Image LIFE AND NATURE IN A NEW EDITION OF THE AGROECOLOGY FESTIVAL

LIFE AND NATURE IN A NEW EDITION OF THE AGROECOLOGY FESTIVAL
2025/09/16

For four consecutive years, the Agroecology Festival has been the essential event to celebrate the countryside in Rivas . This year, the event will take place on Saturday, September 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. , at the Chico Mendes Environmental Center (Calle del Enebro, s/n), offering a full program of family activities, workshops, shows, tastings, and a local farmers' market.

The initiative, organized by the Soto del Grillo Agroecological Park together with the Rivas City Council , aims to bring citizens closer to a sustainable, fair, and local food system, promoting agroecology and environmental education.

As in previous editions, the Festival will bring together farmers from Soto del Grillo , local production managers, and various environmental and educational organizations, including the El Campillo, Caserío del Henares, and Chico Mendes environmental education centers, as well as associations such as Anidando Rivas, Humana, and Aspadir . All have prepared activities designed for people of all ages.

Throughout the morning, attendees will enjoy fun, educational, and participatory activities. Among them is the Stellar Girls project , three elementary school students who are presenting their technological innovation to promote the use of loofah, an eco-friendly plant that can replace synthetic scouring pads. This project represents Europe in the Technovation Girls International Competition , where only five teams from around the world reach the finals.

In addition, the Caléndula association will organize a marigold planting workshop and explain how aromatic plants can help control pests in the garden. Ataraxia will offer a canning workshop, a tomato tasting, and an exhibition with a pumpkin raffle. Amor a la Tierra will present products from its garden, and Anidando Rivas will sell its traditional nesting boxes. Humana will offer an insect shelter workshop, a plant nursery, and will showcase unique crops from urban gardens in Rivas.

Educational centers will also be actively involved: El Campillo will teach children to be bird track detectives, while Chico Mendes will organize an experimental incense workshop, focusing on aromatherapy.

Agroecology Festival Program

  • 11:30 – Storytelling 'Jero, the Composter'
    Aspadir tells the story of Jero, a friendly character who teaches the magic of composting. The association is responsible for monitoring, controlling, and maintaining community composters in Rivas.

  • 12:00-13:00 – Interactive musical show 'Arbolito and the Hoopoe'
    Ajayú Dúo offers a show full of music and participation for the whole family.

  • 13.00 – Tomato tasting
    Tasting of native varieties, such as the Moruno de Aranjuez, the Gordo de Patones, or the Antiguo de la Cabrera.

  • 10.30-14.00 – Agroecological market
    Vegetables from Soto del Grillo, organic bread from Biopan, olive oil and wine from Pincelada de Morata de Tajuña, beers from Panda Beer, and Santmar chocolates. Customers will receive a voucher redeemable for a craft beer and an appetizer with local seasonal vegetables prepared by the La Huella Vegana restaurant.