Companion: An Agroecological Adventure

Ashmita Das, Julie Capito and Esteli Jimenez-Soto developed Companion: An Agroecological Adventure, a board game to teach students the application of ecological principles for the design of diversified agroecosystems. The game provides a highly accessible option for game-based learning with high appeal to agroecology professionals, practitioners, and educators. In addition to its relatively simple rules and short playtime, Companion differs from existing agroecology games in that it explores how core principles can be applied at hyper-local scales, such as that of a community garden. This emphasis further increases the game’s accessibility by making abstract concepts more concrete and highlighting players’ agency in taking actions that support transformative agroecology close to home.