Arbor HUB Vallemaggia
Period: Development Phase
Country: Switzerland, Ticino, Vallemaggia
Partners: Kristel Peter and the LiLa Ghianda Association
Outcome: Arbor Hub
When a deeper connection to nature allows for renewed traditions
Context:
Nestled in the picturesque Swiss valley of Vallemaggia, Blue Arbor has teamed up with the Kristel Peter to breathe new life into the local community. The valley, known for its stunning natural beauty and once-thriving agricultural heritage, has unfortunately seen a decline in recent years with many of its traditional stone rustic home abandoned, unused pastures and chestnut production halted. But Blue Arbor and Kristel have a vision of revitalizing a local nucleus of “rustici” in the Crüpp locality. Together the vision aims not only by creating a gathering place for community life, but to propose an approach that sees the physical space and reinterpretation of Vallemaggia’s agricultural traditions as a means to regenerate the community through care for the forest and ancient “rustici”.
Project
With a focus on restoring vitality to the traditional pastures, chestnut forest stone houses and promoting nature, Blue Arbor and Kristel Peter are resting their vision on renewing Ticino’s local traditions. Through various educational activities, including the creation of a outdoor primary school program in the woods and the establishment of a vegetable garden, the project seeks to renew traditional resource use of resources, such as honey, chestnuts and more.
But it's not just about the environment - the project aims to address social, cultural, environmental, and economic issues in favor of a healthy social environment that promotes well-being, conscious and sustainable consumption, and equitable exchanges. The project proposes participatory activities for the people of Vallemaggia in order to reconstitute a cohesive, inclusive, and dynamic community in balance with the heritage, passing through recovery of agricultural and cultural traditions, with a contemporary reinterpretation and from a systemic perspective.
Goal:
Through the rebuilding of agricultural tradition and the promotion of extra curricular activities in the forest, the project hopes to raise awareness among the local population about the area's biodiversity and to promote an alternative way of life with well-being and inclusion at the center. The outcome will be the rehabilitation of three stone houses in Crüpp, the revaluation of the surrounding pastures and chestnut forest, and the organization of cultural to agricultural educational activities. Ultimately, the project aims to increase the cohesion of the population of Vallemaggia (starting from their youngest inhabitants!) and its surroundings and to foster acceptance and participation in a long-term community project.
Join Blue Arbor and Kritel Peter in their quest to bring the community back to life.
Blue Arbor values:
#nature #agriculture #school #inter-generation #well-being #inclusivity #senseofbelonging
Contact Person
paola.solca@bluearbor.org
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