The Juodkaimiai Community Centre runs a community-based social enterprise called “Žolynų namai” (Herbal House), which is built around three educational programmes designed for both adults and children.
“Spice Detective” is an entertaining educational programme for adults, introducing participants to a variety of drinks, snacks and the world of unusual spices through tasting, discovery and elements of a detective game.
“School of Herbal Magic” is an educational and creative programme for children, introducing them to medicinal plants, their properties and possible uses while combining knowledge with creative and entertaining activities. At the end of the programme, children take home a large lollipop on a wooden stick – not an ordinary one, but one magically enriched with the properties of several medicinal plants.
“Herbal Magic Detectives / Trackers” is a playful outdoor educational programme for children that encourages them to explore natural meadows and the diversity of plants growing there, learn to identify plants and discover the joy of connecting with nature.
All programmes focus on experiential learning, exploring nature, creativity and community, with the aim of encouraging interest in plants, spices and their various uses.
The community centre also produces natural products made from locally sourced medicinal plants and other plant-based raw materials, including hydrosols, herbal teas, jams, incense, fragrances and spice blends. The products are developed using traditional knowledge of plant uses, promoting naturalness, sustainability and the use of local resources.
