In 2007 Green Tavush constructed a sustainable agriculture training facility in the village of Khashtarak.  The centerpiece of this 2500sqm. facility is based around a four-season, solar greenhouse.  The greenhouse is augmented with seedling beds, an organic composting enclosure, tree nursery, and crop land.  The project provides a facility for year-round seminars, classes, and hands-on workshops for farmers, community members, and students from the surrounding region.  Trainings focuses on organic and sustainable farming, innovative agricultural techniques, composting, and practical environmental protection. The area is also used as a testing ground for farmers, students, and community members who wish to explore applied organic farming and new agriculture products.  

Organizational Cooperation 

Starting in late August 2006, Green Tavush has been working to build inter-organizational ties by stressing the importance resource sharing and cooperation.  Monthly regional meetings are conducted to dicuss environmental issues.  These meetings will continue as the project progresses and will serve as a way to coordinate activities and increase capacity.

On-Site Applied Training

 The target constituents for trainings are; local farmers, farmers’ associations and cooperatives, agricultural entrepreneurs, and students.   Trainings are held either at the facility, or include visits to the facility as part of a long term training program. 

 Green Tavush is carrying out training in basic organic agriculture, hot composting, vermiculture, ecology, and environmental protection. However, the keys to our training strategy are cooperation and flexibility.  We are working with associations, community groups, and NGOs to increase training capacity, expand constituencies inside and outside Tavush Marz and provide expert technical assistance.   Green Tavush is not a business NGO, and relys on the support of other organizations in the implementation of this part of the project.  Green Tavush has established connections with The Ijevan Small Business Support Organization and the Small and Medium Enterprise National Development Center.  The facility is a channel by which motivated persons can connect to those organizations.

Green Tavush uses the facility to provide hands-on education open to all students.  Working through Green Tavush’s Eco-Clubs and school contacts in over 20 communities, Green Tavush offers regular opportunities for education regarding environmental protection, ecology, pollution, and organic farming.  Students in the communities of Khashtarak and Lusadzor regularly meet at the center to help with its operations.  In doing so, they learn valuable lessons on environmental stewardship.

Off-Site Education

This strategy builds directly out of Green Tavush’s past and continuing programs. Using our contacts across the Marz , Green Tavush brings our commitment to multifaceted environmental protection into the communities.  The Green Tavush environmental curriculum includes a video library, environmental lesson plans, games, and a wealth of teaching experience.  Classroom lessons in schools, Eco-Clubs, and Eco-Camps, are combined with field trips to the organic farming center to increase the impact of lessons. All students who are involved in this program learn about organics, ecology, tree planting, composting, and gain a strong appreciation of their environment.  Adopt-A-Tree and classroom garden projects make students stakeholders in environmental protection.  Green Tavush hopes to awaken a sense of curiosity in the natural world and sense of environmental responsibility that the current education system does not provide.