The Circular Garden – A Hands-On Zero Waste Workshop in the Arboretum of the Moravian Gate

How can you run a garden without waste, chemicals, or excessive watering, while improving local air quality? Participants of the “Circular Garden: How to Apply Zero Waste Practices in Your Garden” workshop, held on 7 June 2025 as part of the EU Green Week, found answers to these questions at the Arboretum of the Moravian Gate in Racibórz. The event was organized by eco-manager Zuzanna Poprawka, in cooperation with the arboretum team led by director Elżbieta Skrzymowska.

Permaculture – Building Climate-Resilient Gardens

The first part of the workshop introduced the concept of permaculture – a sustainable gardening approach that mimics natural ecosystems. Topics included growing perennial plants, composting, mulching, using natural plant protection methods, and integrating animals into the garden's ecosystem. Participants learned that permaculture reduces water usage, improves yields, and helps gardens adapt to climate change.

They also toured the arboretum’s “Useful Garden Beds”, designed according to permaculture principles. These beds feature pollinator-friendly herbs, berry shrubs for birds, bee hotels for solitary species like mason bees, ground-level bumblebee houses, and bird waterers, creating a thriving, balanced microhabitat.

The Permaculture Planter – A Closed-Loop Garden Bed

In the second part of the event, attendees created a model permaculture herb planter. This type of raised bed consists of multiple layers: brushwood for drainage, cardboard, wood chips, and soil. This structure can be used for many years without the need for annual fertilization and offers natural resistance to pests such as slugs.

Herbs planted in the bed included curry, rosemary, oregano, and marjoram. All plants and garden tools were funded by the “Silesia. Blue Sky Restored” project. The planter will remain as a permanent feature in the arboretum, showcasing sustainable garden design.

Natural Fertilizers and Home Recycling

Participants also learned how to make natural fertilizers from plants like nettle and tansy and how to propagate plants at home without the need to buy new ones – by seed sowing, root division, and cutting propagation.

The workshop also covered techniques for managing green waste and water more efficiently, including composting, mulching, and plant selection tailored to soil needs. Special attention was given to the impact of gardening practices on air quality, emphasizing how plant cover captures carbon dioxide and improves the microclimate.

Education Rooted in Practice

The event gathered 16 participants, with the most engaged attendees receiving herb pots to take home and continue their eco-gardening journey. The session sparked many insightful questions and discussions, showing a strong interest in ecological gardening among Racibórz residents.

The initiative was under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2025 and officially registered as a Partner Event of the European Green Week. It demonstrated that environmental education can be both hands-on and inspiring – and that every garden can become a model of circular economy in action.