An exploration into human-plant relations: uncovering wild flora knowledge for educational ways forward
The thesis focuses on the topic of wild edible plants in Apulia. The goal of the project is to recover the traditional oral knowledge held by the locality and the community around it. The recovery happens by meeting and interviewing gastronomists, elderlies, women and educators in Apulia. The interviews are sided by a phenomenological exploration of place done through foraging practices, photography, journaling, poetry and cooking.
The result is a plateu of collected knowledge that is then trasferred to elementary schools with co-created solutions on flora engagement with selected educators.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the scenery of Apulia human-plant interrelations and the knowledge present within?
How can I explore the knowledge present in such relations?
How might I then extend this knowledge to young targets of elementary school kids?
Research phases & tools
journaling
storyboards
audio-guide
movement
interrelating
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Interviews were conducted to understand knowledge of wild edible flora, mainly reaching representatives through word-of-mouth.
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I engaged in a reflective process through my body, using poetry, photography, and cooking to connect with the sites and their milieu.
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Included observations from the Orto Domingo workshop, which engaged children with flora through extracurricular activities, to learn from their interactions and dynamics.
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The workshop invited various experts in joint inquiry and imagination to propose wild flora educational activities for kids in elementary school.
Co-creation workshop
Engagement tools
Intuitive acts of care, I surrender to wholeness
Partiosaari May 2022
Thorny thistle, wind, bones, sun, my hands are soft
Mugia Plateau December 2021
Wild flora Storyboard
The booklet features prominent wild plant species from Apulia, with photos and essential details on recognition, cleaning, and easy recipes for kids. It aims to engage with flora and promote wild edibles in diets. Information was gathered from expert interviews and is presented in Italian for the target audience.
