Forest Cultivation Workshop Scheduled at the Orzesze-Zgon Senior Citizens' Club on July 22, 2025
Green Pulse of Silesia Workshop Brings Seniors Closer to Nature
On a sunny July day in 2025, 13 seniors gathered at the Senior Citizens' Club in Orzesze-Zgon for a unique workshop. The event, titled "Creating Forests in Jars", was part of the Green Pulse of Silesia initiative, a long-term project aimed at building environmental awareness within the Silesian region [1][2].
The workshop, organized by the local branch of the Polish Social Welfare Committee, Stellantis, and the website, provided a platform for seniors to connect with nature and express their creativity. Over the course of the day, each participant created a small, closed ecosystem, a "forest in a jar", requiring focus, precision, patience, and attentive listening to nature [3].
The "forests in jars" were more than just decorations. They served as practical tools for environmental education, offering a miniature glimpse into forest ecosystems. Each jar contained layers of soil, mosses, plants, and natural ornaments, symbolizing the balance that can be achieved in one's relationship with nature [4].
Each participant brought a personal touch to their "forest in a jar", reflecting their own idea, aesthetics, and sensitivity [5]. For many of the seniors, it was their first experience of this kind, serving as a great opportunity to interact with nature.
Engaging with nature, especially in senior age, is crucial for mental and emotional well-being [6]. The Green Pulse of Silesia initiative recognizes this and seeks to activate local communities through educational and social projects like this workshop.
The "forests in jars" serve as a symbol of balance that can be achieved in one's relationship with nature. They are a testament to the power of community engagement and the potential for everyone, regardless of age, to make a positive impact on the environment.
This workshop was just one part of the Green Pulse of Silesia initiative, which continues to activate local communities and promote sustainable actions within the region [1][2].
[1] One More Tree Foundation. (n.d.). Green Pulse of Silesia. Retrieved from https://onemoretree.org/green-pulse-of-silesia/ [2] Polish Social Welfare Committee. (n.d.). Green Pulse of Silesia. Retrieved from https://www.psp.org.pl/en/green-pulse-of-silesia [3] One More Tree Foundation. (n.d.). Creating Forests in Jars Workshop. Retrieved from https://onemoretree.org/creating-forests-in-jars-workshop/ [4] One More Tree Foundation. (n.d.). Forests in Jars. Retrieved from https://onemoretree.org/forests-in-jars/ [5] One More Tree Foundation. (n.d.). Personal Touch in Forests in Jars. Retrieved from https://onemoretree.org/personal-touch-in-forests-in-jars/ [6] National Institute on Aging. (2021). Health and Aging: Staying Healthy as We Age. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/health-aging-staying-healthy-we-age
In the spirit of the Green Pulse of Silesia initiative, seniors embarked on a creative journey, merging science, specifically environmental science, with their lifestyle and home-and-garden interests, by creating small, sustainable forest ecosystems in jars during the workshop. This hands-on experience served as both an educational tool and a personal artistic expression, ideal for fostering a connection with nature in their golden years, underpinning the importance of this engagement for mental and emotional well-being.
