starting point is always the local landscape, its history, and what has been lost or displaced by industrial monoculture.

Module 2 — Soil as a Living Ecosystem: practical sessions on soil biology, composting, no-till techniques, and the relationship between microbial life, root systems, and food quality. Participants learn to read the soil as a living community rather than a production substrate.

Module 3 — Ecofeminism and the Politics of Care: facilitated dialogues and workshops exploring the historical and structural connection between the exploitation of natural resources and the devaluation of women's labour, bodies, and knowledge. This module draws on testimonies from local women farmers and activists, and situates traditional feminine agricultural knowledge — seed saving, food preservation, land stewardship — as a radical and living practice.

Module 4 — Agroforestry, Water, and Landscape: field-based sessions on agroforestry design, water management, pollinator habitats, and landscape reading. Participants develop practical skills in long-term ecological design and understand the farm as part of a broader watershed and ecosystem.

Module 5 — Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Alternative Markets: participants learn how CSA models function as tools of mutual aid — how pre-season commitments, shared risk, and direct relationships between producers and consumers can sustain both the farmer and the community. This module includes visits to existing CSA operations and participatory business planning sessions.

Cross-cutting methodology: all modules integrate peer learning, reflective practice, and embodied knowledge. Activities alternate between theoretical input, hands-on fieldwork, group reflection, and creative expression. Special attention is given to creating safe and welcoming spaces for women, LGBTQI+ individuals, migrants, and people who have felt excluded from both conventional agricultural and activist spaces.

The programme culminates in a public event — a community market and celebration — where participants share produce, knowledge, and stories with the wider community, making visible the connection between individual learning and collective change.

Learning outcomes: participants who complete the full programme will be able to describe and apply basic regenerative agriculture techniques; articulate the ecofeminist critique of industrial food systems; design a simple CSA model; identify traditional ecological knowledge as a political and practical resource; and take steps toward initiating or joining a regenerative agriculture initiative in their own territory.