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Growing with your food 2022

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The Research Centre of Organic Farming of Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tartu Nature House's Eco-Schools programme encourage you to grow your own food and  think about how we grow and consume food!

With the support of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 main programme project "Growing with your food" we are eager to teach children and adults to value their food, from seeds to composting. The world's soils are deteriorating, with species loss up to a thousand times faster than the natural rate of extinction. Intensive farming has had a major impact on these processes. Therefore it is wise to choose organic food and  learn to grow food organically.

The quiz will be open until 12 May 2022, the International Plant Health Day. There will be a prize draw for participants in two age groups: under 12 and older. To participate in the prize winning, please make sure to write down the details of how to contact you. By leaving your contact details, you consent to the processing of your personal data for the purposes of the quiz, the publication of the results and the delivery of the prize.

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1. This Mediterranean root vegetable was an important food in Estonia before the potato. In addition to the root, you can also eat its leaves.

2. Why sow carrot seeds with coffee grounds? Choose all the correct answers.

3. Where does carrot seed come from?

4. This perennial herb, usually with light blue flowers, is both a medicinal and a food plant and can be used for its roots, leaves, and flowers. The dried roots of the plant are mainly known as a substitute for coffee.

5. What is done differently in organic production to maintain and increase soil fertility compared to conventional production? Choose all the correct answers.

6. How are plants protected against diseases and pests in organic production? Choose all the correct answers.

7. Crop rotation is a main principle of organic farming, helping to ensure crop yields and maintain and improve soil fertility. What are the characteristics of a good crop rotation? Choose all the correct answers.

8. Legumes are plants in the family of Fabaceae. They are characterised by a five-petalled flower resembling a butterfly, consisting of an uppermost sail, two lateral wings, and a keel formed by the fusion of the two lower petals. Another distinctive feature is their fruit, which is the familiar pod. Which of the plants in the picture are legumes?

9. Leguminous plants enrich the soil with nitrogen. Their roots also grow in compacted soil and bring up nutrients deeper. They provide living and feeding habitats for beneficial insects. When legumes are grown solely to improve soil fertility, they are called green manures. Why are leguminous plants important in agriculture? Choose all the correct answers.

10. Soil is formed from soil and dirt by the life of various organisms. Among others, earthworms play a vital role in soil formation. How many species of earthworms are known to occur in Estonia?

11. By eating soil and decaying plants, earthworms enrich the soil. How much valuable excrement can an earthworm produce per m2 per year?

12. There is a common misconception that the number of spots on a ladybug indicates its age. What does the number of spots actually mean?

13. Plants often need help to develop seeds. Help comes from wind, water, and many animals. Some of the best-known pollinators are the various insects that feed on the flowers, such as bees, bumblebees, and syrphid fly. Which picture shows a honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)?

14. How much of the diversity in our diet comes from insect pollinators?

15. Compost is produced when organic matter decomposes into a nutrient-rich natural fertiliser through the interaction of oxygen and a range of microorganisms. If the compost smells unpleasant when it is finished, something has gone wrong in the process. This could be because of, for example, composting the wrong waste. Which of the wastes in the picture should not be added to compost? Select all the correct answers.

16. On average, how many kilograms of food or groceries are thrown away per person per year in Estonian households? The reason for throwing away food is that food is spoiled or has reached the end of its useful life, food that is left over when eaten, etc., i.e. wasted food.

17. Which label in the shop identifies organic food? Choose all the right answers.

18. Do you grow your own food and, if so, then what?