School garden with allelopathic plants for teaching environmental education

Abstract

This research, of an educational and environmental nature, was conducted at the Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi School, located in Boconó, Trujillo State, with the purpose of developing a school garden with allelopathic plants for teaching environmental education. It was conducted using a qualitative approach, framed within the sociocritical paradigm, using participatory action research (PAR). To collectively build knowledge with the educational community. Participatory assessment, strategic planning, collective execution, and critical reflection were implemented through assemblies, field research, and direct observation. This allowed for the identification of existing needs and problems, such as lack of beautification, poor maintenance of the school grounds, and deterioration of the protective wall and the overall physical structure. Regarding its potential, it is worth mentioning that the school is located in an agricultural area. For this reason, it has native seeds, motivated students, and teachers knowledgeable about agricultural issues within the school context. Tools such as the SWOT matrix and the Likert-scale prioritization matrix were used to analyze the problem. Planning was carried out using a Gantt chart, ensuring orderly and efficient execution of activities, beginning with the acquisition and provision of tools and concluding with a training day on environmental education. The reflection process demonstrated the positive impact on the educational community, promoting awareness, teamwork, and the acquisition of knowledge about sustainable agriculture.