Biodiversity Storytelling

Storytelling is a diverse method that can take many different forms. In the PLANET4B project, storytelling involved the use of personal narratives to connect to ecological and biodiversity-related issues through the topic of food. The method was used with a Learning Community of migrant women in Graz, Austria. This community is centred around the co-creation of a biodiverse, edible green space for and with women who currently lack access to urban gardens due to financial, social, language, or other barriers.

Storytellers were invited to choose a fruit or vegetable that held personal meaning and to share a story connected to it. The storytelling method framed food as a source of pleasure and memory, offering an accessible entry point for dialogue. Sharing memories through food helped build trust among group members, and to connect personal experiences to the broader, and often abstract, concept of biodiversity. While the focus in this instance was on food, the method can be adapted to explore a wide range of topics.

In this module Sandra Karner outlines how Biodiversity Storytelling was developed and applied in PLANET4B, in this video she introduces the Learning Community in Graz:

In this Sandra Karner introduces and explains how Biodiversity Storytelling was used in PLANET4B:

Key Features ‍

Participants:

• The ideal group size is 6–8 storytellers. If the group is larger than this, it is advisable to divide storytellers into smaller groups. The plenary discussion following the storytelling can accommodate up to 15 people
• Adaptable to a wide variety of groups and interests, suitable for age 11 upwards

‍Timeframe:

• The storytellers are given 2 weeks’ notice to prepare their stories.
• Facilitators will also need at least 2 – 3 hours in advance to develop relevant factsheets related to the selected foods, highlighting their ecological, cultural, or nutritional significance.
• The storytelling workshop lasts approximately 2 hours. In the PLANET4B project, the session was followed by a shared dinner, where storytellers brought and enjoyed the foods featured in their stories. This extended the workshop into a communal, celebratory space, deepening connections through shared sensory experience.

Budget:

• This is a low-budget method, with the main expense being the time required to prepare the factsheets related to the story items. If you prefer not to print these, and storytellers have access to smartphones, the materials can be uploaded to a shared online drive for easy access. Additional costs to consider include refreshments, transport support for storytellers, and securing an accessible venue.

Materials and Resources Needed:

• Information cards about specific fruits or vegetables, and examples/samples of chosen fruit and vegetables (or the topic of the story)
• A comfortable space for the storytelling – this might include chairs and/or blankets. Weather permitting, an outside green space is optimal.
• Participatory information and informed consent (ethics)

Skills Required:

To ensure the method runs smoothly, ensure the following skills are covered by people within the group:

• Manage group dynamics and create an inclusive, respectful environment
• Organise the session structure and materials
• Research background information and factsheets relevant to the discussion topic
• Promote the workshop and recruit storytellers