Hoe empower je de coach van begeleidingstrajecten in educatieve tuinen?

By comparing the coaching programs of IVN and Velt in a thorough and in-depth way, both organizations hoped to gain insight into how we train and support our coaches. In particular, we aimed to id...

By comparing the coaching programs of IVN and Velt in a thorough and in-depth way, both organizations hoped to gain insight into how we train and support our coaches. In particular, we aimed to identify bottlenecks and formulate possible solutions that we can further develop and integrate into the broader operations of our organizations. We sought potential answers to the question: "How can we empower our coaches?" with the goal of reaching a larger and more diverse audience, thereby equipping more people with the tools to choose an ecological and healthy lifestyle. The ultimate aim is to support coaches more efficiently and thus generate greater impact.

Action 1 was the research phase. During two co-creative days—hosted once by Velt and once by IVN—a pre-agreed methodology was used to gain theoretical insight into each other’s vision, approach, and structure of the coaching programs and related materials. Bottlenecks, successes, and suggestions for improvement were identified and mapped out. This knowledge was shared with colleagues and used to improve internal operations. The process, analyses, and recommendations were compiled into a report. Action 2 focused on dissemination based on four inspiring educational gardens. Velt and IVN staff, together with the involved coaches, visited four educational gardens (two Dutch food forests and two Belgian vegetable gardens) to engage with local stakeholders and draw lessons from practical examples. These experiences formed the foundation for inspirational profiles and best practices, combined with concrete tools so that anyone — coach, facilitator, parent, or teacher — who wishes to start or revitalize an educational garden can get started. The goal of this action was to inspire and provide practical tools.

The knowledge gained from the research phase was compiled into a report and shared within the organizations. Both Velt and IVN drew conclusions regarding their internal operations, evaluation methods, and coaching approaches. Each organization has already implemented adjustments or incorporated the new direction into a policy plan or followed relevant training. An inspirational brochure featuring good practices and practical tools is available for free in digital format on the websites of IVN, Velt, and the core partner, the School Gardens Alliance. It was promoted through newsletters and social media. Two of the case studies were published in 2025 in editions 1 and 2 of the magazine Seizoenen, with a circulation of 23,000. The remaining two were published in editions 3 and 4 of the same year. Velt invited its coaches to an online networking event, where the inspiration booklet and the online resource library were introduced. IVN presented the brochure in an online thematic meeting for all professionals who serve as national project leaders for the educational Food Forests program. The brochure has been added to the internal training library and is used as an inspirational document in the recruitment of new Food Forest guides.