These are our nominees!
The application phase for our BIObegeistert 2025 funding has now ended and we are delighted to present the 28 projects in total! Each of these projects presents itself here with its ideas and its commitment to sustainability and organic. Now it’s up to you to decide which project deserves your vote. The project with the most votes will receive a grant of up to €5,000 from Byodo! Second place will be rewarded with €3,000 and third place will receive €2,000.
Discover the inspiring ideas and use your voice to help make an important contribution to a more sustainable world.
Nominated projects:
Free School Unterneukirchen
Project: Eat, enjoy and grow consciously
Freie Schule Unterneukirchen is a young school under construction that focuses on collaborative learning and individual support. In addition to traditional learning content, the topic of sustainability plays a major role here – both in the classroom and in daily interactions. With the “Eat, enjoy and grow consciously” project, the school aims to help children experience the connections between nutrition, nature and health. The pupils deal with food in several stages – from cultivation to preparation. They learn how vegetables grow, the importance of regional and organic products and how to process them into healthy, delicious meals. They garden, cook and eat together. This creates an awareness of how closely our food is linked to the environment, climate and well-being. The funding is used specifically to finance excursions to farms, to have a cookbook designed by children printed, to procure organic ingredients for practical units and to improve the equipment in the school garden. With funds for a greenhouse, gardening equipment and building materials for additional beds, the practical learning environment will be strengthened in the long term. The aim is not only to impart knowledge, but also to awaken a lasting desire for conscious nutrition and promote action-oriented skills.
Training association Rhöner Lebensmittel e.V.
Project: Cooking WG in all-day care: saving food – saving lives
The Rhön Food Training Association is a regionally anchored provider of communal catering that combines cost recovery with high product quality and social responsibility. The “KochAG – Essen retten, Leben retten” project brings children in all-day care into direct contact with food origins, preparation and appreciation. Participants learn how dishes are planned, ordered in exact portions and prepared sustainably, and get to know simple food processing techniques. Educationally, the program combines nutritional education with social goals: Appreciation for food, avoidance of waste and orientation for careers in communal catering. The funding is used to finance working hours for the cooking courses, to procure organic ingredients for the practical experiments and to replace or purchase the necessary kitchen equipment. This enables workshops to be offered systematically, the quality and sustainability of the catering to be improved and children to be taught practical, professionally relevant skills.
Social Ecology Association
Project: Summer bakery: Organic bakery meets farm experience
The SozialÖkologie association is expanding its educational program with the “Sommerbackstube”, an extracurricular learning format that combines baking and farm experience. Children experience the journey from grain to bread: from the field to milling to baking in the wood-fired oven and eating together. The program promotes an understanding of regional value creation, ecological production and manual skills. The funding enables the financing of educational fees, farm usage fees and technical rental equipment such as a professional baking oven as well as consumables for the implementation. Travel costs and organizational preparations are also included. The funds will be used to implement an inclusive educational format lasting several days, which will teach children practical skills, sensory experiences and a sustainable relationship with food.
BRK Nature Daycare Center Leesten
Project: Creation of raised beds, field, flower meadow, compost and nesting aids
The BRK Naturkita Leesten runs a large outdoor area on the edge of the forest and places particular emphasis on nature-oriented, year-round educational activities. The project aims to expand raised beds, create a potato and cereal field, fence in a flower meadow and install nesting aids and insect drinking troughs. The aim is to integrate biodiversity, the circular economy and food education into the children’s everyday lives. The funding will be used specifically for building materials, high-quality organic soil, peat-free substrates, organic seeds, fencing material and nesting aids, as well as for additional composting areas and small jars for bottling home-made products such as dandelion honey. This creates permanently usable learning spaces where children can experience sowing, care, harvesting and processing in a practical way, develop an understanding of ecological relationships and take on responsibility in a participatory way.
Marburg Waldorf School
Project: Redesign of the school garden and equipment for processing
The Freie Waldorfschule Marburg uses urban garden areas as a central learning space and is planning to transform individual beds into larger communal areas in order to strengthen collaborative work and supply the school kitchen. The focus is on combining horticultural education with processing skills in the school kitchen. Funding is provided for tools for parallel work (digging forks, pendulum hoes, spades), organic seeds and equipment for preserving and processing such as dehydrators, juicers, grain mills, garden chippers and a lawn mower. The aim of these purchases is to provide pupils with hands-on learning from soil to plate: soil care, communal harvesting, processing and storage. The funding increases the school community’s ability to act, supports a sustainable menu and teaches manual skills and an appreciation of regional food.
Free Waldorf School Learning Center Nieperfitz
Project: Learn better with organic berries
The Freie Waldorfschule Lernort Nieperfitz is located on a farm and combines school learning experiences with direct agricultural practice. The “Better learning with organic berries” project aims to plant around 150 organic berry bushes, which pupils will tend, harvest and process into products such as jam or fruit leather. Cultivation, fertilization and mulching techniques, harvesting cycles and processing steps are taught; teachers receive further training in garden education to ensure the sustainability of the offer. The funding goes towards the purchase of plants, processing equipment such as Thermomix and dehydrating ovens, dehydrating films, jars, tools and soil, as well as training courses and teaching materials. The aim is to closely link nutrition education, practical experience of nature and health aspects and to teach pupils skills in growing, processing and appreciating organic food.
Rehberg School Roßdorf
Project: Visit to the organic farm Hofgut Oberfeld
Rehbergschule Roßdorf is an elementary school that promotes learning with all the senses. With a project day at Hofgut Oberfeld, the children experience the “From grain to Christmas cookies” chain: a tour of the field, their own milling, dough preparation and baking in a wood-fired oven. The funding finances participation fees for children and accompanying adults, so that access is guaranteed regardless of individual financial means. Educationally, the excursion combines teaching topics such as harvesting, grain science and sustainability with direct sensory experiences. The project promotes an understanding of organic farming, appreciation of food and sustainable nutritional choices.
Elementary school by the lake
Project: Healthy and lively: Workshop “Small bakery – snack time”
The Am See elementary school has been recognized as an international sustainability school and plans to supplement its health concept with extracurricular workshops. In the “Small bakery – snack time” workshop, pupils in years 3 and 4 work out how bread is made from regionally grown grain. The funding covers participation and travel costs to ensure that all children can take part. Through practical work with grain, flour and dough, the children learn about manual processing steps, experience seasonal connections and strengthen healthy nutritional awareness. The project combines subject lessons with practical life skills and promotes an appreciation of regional foods.
Werkstattkinder e.V.
Project: From the workbench to the cooking pot
The WerkstattKinder parents’ initiative combines creative, manual work with nature and nutrition education for crèche and kindergarten children. The project includes converting the kitchen into a hands-on kitchen suitable for children, holding an organic workshop week, an overnight stay on an organic farm and planting a small organic garden. The aim is to give children practical experience with organic food and manual production. The funding will be used for the kitchen conversion (induction stove, child safety locks, ergonomic work surfaces), materials and fees for workshops, transportation and accommodation costs as well as garden equipment. These funds will create a safe environment for participatory cooking and learning.
Day nursery Neunhof
Project: Conversion to organic food
The Neunhof crèche is a small facility in a rural area that is planning to switch to organic food on a trial basis. Within one to two weeks, all meals are to be organic, accompanied by tastings, discussions with parents and educational activities for the children. The funding covers the additional costs for organic purchases, material kits for tastings and information materials. The aim is to improve the quality of the children’s diet, to inform parents about the benefits of organic food and to examine how a permanent changeover is practicable.
KiKu Bärenbande daycare center
Project: Allotment garden to sustainable organic garden
The KiKu Bärenbande daycare center has a leased allotment garden and is planning to develop it into a sustainable organic garden. The project includes repairing existing raised beds, filling them with organic soil, creating a herb spiral, composting and planting bee-friendly perennials. Children are actively involved in sowing, tending, harvesting and processing in order to develop an understanding of organic farming principles. The funding will be used for building materials, organic seeds, child-friendly gardening tools, storage jars, a food processor or Thermomix alternative and documentation material. The aim is to integrate seasonal harvests into the nursery diet and promote practical experience of nature.
Uckersternchen daycare center
Project: Snack garden at the children’s restaurant
The Uckersternchen daycare center runs a children’s restaurant with a children’s kitchen and is planning to transform the outdoor terrace into a snack garden. Raised beds, a plant pyramid, a small greenhouse and planters are to be created there, in which children can grow vegetables, herbs and strawberries. Initial equipment, plants, soil and materials for project days as well as ongoing purchases for maintenance are funded. The concept combines gardening practice with direct utilization in the children’s kitchen, promotes responsibility and enables children to experience the origin of their food directly.
Solidarity agriculture Ackervielfalt eG
Project: Experience organic: Agroforestry for schools and daycare centers
Solidarische Landwirtschaft Ackervielfalt eG cultivates an organic field with an agroforestry system and would like to open it up more as a place of learning. Plans include a school bed for a special school, planting and harvesting days, day-care workshops and field days that bring agroforestry principles and regional value creation to life. Funding will finance materials for beds, cooking and learning utensils, the development of teaching materials for specialists and the implementation of activities. The aim is to create modular educational offers that schools and daycare centers can use in the long term and to strengthen practical approaches to organic farming.
Friends of farm animals move people e.V.
Project: The chickens are laughing
The association runs an organic farm with animal-assisted education and has been offering guided tours of the farm and hands-on programs for years. The project-oriented program “Da lachen ja die Hühner” is aimed at schoolchildren with physical disabilities and is aimed at year-long visits in which chicken farming, animal welfare and feed production are exemplary. Educational content includes species-appropriate husbandry, feed production, care, motor activation and social participation. The funding finances participant support, transport, materials on site, staff support and the organizational implementation of a six-month programme of visits. Regular, action-oriented participation promotes motor, social and cognitive skills; at the same time, awareness of animal welfare and sustainable food production is conveyed.
Children and Youth Circus Lübeck e.V.
Project: Summer circus a la carte
The children’s and youth circus combines circus education with nature experiences and healthy eating in a vacation format on a pony farm in a nature reserve. The aim is to give children from different social backgrounds access to environmental issues and healthy eating: Circus training, excursions to the nature reserve, animal-assisted activities and preparing fresh meals together are on the program. The funding will be used for catering during the four-week campaign, use of the farm infrastructure and fees for trainers and supervisors. The project promotes exercise, teamwork, ecological education and nutritional knowledge in a creative setting and enables children to gain practical experience with regional foods and nature-based leisure activities.
Kinderhaus Nürnberg gGmbH
Project: Mini organic gourmet: from seed to plate
The supporting organization runs numerous KITAs and is planning a project that will teach children about the organic food production chain: Raised beds and organic seeds will be planted together, children will tend and harvest and prepare simple dishes such as vegetable snacks, herb butter and smoothies. Accompanying activities include craft activities, plant signs and a final party with parents to document knowledge and experiences. Funding is used for raised beds, soil, organic seeds, child-friendly kitchen utensils, aprons, craft materials, ingredients for mini-recipes and a closing event. The aim is to strengthen nutritional education, motor skills, creativity and social integration through participatory everyday activities.
International School Farm Hardegsen gGmbH
Project: New cold scratching room for laying hens
The International School Farm is a long-established extracurricular place of learning that teaches over 3,000 children about practical agriculture every year, including the care of 250 organic laying hens. Due to the age of the existing infrastructure, there is an urgent need for a new cold scratching room to ensure species-appropriate husbandry conditions and the educational offer. Funding will be used for material costs (fencing, wood, trapezoidal sheet metal, guttering, door), dismantling and construction work, disposal of old components and labor costs. The renovation will restore the safety and hygiene of the animal husbandry, stabilize the visitor offer and ensure the long-term implementation of practical environmental education.
Child day care klitzeklein
Project: Greenhouse for child day care
The day care center would like to extend gardening time with its own greenhouse and enable children to sow, tend and harvest all year round. The aim of the project is to integrate gardening activities into the day care center’s daily routine in order to combine early childhood education with experiencing nature and taking responsibility. The funding applied for covers the purchase of a robust greenhouse (6-8 m²), foundation and site preparation, heating and lighting if necessary, interior equipment such as raised beds and shelves, seeds and child-safe gardening tools. The investment creates weather-independent learning opportunities, promotes nature-related development goals and enables several cultivation cycles for educational and consumption purposes.
Landcampus Gröben
Project: Construction of a greenhouse for school classes
The Landcampus Gröben is an extracurricular learning facility that is currently under construction and offers practical project days on topics such as bread baking, vegetable growing and honey bees. A 12 m² greenhouse is planned to enable the year-round cultivation of vegetables and herbs and significantly expand the educational offer. The funding will go towards construction costs, building materials, raised beds or shelves and the equipment so that school classes and daycare centers can experience the complete cycle from sowing to processing. The greenhouse will create additional learning opportunities, regardless of the weather, which will increase the diversity and continuity of the offer and strengthen the campus as a regional educational location.
Mothers and Family Center Karben e.V.
Project: Organic dinner with fun
The MüZe mother and family center wants to establish a monthly parent-child dinner that offers families from different social and economic backgrounds low-threshold access to joint, healthy preparation of organic meals. The format promotes family interaction, strengthens parent-child relationships and teaches practical cooking and nutrition skills. Cooperation with local organic farms is planned for product sourcing and excursions. Funding is used to finance the food per session, the fees for group leaders and preparation as well as the purchase of optional kitchen equipment such as a juicer or flake crusher. The aim is to create a permanent, self-sustaining offer that can be built up through initial funding and later supported by low participation fees.
Child day care Naturzwerge
Project: Greenhouse and vegetable garden
The Naturzwerge daycare center pursues a nature-oriented childcare concept and is planning to purchase a small greenhouse and create a vegetable garden suitable for children. The project aims to bring children into contact with nature at an early age, strengthen motor skills and develop a sense of responsibility. Funding will be used for the greenhouse, including the foundations and structure, raised beds, child-friendly tools, fencing or enclosures and accompanying educational material. The measure enables an earlier start to the gardening season and extends its use into the fall; at the same time, sustainable values and seasonal relationships are brought to life.
TV 1848 Coburg e.V.
Project: Children’s camp “The Bio-Detectives”
The sports club organizes a five-day vacation camp for 6-12-year-olds that combines visits to organic farms, herb hikes, cooking workshops and gardening together. The aim is to enable children to experience the origin, cultivation and processing of food in a sensory and playful way while combining exercise, teamwork and nutritional skills. Funding is used for organic food during the leisure time, travel and entrance costs to farms, materials for workshops, fees for speakers and equipment for gardening. The program promotes sustainable eating habits and creates local links between sports activities and educational venues.
Alexander Coppel Comprehensive School Solingen
Project: Outdoor class: Green classroom
The inclusive comprehensive school is planning to develop a green classroom with raised beds, teaching beds, fruit and berry plantations and a barefoot path to regularly take lessons outside. The project pursues inclusive educational goals, enables hands-on learning and promotes ecological education across all year groups. Funding is used to purchase raised beds, plant material, materials for a barefoot path and tools for construction and maintenance. The expansion will create permanent learning spaces that support participatory, action-oriented learning and strengthen school communities.
Cyriakus Primary School Horn-Millinghausen
Project: Organic school and village garden
The Cyriakus elementary school wants to create a communal organic school and village garden as a learning and meeting place where pupils, teachers, parents and senior citizens can sow, tend and harvest together. The aim is intergenerational learning, teaching ecological cultivation principles and promoting social participation. Funding is used for barrier-free raised beds, soil, seeds, child-friendly gardening tools, the creation of an insect meadow, a composting area and seating. The project creates a permanent learning space, increases local networking and teaches practical skills in sustainable food production.
Primary and secondary school Friedersdorf
Project: The organic garden of the senses
The school is planning an “organic garden of the senses” with a barefoot path, herb caterpillar, teaching bed and jointly cultivated areas, which will be run cooperatively by primary and secondary school pupils. The project integrates subject lessons, WAT practice and handicraft activities, promotes sensory experiences and enables interdisciplinary learning from the construction of small wooden structures to garden maintenance and harvest processing. Funding is used for materials for the barefoot path, planting boxes, lawn edging, fence construction, tools, plants and documentation material. The project combines practical skills, intergenerational learning and conveying an appreciation for food and the environment.
Staudinger GS
Project: Organic school garden
Staudinger Primary School is planning a permanent organic school garden, which will be anchored directly on the school grounds as a learning and experience space. Children from all year groups will experience step by step how plants grow, what the soil and care requirements are and how much work is involved in growing vegetables. The project combines theoretical teaching content with practical gardening: from planting the beds to sowing, tending and harvesting to processing in the existing cooking club, the pupils experience the journey “from the bed to the plate”. The school newspaper documents the project with reports, interviews and photo series, so that sustainability and organic knowledge are brought into the school culture. Child-friendly tools, raised beds and peat-free organic soil, organic seeds and seedlings as well as a small garden shed for storage, growing houses and mini greenhouses for the classroom are to be funded. Optional extras include a rainwater barrel and materials for a composting station. The aim is to establish the gardening club in the long term, raise awareness of nutritional behavior and make practical environmental education accessible to all children. Gardening together strengthens a sense of responsibility, teamwork and an understanding of nature; the school kitchen benefits from freshly harvested ingredients and the school community gains a lively place for intergenerational learning and school projects.
Protestant daycare center Haus Löwenzahn
Project: From the earth to the mouth
The Protestant daycare center Haus Löwenzahn wants to redesign its outdoor area in a natural way and give children a direct experience of how organically produced food is grown with the “From the earth to the mouth” project. Two new beds are planned: a child-friendly organic raised vegetable bed and a “snack bed” with berry bushes and aromatic herbs. The nursery consistently uses organic seeds, peat-free substrates and organic soil, supplemented by care groups, a plant diary and themed activities on earthworms, bees and soil. During planting and harvesting phases, the children try freshly harvested samples, process yields in simple recipes such as herb quark or berry muesli and celebrate a parent-child “snack party”. The project thus promotes everyday skills, self-efficacy and a solid knowledge of organic produce: What does “organic” mean, why is sustainability important and what do freshly harvested vegetables taste like? Support is needed for the construction and materials of the raised bed, peat-free soil, plants and child-friendly tools as well as learning and decorative materials. The aim is to permanently integrate organic gardening into the daycare center’s daily routine, to strengthen nature-based pedagogy and to promote a positive, enjoyable approach to healthy eating from the very beginning.
Möllers Morgen e.V.
Project: Organic together: cooking with children and young people
Möllers Morgen e.V. runs an educational and learning farm that offers tried-and-tested approaches to sustainable agriculture. With the “Gemeinsam Bio” project, the offer is being expanded to include the combination of cultivation and preparation. Young people and school groups harvest organic vegan vegetables together on the farm’s own fields, bring the harvest to the farm kitchen and prepare meals under professional guidance. The aim is to make the ecological and ethical dimension of plant-based nutrition visible, to teach skills and to promote appreciation for regional, plant-based food. The annual project is designed as a growing season with several school groups and open educational offers; educational content includes cultivation, care, harvesting techniques and climate-relevant aspects of nutrition. The funding applied for is intended to secure fees for speakers, finance seeds, seedlings and maintenance costs for the fields, as well as cover materials and consumption costs for the cooking workshops. The combination of field work and cooking creates an action-oriented learning environment that enables young people to make reflective nutritional decisions and teaches practical skills for a sustainable future.
