Challenge #12: Recycled Roots – Building a School Garden

From: Gymnasium of Eani
To: 2nd Vocational High School of Kozani (2ο EPAL)

As part of the “GREEN out of the BOX” project, students from the Gymnasium of Eani took on the challenge of creating a school garden using recycled plastic materials.

The goal was to show that plastic waste – such as bottles and yogurt containers – can be turned into functional and beautiful planters, promoting creativity, recycling, and sustainability in everyday school life.

🎯 Challenge objectives:

• Give new life to single-use plastic items through creative reuse
• Beautify the school yard with a functional green space
• Encourage understanding of circular economy and sustainable gardening

🪴 Students followed four main steps:

• Collect materials: plastic bottles, yogurt cups, used containers
• Transform them: cutting, painting, and decorating to create colorful pots
• Choose plants: herbs (oregano, basil, mint), hardy flowers, or small vegetables like lettuce and arugula
• Install the garden: placing the DIY pots in a chosen space of the school yard

The final result was a collaborative, eco-friendly garden that proved how sustainability and imagination can flourish hand in hand.

Congratulations to the students of Eani for their creative and inspiring contribution!