PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE GOOD PRACTICES CATALOGUE MATEJA ŠMID HRIBAR SAŠA POLJAK ISTENIČ JANI KOZINA PETER KUMER PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE: Good Practices Catalogue The Good Practices Catalogue on Participatory Urban Agriculture was made based on collaboration among consortium partners in the AgriGo4Cities project. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes, without special permission from the copyright holder(s) provided acknowledgement of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purpose, without the written permission of the copyright holder(s). www.interreg-danube.eu/agrigo4cities AgriGo4Cities–Urban agriculture for changing cities: governance models for better institutional capacities and social inclusion, January 2017–June 2019 Image on the front page: Students developing irrigation system for easier future maintance of garden on top of Jože Plečnik grammar school. Photographer: Luka Vidic Please cite as Šmid Hribar M, Poljak Istenič S, Kozina J, Kumer P (eds) (2018) Good Practices Catalogue on Participatory Urban Agriculture. Ljubljana: ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC Publication was peer-reviewed. Editors Mateja Šmid Hribar, Saša Poljak Istenič, Jani Kozina, Peter Kumer Authors Csaba Bende, Mario Benkoč, Serena Cannavò, Artan Coboviq, Mateja Ferk, Nela Halilović, Kateřina Janatová, Drago Kladnik, Jani Kozina, Peter Kumer, Barbora Kvačková, Florian Lintzmeyer, Simana Markovska, Kaltrina Meqikukiq, Eva Mihová, Christina Müller, Saša Poljak Istenič, Peter Repolusk, Claudia Schwarz, Máté Szalók, Mateja Šmid Hribar, Jernej Tiran, Lucia Vačoková Acknowledgment This publication was issued as a result of AgriGo4Cities project. The project is co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI). Published by ZRC SAZU - Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Založba ZRC, Anton Melik Geographical Institute First e-edition. 2018 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://zalozba.zrc-sazu.si/p/1535 Kataložni zapis o publikaciji (CIP) pripravili v Narodni in univerzitetni knjižnici v Ljubljani. ISBN 978-961-05-0118-3 (pdf), C OBISS.SI -ID= 296686336 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Project partners Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (Slovenia) – lead partner Municipal District Prague 9 (Czech Republic) European Development Agency (Czech Republic) Municipality of Velenje (Slovenia) Central Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency Nonprofit Ltd. (Hungary) Vaslui Municipality (Romania) ENVICORP (Slovakia) PiNA - Association for culture and education (Slovenia) Association of South-Western Municipalities (Bulgaria) Ifuplan – Institute for Environmental Planning and Spatial Development (Germany) Municipality of Ulcinj (Montenegro) Regionalna razvojna agencija Ljubljanske urbane regije (Slovenia) Employment Service of Slovenia, Regional Office Koper (Slovenia) EBB Europaberatung (Germany) Association Euni Partners (Bulgaria) Association of City Municipalities of Slovenia (Slovenia) Prague City Hall (Czech Republic) Executive summary 2 I. Conceptualizing participatory urban agriculture 7 II. Political framework supporting participatory urban agriculture in the Danube region 21 III. European projects addressing participatory urban agriculture 29 IV. Good practices of participatory urban agriculture 63 V. References 202 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 reduced livelihood and quality of place. To overcome these challenges, the AgriGo4Cities project designed The Good Practices Catalogue of Participatory Urban Agriculture as a repository of knowledge, a source of motivation and a key element to building a common methodology that will improve public institutional capacities, tackle the social exclusion of image credit: Bojan Erhartič vulnerable and marginalized groups and The Good Practices Catalogue of stimulate sustainable urban Participatory Urban Agriculture development in the Danube Region. The addresses some of the main challenges catalogue aims to offer concrete lessons related to governance systems within the on how to enhance public services, Danube Region that can be attributed to promote active citizenship, reinforce the decreasing capacities of public public participation and contribute to authorities to incorporate a the sustainability of cities by means of participatory approach into planning. urban agriculture. It is intended for Recent austerity measures have left anyone interested in the fields of urban public administrators with limited agriculture, participatory planning, instruments and channels for involving social inclusion and sustainable relevant stakeholders and civil society development. The main target groups into decision-making processes. The are politicians and decision-makers, absence of participatory mechanisms is vulnerable and marginalized groups and contributing to a reduced motivation of other interested stakeholders (NGOs, people to engage in governance and academics, students etc.). administration, because they feel relegated from political, social and The Good Practices Catalogue of economic agendas and not competent Participatory Urban Agriculture is enough to act as an equivalent structured along four chapters reflecting counterpart and a considerable driver of on the scientific, political and practical change. The gap between citizens and implications. The first chapter offers a public authorities is therefore increasing comprehensive conceptualization of on all levels and leading to intensified participatory urban agriculture. It mistrust and lack of public participation, systematizes the different types of urban especially among the most agriculture and frames it as an disadvantaged communities at risk of innovative, effective and efficient tool for exclusion, such as the poor, unemployed, fostering participation, social inclusion homeless, Roma communities, migrants, and sustainability. It is commonly elderly, women on maternity leave and accepted that urban agriculture is a children. The growing social and broad term that describes food economic inequalities are reflected in a cultivation and animal 3 husbandry on urban and peri-urban It would therefore be advantageous to land. Urban agriculture is characterised utilize the potential of urban agriculture by the heterogeneity of the involved to improve public institution capacities actors, dimensions, backgrounds and in tackling social exclusion and objectives on the one hand, and by the effectively governing the area using multifunctional external effects on the participatory planning and urban economy, society, and management. Despite its environments on the other hand. During potential to contribute to the major the last few decades, new forms of European and macro-regional strategies gardening and farming practices have (e.g. CAP, Europe 2020, the 2030 Agenda been emerging using high levels of social for Sustainable Development and innovation, environmentally friendly EUSDR), urban agriculture is seldom lifestyles and mixed bottom-up or top- used as a cross-sectorial field of action, down approaches. However, for urban even though it would surely enhance agriculture to be sustainable as a their positive effects. It is thus crucial to livelihood and resilience strategy, it better harness the integrative potential requires decision-support tools that of urban agriculture, especially in allow planners and participants alike to addressing citizen participation, social jointly develop strategies and assess inclusion and sustainable urban potential leverage points within urban development. food value chains. The third chapter deals with the The second chapter analyses the political relevance of urban agriculture in the framework that supports participatory universe of EU-funded programmes and urban agriculture in the Danube Region. projects and their relevance for the It reviews the selected strategies and scope of AgriGo4Cities. Based on the six policy documents that have strongly predetermined keywords, a total of 44 influenced the development of urban programmes were selected. 18 of them agriculture in the Danube Region and displayed results by keyword search. 29 their potential to increase public projects out of these 18 programmes institutional capacities, tackle social were deemed to be of interest from 2007 exclusion and stimulate sustainable onwards. More than two project hits for urban development. The conclusions one funding programme were found by show that urban agricultural activities looking through the following EU- comply with local policies on sustainable funding programmes: CREATIVE- urban development and actions for social EUROPE-CULTURE, Interreg inclusion. They are at least partially Mediterranean Programme 2007–2013 included in national strategies for urban and Interreg South East Programme development of the countries in the 2007–2013. The various projects are Danube Region, while urban agriculture focused on different target groups governance for social inclusion is an and build upon citizens in general as emerging concept in national policies well as young adults, women, and strategic documents. 4 - Basic information including a short abstract and target groups; - Taking the first steps, where the start of the good practice is described and the initiator is stated; - Every single person matters, describing and explaining the different roles and stakeholders; Geographical distribution and typology of the selected good practices - Secret ingredients tries to pinpoint the of participatory urban agriculture. specific advantages; communities, new citizens, immigrants, - Participatory aspects is dedicated to (long-term) unemployed, disabled, as well the involvement and participation as cultural workers, certain stakeholders, process; producers and politicians. - Brighter future explains the likely potential development of the good The final chapter presents the heart of the practice; catalogue, by examining good practices of - Guidance for beginners is dedicated to participatory urban agriculture. The main tips and instructions for anyone wanting aim of collecting these good practices was to initiate a similar practice; to find the ‘recipe’ or ‘ingredients’ for the - One person can change the world aims ‘secret sauce’ on how to design a successful to highlight the value of the personal application of participatory urban motivations of the stakeholders agriculture. The criteria for the selection included in the good practice. of the good practices were the inclusion of vulnerable groups, the use of a We hope the stories will give you participatory approach and the pursuit of precious insight into the various sustainable development principles. gardens, which engage diverse Altogether, 21 good practices were vulnerable groups. In many cases, we identified, 17 from the Danube Region, and included short quotes from the 4 from elsewhere. The good practices are interviews to connect the stories to real categorized according to the included people. Knowing what can be achieved, vulnerable groups into educational, social, even with a small garden, just by community and therapeutic gardens. involving different people has great potentials in dealing with different The good practices, covering various types groups of people in the future. In most of gardening, were further analysed cases, the gardens provide the necessary through field visits and phone or Skype framework in which a community can be calls, where most of the pieces of established and grow. As mentioned in information were obtained through semi- the story of the Beyond the Construction structured interviews with the relevant Site garden: “The garden gives its stakeholders. Each good practice is members “stability in life” (in a described as a story through the psychological sense); they can decide following subsections: 5 This cottage's address is "285 Garden" (image credit: Bojan Erhartič) what to do there and have control over it. The most valued qualities of the garden are that it connects the community and opens the space up for use in line with the community’s desires; through this, it has transformed a sleeping settlement into a lively place.” The AgriGo4Cities project team wishes you an enjoyable read of the catalogue. For those who are trying to set up a new garden or perhaps only modify an existing one, we hope that the material gathered and especially the good practices will motivate you enough to take the first step and then the second, the third … The AgriGo4Cities partnership 6 I. CONCEPTUALIZING PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE 7 fabric; it is integrated into the social and cultural life, the economics and the metabolism of the city. To systematize urban agriculture, a distinction must be made between the gardening and the farming level. Urban food gardening encompasses agricultural activities with a generally low economic dependence on material outputs, while image credit: Bojan Erhartič using the production of food for achieving other, mostly social, goals. PARTICIPATORY Urban farming refers to intentional business models taking advantage of the PLANNING AND proximity to the city by offering local or URBAN AGRICULTURE regional agricultural products or services. This concept does not apply to all farming that takes place in larger The main objective of the introductory urban areas. Non-urban-oriented farming chapter is to conceptualize participatory includes all farm enterprises that urban agriculture (UA) as a method to maintain ‘business as usual’: the farmers improve public institutional capacities practice their conventional farming in order to tackle the socio-economic activities on areas that were previously exclusion of vulnerable/marginalized rural and have been converted to intra- or groups and stimulate sustainable urban periurban areas as a result of urban development. growth. The adjacent city is usually perceived as a threat rather than an The definition of urban agriculture in opportunity, except for the improved the AgriGo4Cities project has been access to transport infrastructure. The adopted from the recent study of the production is mainly oriented towards COST Action on Urban Agriculture domestic or international markets. Europe (Lohrberg et al. 2016). Urban agriculture spans all actors, At the gardening level, and according to communities, activities, places and production, urban food gardens can be economies that focus on biological divided into those based on individual production in a spatial context, which is production (family gardens and categorized as ‘urban’ according to local allotment gardens) and those based on standards. Urban agriculture takes place collective schemes (educational gardens, in intra- and periurban areas and one of therapeutic gardens and community its main characteristics is that it is more gardens). Squatter and social gardens can deeply integrated in the urban system fall into either category. compared to other types of agricultural activities. Urban agriculture is structurally embedded in the urban 8 Multifunctionality in urban areas has services, like leisure and educational been associated with farm diversification farms or therapeutic and social ones. The strategies, mainly addressing urban other includes local food farms and demands for recreation and tourism. environmental farms that provide benefits through material or Over the years, urban farms have environmental flows connected to the expanded the provision of services and urban metabolism and the urban goods and now include landscape environment. management, environmental measures, land rental and direct marketing. The In line with the AgriGo4Cities project farms in intra- or periurban locations that focusing on vulnerable groups, another have adapted their business strategies type of urban food gardening was added, can be subdivided into two main groups. i.e. social gardens. One implies the provision of on-site Typology of urban agriculture (Lohrberg et al. 2016). 1. URBAN FOOD GARDENING ALLOTMENT GARDENS: Subdivided garden, whose plots are rented under a tenancy agreement; highly formalized, often managed by an organization or association FAMILY GARDENS: Non-commercial food-producing undertakings for the household provision with produce; no institutions or organisations involved EDUCATIONAL GARDENS: Teaching tool addressing food production, processing and consumption; high potential for raising public awareness and spreading gardening ideas COMMUNITY GARDENS: Based on bottom-up initiatives and tended collectively; their purpose is food production as well as social functions for the community THERAPEUTIC GARDENS: Located at physical and mental health care institutions; sub- types are contemplative gardens and production-oriented, active gardens SQUATTER GARDENS: Food production on idle land; due to their informal, extra-legal character, they are not registered nor subject to public policies SOCIAL GARDENS: Gardens intended to address social problems and aimed at promoting the integration of people at risk of exclusion 9 2. URBAN FARMING LEISURE FARMS: Offering recreational opportunities linked to farming activities SOCIAL FARMS: Farms intended to address social problems and aimed at promoting disadvantaged people’s rehabilitation and the integration of people at risk of exclusion EDUCATIONAL FARMS: Pedagogical function is dominant, e.g. in the form of learning programmes or short-term stays for schools; recreational component is optional THERAPEUTIC FARMS: The therapeutic use of farming-related activities promotes physical and mental health and well-being, e.g. hippotherapy, occupational therapy LOCAL FOOD+ FARMS: Oriented toward local markets and a direct relationship with consumers (cooperative, CSA), the + indicates non-food production (cosmetics, fibre) ENVIRONMENTAL FARMS: Farms with high natural and environmental value and/or contribution to biodiversity or agro-diversity conservation; as part of flood or fire prevention plans or green infrastructure, networks, green belts, Natura2000, etc. CULTURAL HERITAGE FARMS: Intentionally contribute to preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage through the maintenance of traditional materials, buildings, crops and breed varieties and cultivation techniques EXPERIMENTAL FARMS: Tests new agricultural technologies, production methods, varieties and breeds or models of social and economic interactions with their urban environment 10 PARTICIPATORY PLANNING and change in participatory methods, broadening access to planning processes Participatory planning is a planning (Griffin 2014). paradigm that emphasizes involving the entire community in the strategic and The roots of participatory planning can management processes of planning; it be traced back to developmental projects also designates urban or rural from over fifty years ago that dealt with community-level planning processes. It is ethnic, racial, and poverty issues. They often considered as part of community drew on Kurt Lewin’s problem-solving development (Lefevre et al. 2000). research model of planning, action and Participatory planning aims to harmonize investigating the results of those actions. views among all of its participants based They tried to carry out focused research on bottom-up principles and prevent to challenge the power relations within conflict between opposing parties. In communities in order to benefit the local addition, vulnerable / marginalized community (Minkler and Wallerstain groups have an opportunity to participate 2008). According to Racadio et al. (2014: in the planning process (McTague and 50), community-based participatory Jakubowski 2013). planning originates from the ‘Southern’ tradition of ‘action research’, wherein A top-down process may alienate local researchers believe their role is to community members and fail to capture support and educate the community, locally important factors (Fraser et al. while the transformative change has to 2006). This is especially true for come from the community itself. community planning projects. Evidence shows that top-down initiatives achieve In contrast, the ‘Northern’ tradition statistically significantly lower results in emphasises the co-participation of accomplishing local communities’ goals researchers in institutional settings, such and end-user satisfaction (Larrison 2002). as schools and workplaces. There they Responding to the gap between the can jointly solve problems on a small desires of local communities and scale and thus affect their own lives. government programs such as urban Going even further, Tress et al. (2005: renewal, Sherry Arnstein wrote A Ladder 487) define the participatory process as a of Citizen Participation to “encourage a project in which academic and non- more enlightened dialogue” (Arnstein academic participants exchange 1969). She developed the ladder as a knowledge in a parallel process to try typology, with eight rungs ranging from and solve a problem. However, ‘the focus various degrees of nonparticipation to is not on the integration of the different degrees of tokenism and, ultimately, knowledge cultures to create new citizen power. Her critical account on knowledge and theory’, but ‘might be planning methods of the time has development or the application of informed policies affecting the growth research. 11 PARTICIPATORY URBAN role that urban agriculture can play from a livelihoods and social cohesion AGRICULTURE perspective, the question is thus how to Urban agriculture has become an support and mainstream urban important research topic in recent years agriculture as a strategy that could be (Rich et al. 2016), as there is an used not only as a reaction in times of increasing convergence in motivation to crises, but also as a livelihoods strategy do urban agriculture related to food that can enhance the resilience and security and livelihoods development, sustainability of urban areas and particularly for poor and disadvantaged populations. More specifically, what segments of society (Ellis and Sumberg types of systemic planning tools are 1998; Rich et al. 2016). However, for available to integrate planners and urban agriculture to be sustainable as a practitioners in a process of joint livelihoods and resilience strategy, it learning that can guide the development will require decision-support tools that of urban agriculture more effectively allow planners and participants alike to (Rich et al. 2016)? jointly develop strategies and assess potential leverage points within urban Despite the growing interest in urban food value chains (Rich et al. 2016). agriculture, urban planners and landscape designers are often ill- Recently, there has generally been a equipped to integrate food-systems significant disconnect in developed thinking into future plans for cities. The countries between those actors that challenge (and opportunity) is to design drive and organize urban agriculture urban agriculture spaces to be and those that regulate and manage it. multifunctional, matching the specific Without any formal support, urban needs and preferences of local residents, agriculture in both developing and while also protecting the environment developed countries has mostly been a (Lovell 2010). bottom-up process, typically initiated by individuals or non-governmental Urban agriculture offers unique research organizations rather than by opportunities that require alternative governments or facilitated by planners methodological approaches. (Rich et al. 2016). Indeed, while attitudes Participatory research can be very towards urban agriculture have been effective for gathering data, while at the shifting among planners over the past 15 same time engaging and informing the years (Lovell 2010; Morgan 2013, 2015), public (Lovell 2010). For example, local the mainstreaming of a policy consensus residents might get involved in the to facilitate urban agriculture remains mapping and inventory of those green lacking, as does knowledge at a planning spaces that could be used for food level to support it (Pothukuchi and production (Fraser 2002). The urban Kaufman 2000). Given the important agriculture gardeners/farmers themselves could be involved in the data 12 In order to maximize the potential of urban agriculture, the crucial factors include participatory tools and processes that appreciate the multi- functionality of land use, a diversity of stakeholders, and spatial and temporal interactions of people and place. While the participatory tools used in planning increasingly incorporate spatial influences, they often miss the feedbacks and unintended consequences that could image credit: Bojan Erhartič arise from policy interventions. As such, collection by documenting their more tailored, fit-for-purpose planning activities, tracking their inputs and tools are needed (Rich et al. 2016). yields, inventorying the plants and spatial mapping of the garden site SOCIAL INCLUSION AND (Airriess and Clawson 1994). Other studies have engaged residents or URBAN AGRICULTURE gardeners/farmers in focus groups to determine the factors most important for The concept of social inclusion has been protecting and expanding urban inseparable from the concept of social agriculture (Thapa and Murayama 2008). exclusion; when discussed, the latter prevailed as a starting point in the sense Redwood suggests that participatory that ‘socially excluded’ people have been approaches for urban agriculture “in need of the receipt of policy to enable research should consider the following their ‘social inclusion’” (Hall 2010: 48; cf. questions: (1) “Who is growing what and Cameron 2006). Over time, policy why?”; (2) “How are the interests of the discourse shifted from exclusion to local people reflected by the research?”; ‘inclusion’, a seemingly more positive or (3) “What are the economic factors affirmative term that is now ubiquitous, influencing decisions?”; and (4) “What and many synonyms, such as solidarity, institutions are involved and in what cohesion, social capital, integration, capacity?” (Redwood 2009). have come into regular use in different political and social settings (Silver 2015). As Lovell (2010) indicates, the food system and urban agriculture are In politics, the concept is used as a multifunctional and multi-faceted issues common denominator for various topics that involve a number of diverse falling under the umbrella of social stakeholders, with the successful policies. It came into the EU political implementation of policy initiatives vocabulary from the French term requiring broad knowledge and expertise. ‘exclusion sociale’ in the mid-1980s (Peace 2001: 18). Social exclusion did not exclusively signify the monetary aspect 13 but also encompassed the inability to defined and deployed in two ways. In the participate in economic, political, narrow sense, it is used as a synonym for cultural and social life as well as income poverty, referring specifically to exclusion from the “mainstream” the unemployed or people in low-wage orientation of the society (Filipović 2005: work. As such, it is often used alongside 168). However, as the EU is primarily an the concept of ‘social cohesion’ in the economic union, the common social sense that a cohesive society is one in policy has been hard to enforce, except in which (political, social and economic) terms of the economic aspects. stability is maintained and controlled by participation in the paid workforce. In the According to Robert Peace’s (2001) broad sense, ‘social exclusion’ denotes a analysis of EU policy documents, the dynamic process in which people concept of social exclusion is used when experience a lack of resources and/or a discussing (1) labels/names/categories denial of social rights that result in for excluded people (by age, gender, multiple deprivations, breaking of family disability, ethnic or racial origins, ties and social relationships as well as in a economic resources or by “choice”); (2) loss of identity and purpose. In this sense, names for different kinds of exclusion the concept of social exclusion can be (e.g. political exclusion, poverty, useful for developing a different and more exclusion from work, family, mainstream complex understanding of the factors and life etc.), (3) names for factors identified influences that lead to well-being and as accentuating exclusion (lack of access relative advantage on the one hand, and to resources, lack of “fair recognition”, disparities, inequalities and relative spatial, personal and economic disadvantage between members of a intensifiers); (4) metaphors for states, community on the other hand. Such conditions or places of exclusion (e.g. understanding and definitions specifically being on the margins, least-privileged highlight ‘participation’ and ‘social groups, poverty trap, situations of risk, inclusion’ (Peace 2001). ghettos etc.); (5) structural causes of Sociologists in general underline that exclusion (over which individuals have social inclusion/exclusion is a result of a limited control, e.g. child labourers, lack of equality, which is an immanent precarious workers, long-term feature of every society, even the simplest unemployed, living in bad housing ones. They have used various terms to conditions, on derelict land, affected by grasp the differences between individuals vandalism etc.); and (6) names/labels for or groups regarding the possibilities and particular psychosocial effects of opportunities they have, such as exclusion (e.g. psychological problems, deprivation, marginalization and loss of identity, mental depression, exclusion. Anthony Giddens (in disintegration from family ties, work and Nowosielski 2008: 173), for example, social relations etc.). identified 4 dimensions of social exclusion: economic (caused by ‘Social exclusion’ is a concept that can be unemployment), in consumption, political —at least in politics—generally and social (inability to participate in 14 social networks and a lack of contact with physical benefits. It provides a sense of others). Similar is the model proposed by affirmation, contributes to a healthy diet, Burchardt et al. (2002) with these and demands physical activity. Social dimensions: production, consumption, work researchers or practitioners of social interaction and political occupational therapy have so far engagement. Some researchers have produced the greatest number of studies added other types of exclusion, such as linking urban gardening and social spatial (i.e. from particular spaces) and inclusion. Their and other approaches cultural (Nowosielsky 2008: 173). using nature have been termed green Sociological research often links the care (see Sempik et al., 2010). One of the phenomenon to other concepts, mostly to first structured approaches using nature social solidarity (in English translation and working within it, e.g. farming and see Durkheim 1933, Weber 1947) and gardening as a therapy, was horticultural social capital (in English translation see therapy. This is a specialised form of Bourdieu 1986, Putnam 2000). occupational therapy using plants and horticulture as its main activity. Related These dimensions and features are also to it is therapeutic horticulture, which highlighted in research and case study adopts a more generalised way of using analyses in the field of social work and horticulture and gardening to promote occupational therapy. They generally health. The distinction is that focus on any of the indicators of social horticultural therapy has a predefined inclusion: employment, housing, clinical goal similar to that found in education, participation in leisure/social occupational theory, while therapeutic activities, access to health services, horticulture is directed towards health insurance, security/welfare improving the wellbeing of the support and community services. In such individual in a more generalised way and studies, social inclusion—along with has a more important social context; this socio-economic security, social cohesion is why it is usually referred to as social and empowerment—is strongly related and therapeutic horticulture (at least in to social equality, defined as the extent the UK) (Sempik 2010: 16–17). to which citizens are able to participate in the social and economic life of their Small-scale agriculture has been widely communities under conditions that used in Europe as a form of rehabilitative enhance their well-being and individual social care, particularly for people with potential (Lloyd, Tse & Deane 2006: 1–2). mental health problems and learning Social inclusion involves being able to difficulties. In some European countries, rejoin or participate in leisure, this involves the continued development friendship and work communities of hospital farms, while in others, it (Townsend, 1997). represents an evolution of agriculture becoming ‘multifunctional’, i.e. not Gardening supports health and simply producing food but also providing wellbeing, as it brings many mental and care (Hine 2008). Such farms have been termed ‘care farms’ (see 15 Additionally, such projects can enable participants to manage a garden or oversee activities and in this way, include them in a specific form of political engagement (Sempik and Aldridge 2002). The potential of green care is thus considered to reside within the activities, the setting and the social environment (Sempik 2010: 18). image credit: Peter Kumer Hassink & van Dijk 2006). Alongside SUSTAINABLE URBAN farming activities, the animals themselves have also been used as ‘co-therapists’ for DEVELOPMENT AND promoting health and wellbeing within URBAN AGRICULTURE treatments (Sempik 2010: 17). Agricultural production is not “the In the sense of green care, gardening antithesis of the city”, but often an addresses all dimensions of social integrated urban activity that exclusion: production, consumption, contributes to the resilience of cities social interaction and political (Barthel and Isendahl 2013). Urban engagement (cf. Burchardt et al. 2002). As agriculture (UA) is characterized by its assessed by Sempik and Aldridge (2002), heterogeneity of the involved actors, gardening and farming projects enable dimensions, backgrounds and objectives production through activities that have on the one hand, and by its many of the attributes of paid multifunctional external effects on the employment and that are regarded as urban economy, society and work by project participants, staff and environments on the other hand others. Planting, cultivation and other (Lohrberg et al. 2016). garden work are seen as both meaningful and productive. Such projects give There is plenty of scientific evidence of participants access to a popular leisure UA’s contribution to sustainable urban activity from which they are often development. In their review paper, excluded. In some cases they also provide Pearson, Pearson and Pearson (2010) them with food, which contributes to their highlighted the importance of three quality of life. In this way, they are able to different dimensions of UA’s participate in the process of consumption. sustainability, i.e. social, economic and The activities also provide opportunities environmental. In a similar way, but for many forms of social interaction; focusing on developing countries, De parallels have been drawn between green Zeeuw, Van Veenhuizen and Dubbeling care and (forming of therapeutic or/and (2011) briefly summarize the available social) communities (see Hickey 2008, cf. evidence regarding UA’s potential Haigh 2008, Sempik et al. 2010). to respond to a number of key urban 16 challenges and review the perspectives on According to estimates by the Food and UA applied by local and national Agriculture Organization of the United authorities. Authors provide evidence Nations (FAO), 800 million people that UA can tackle issues such as urban around the world are engaged in UA, of poverty alleviation and social inclusion, which 200 million are commercially urban food security and nutrition, and active. It is estimated that UA produces urban environmental challenges. A between 15 and 20% of the world’s food similar example is given by Scheromm (Pölling et al. 2016). Income from (2015). consumed food from a household’s own production is particularly important in However, the lack of inclusion of urban the poorest developing countries, gardens in politics and planning makes reducing urban poverty and increasing them the most endangered green space food security; however, most scholars category (Pearson, Pearson and Pearson agree that its role should not be 2010; Deelstra and Girardet 2000; Breuste overemphasized (Van der Schans et al. 2010). This is especially true for allotment 2016; Altieri et al. 1999; Ellis and gardens, which are valuable green spaces Sumberg 1998; Zezza and Tasciotti 2010). with high social functionality, but insufficiently realized ecological potential In Europe, the world of professionally and often disadvantaged by urban operating UA is still relatively young and planning in comparison to other green has a great variety of forms. spaces (Breuste 2010; Breuste and Economically based forms of UA are the Artmann 2015). UA is also seldom used as “hidden champions” of an urban green a cross-sectoral field of action by local development strategy. One of the stakeholders (Lohrberg et al. 2016). It is important synergies fostering low-cost crucial that planners start recognising the production is using resources that are importance of urban farming and currently underutilized: vacant plots of incorporating it into the rich mix of land, empty buildings, urban organic and activities that characterise modern cities heat waste and excess rainwater (Van der (Deelstra and Girardet 2000). Schans et al. 2016). Meso- and macro-scale UA has a ECONOMIC DIMENSION potential for commercial market value Public opinion and decision-makers in and significant employment Europe often reduce UA to community opportunities (Nugent 2000). A micro- gardening activities. It is in fact much and meso-level of UA can have a more, as proven by numerous enterprises significant enterprise development and and projects all over Europe. While most value-adding potential to UA production, UA promoters focus on the societal and e.g. retail (local food markets), ecological benefits of projects, the marketing and supply chain economic dimensions opportunities (Pearson, Pearson, and remain understudied or even neglected Pearson 2010). (Van der Schans et al. 2016). 17 During the last few decades, new forms of food security and access, diet and health, gardening practices have been emerging personal wellbeing, psychological using high levels of social innovations, benefits, increased physical activity, environmental friendly lifestyles and sense of place, aesthetic pleasing, social mixed bottom-up or top-down interactions, community building, approaches: for example, community personal skills and gender equity. On the supported agriculture (CSA), community other hand, urban gardening can also be composting and gardening, guerrilla viewed negatively, for example as a gardening and squat farming, urban food nuisance, trivial, and unsightly (Mbiba strategies, support of small 1994), or a potential health threat due to entrepreneurs, local food chains, its inappropriate location, such as including market gardens and farmers’ proximity of major traffic routes markets, the Slow Food initiative, (Smrekar 2009), but such evidence is including a revival of local food scarce. production and farm shops and markets (Giacchè and Tóth 2013; Spilková and Furthermore, gardening increases Perlín 2013). Some of them use the neighbourhood attachment (Comstock internet as a market tool for online fresh et al. 2010). The physical and social fruit and vegetable shopping, prepared qualities of garden participation awaken vegetable and fruit boxes. the senses and stimulate a range of responses that influence interpersonal UA is also important from the aspect of processes (learning, affirming, informal food production, which is more expressive experiences) and social frequent in the former command relationships that are supportive of economies of Central and Eastern positive health-related behaviours and Europe, where it mitigates the effects of overall health (Hale et al. 2011). A range low income and has a significant positive of social benefits, from food security, impact on subjective wellbeing (Alber overall health and well-being was also and Kohler 2008). The share of found in a study by Kortright and households producing products in home Wakefield (2011). Regular gardening on gardens varies strongly, being the highest allotment sites is associated with in Romania, where it was declared that improved physical, psychological and traditionally almost every household social health (Soga et al. 2017). (99.2%) owns a garden (Marlier, Atkinson, and Eurostat 2010). UA can also be seen as a power to transform the urban landscape and the food system, as citizens, including immigrant gardeners, can assume an SOCIAL DIMENSION active role in the transformation of the In their extensive review, Pearson, space surrounding their apartments Pearson, and Pearson (2010) found that (Baker 2004). UA positively contributes to the social dimension of sustainability: 18 groundwater (Pearson, Pearson and Pearson 2010). It is worth pointing out a recent and very encouraging review paper from Lin, Philpott and Jha (2015), where an examination was made on the biodiversity patterns in urban agriculture, ecosystem services provided by urban agriculture image credit: Peter Kumer and the challenges of promoting urban agriculture systems that support Urban gardening can also be understood biodiversity and ecosystem services. through ecosystem services. Allotment Although the authors emphasized that gardens, for example, provide a range of urban agriculture provides an important urban ecosystem services and hence contribution to urban biodiversity, combine utility, social meaning and pollination, pest control and climate beauty. Although the importance of resilience, they also stress the potential traditional food production in developed disservices or trade-offs urban agriculture countries is in decline, the undoubted can trigger, such as increased mosquito qualities of gardens, especially their breeding sites, the potential for spill-over contribution to recreation and nature of chemicals into natural and human experience, should promote their habitats, leading to environmental integration into urban planning (Breuste pollution and air- or water-borne health and Artmann 2015). risks and potential competition for water in arid environments. ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION In another review paper, Wang and Clark The environmental aspects of UA have (2016) mentioned gardens’ contribution often been addressed through the to biodiversity (e.g. by providing habitats concept of ecosystem services, such as for a variety of native plant and animal biodiversity, pollination and food species). However, the authors also provisioning. While the majority of highlighted that more and more popular papers focus on the positive aspects, they urban gardening will have an impact on also warn about the potential negative the abiotic and biotic environments which impacts/trade-offs on the environment. might be negative in some cases (e.g. In general, the main positive altering cycles of carbon, nutrients and environmental aspects of UA are found water in urban and suburban areas). As to be waste recycling, mitigation of the such, gardens should be seen as a urban heat island effect and carbon potential agent to global environmental sequestration. The main negative changes. environmental aspects are noise, odour and pesticides, the latter being a potential threat to the quality of 19 image credit: Bojan Erhartič Using the city of Leipzig as a case study, Cabral et al. (2017) discussed ecosystem services, specifically the local climate, water regulation and biodiversity provided by allotment and community gardens. They concluded that community gardens, compared to allotment gardens, contribute more importantly to water regulation and nutrient cycling properties and are more prone to fostering native, spontaneous plant species. Authors highlighted that old mature trees provide a considerable contribution to climate regulation; however, they are restricted to communal areas due to regulations. 20 II. POLITICAL FRAMEWORK SUPPORTING PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE IN THE DANUBE REGION 21 countries of the European Union. It is managed and funded at the European level from the resources of the EU’s level from the resources of the EU’s budget. Its main mechanism is the Rural Development Programs (RDPs) 2014– 2020; however, CAP does not distinguish between rural and peri-urban areas. Despite the fact that it focuses on rural areas, it explicitly excludes urban image credit: Bojan Erhartič agriculture only in a few cases (e.g. diversification of rural areas). The policy INTRODUCTION thus gives member states the flexibility to implement it in urban areas as well. It The main aim of this chapter is to review offers a broad range of measures or the selected strategies and policy instruments suitable to support urban documents that have strongly influenced agriculture. These include direct sales, the development of urban agriculture in local food labelling, short supply chains, the Danube Region and their potentials to quality schemes, marketing, agri- increase public institutional capacities, environmental schemes, cooperation, tackle the socio-economic exclusion of pilot projects and investments (through vulnerable groups and to stimulate LEADER/CLLD programs). Other CAP sustainable urban development. Since the elements relevant for urban agriculture analysis of the governance and the policy include young farmers support schemes context of urban agriculture, done in the as well as fruit and vegetables market framework of the COST Action Urban measures (Lohrberg et al. 2016: 202–207). Agriculture Europe, showed that national governments are more or less absent from the urban agriculture agenda and play no major role, the chapter focuses only on EUROPE 2020 key European and macro-regional STRATEGY AND strategies. It analyses them in reference to three strategic goals of the RELATED AgriGo4Cities project: participatory planning, social inclusion and sustainable DOCUMENTS, urban development. AGENDAS AND PROGRAMMES EUROPE’S COMMON AGRICULTURAL Europe 2020 is a strategy that sets out a vision of Europe’s social market economy POLICY for the 21st century and aims to turn the European Union into a smart, Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy sustainable and inclusive economy, (CAP) is a common policy for all the 22 for vulnerable groups to engage in activities with economic potential, e.g. for unqualified and disabled people. On the other hand, it is capable of serving as a social corrective for the poor by providing food, thus alleviating food insecurity or generating employment positions (also) for them. Due to a generally lower intensity and limited land availability in image credit: Bojan Erhartič comparison to rural agriculture, delivering high levels of employment, sustaining families or even small productivity and social cohesion. It communities is another potential worth includes three mutually reinforcing encouraging at a policy level. With priorities: smart growth (developing an measures towards increased employment economy based on knowledge and of vulnerable persons in urban innovation), sustainable growth agriculture and towards their social (promoting a more resource-efficient, inclusion through agricultural activities, greener and more competitive economy) urban agriculture could then greatly and inclusive growth (fostering a high- contribute to the 3rd priority of the employment economy delivering social Europe 2020 strategy to achieve inclusive and territorial cohesion). It aims to growth. increase employment, strengthen research and development, mitigate Examples of good practices in urban climate change and energy use, improve gardening, designed to fit specific needs education and decrease poverty and of children and youth, also illustrate its social exclusion. Urban agriculture can great educational potential. The most especially contribute to the targets important EU document on education and addressing employment, social inclusion training is the White Paper on Education and sustainability (The analysis of the and Training: Teaching and Learning – Europe 2020 strategy is strongly inspired Towards the Learning Society. The Europe and partly based on the chapter Urban 2020 strategy identified education as an Agriculture Goes Brussels, Lohrberg et al. essential driver for economic growth. 2016: 208–213). With its hands-on experience, urban agriculture provides a great venue for It is envisioned that by 2020, 75% of informal and lifelong learning, especially people aged 20–64 will be employed and about ecology, participatory planning and that at least 20 million fewer people will social inclusion, which all constitute the be at risk of poverty or social exclusion. key stones of sustainable (urban) As urban agriculture is a popular activity development. Used as a method to relying more on a common knowledge integrate children back into the formal than formal education usually offers, it education system or to provide them with has a great potential to provide a venue practical skills needed for the job, it has a 23 great potential to contribute to another especially in the Danube Region, urban target of the Europe 2020 strategy: to gardens and farms have been greatly lessen the % of early school leavers to a recognized for their considerable maximum of 10%. contribution to a lower carbon footprint, greening the city, waste In the field of employment, education reduction and reuse, improving and social inclusion, urban agriculture biodiversity and air quality, as well as also complements two flagship increasing environmental awareness. It initiatives. Empowering people through is especially important for developing developing their skills throughout the short production and supply chains and lifecycle contributes to an agenda for consequently for reducing emissions new skills and jobs, whereas enabling from transport. Its sustainable effects poor and socially excluded people to take make it fit well with some European an active part in society supports the Commission climate action European platform against poverty. In multisectorial policies. Furthermore, its this sense, urban agriculture fits well into low-intensity farming activities also the European Commission’s strategies for promote biodiversity, which is high on active citizenship within its education the European development agenda (cf. and cultural policy (cf. Grundtvig and Biodiversity Strategy 2011, Habitats Europe for Citizens programmes). Directive 1992, Birds Directive 2009, Furthermore, as proved by some good Green Infrastructure Strategy 2016, examples of including a Roma Natura 2000 network etc.), and by community into urban gardening, urban preserving tradition in food production agriculture can also contribute to the and consumption (e.g. techniques, ROMACT programme’s goal to recipes, dishes, eating habits) adds to strengthen the capacity of local the safeguarding of intangible cultural authorities for developing and heritage, addressed by many EU and implementing inclusive policies and Unesco strategies, action plans and public services. conventions. The Europe 2020 strategy also sets up THE 2030 AGENDA targets addressing sustainability issues, such as climate change mitigation and FOR SUSTAINABLE increasing the use of renewable energy. DEVELOPMENT It is envisioned that by 2020, greenhouse gas emissions will be 20% lower than The Millennium Declaration and 1990 levels, that 20% of energy will come Millennium Development Goals, which from renewables and that there will be a expired at the end of 2015, have made a 20% increase in energy efficiency. great contribution in raising public Although the potential of urban awareness, increasing political will and agriculture as a source of renewable mobilising resources for the fight to energy (e.g. production of a biomass, end poverty. The 2030 Agenda for biogas plants) is still underutilized, Sustainable Development builds on this experience. 24 With the possibility of creating jobs for people who are hard to employ, it provides a venue for decent work and can add to economic growth. It also offers opportunities (especially) for social innovations. Good examples of social inclusion in the context of urban gardening prove that it has a great potential to reduce inequalities (at the social and economic level). It adds greatly to the sustainability of cities and At its core are the Sustainable communities, encourages responsible Development Goals, which address consumption and production, mitigates poverty eradication and sustainable climate changes, does not affect the sea development for all, but also issues biodiversity due to its low intensity and such as effective institutions and good predominantly ecological orientation, governance. The EU has committed to provides a contact with nature and implementing these goals in its introduces a rural dimension of urban internal and external policies. living, has the potential to strengthen social institutions and encourages Urban agriculture has the potential to partnerships to improve its functioning. contribute a great deal to the set goals. It can mitigate poverty by ensuring food security and new jobs EU REGIONAL POLICY for low-skilled people. It can decrease hunger by providing a venue for For the first time, the EU regional policy healthy and nutritious food in the 2014–2020 programme production. As an outdoor activity specifically underlines the need to with generally low intensity, it strengthen the urban dimension and enhances health and well-being. It fight for social inclusion. By tackling offers an opportunity for hands-on societal challenges through an and lifelong learning, increasing a inclusive approach and testing quality education. Not requiring methodologies to improve urban specific strength or dividing the tasks governing, urban agriculture fits well between men and women, it adds to into the policy objection to improve the ensuring gender equality. With low- efficiency of public administration. intensity and ecologically-oriented Furthermore, it has a great potential to farming, it keeps the underground add to the socially-oriented thematic water clean. It can provide renewable objections, which are specifically energy by producing biomass and addressed by the EU’s social policy and supplying biogas plants. its platforms or funds. It promotes 25 with preparation of the soil and seeds, traditional recipes and dishes, eating habits etc.) and provides recreational facilities for a variety of inhabitants. It is also often linked to artistic practices, addressing participatory planning and offering cultural events for the general population. When addressing sustainable energy priority, improved efficiency is crucial, including energy saving and more sustainable employment; directly (in renewable sources. Urban agriculture can situ) and indirectly (by raising be a considerable source of renewable awareness on discrimination and special energy (biomass production, biogas needs of vulnerable groups) addresses plants), although this aspect is currently social inclusion; provides practical still underutilized in the Danube Region. training and informal education; and ensures the production of healthy, Urban agriculture can add a great deal to nutritious food for people in need (poor, preserving biodiversity, landscapes as unemployed etc.). well as soil and air quality. By occupying the brownfields, it prevents land use The EU Strategy for the Danube Region intensification and urban sprawl, which (EUSDR) sets up 12 priorities, divided are major environmental pressures in the into 4 pillars. They aim to connect the Danube Region. Low-intensity farming region, protect the environment, build supports biodiversity, prevents prosperity and strengthen the region. ecosystems loss and sustains soil quality. Urban agriculture has the potential to By greening the areas, it creates places especially contribute to the priorities that act as a CO2 sink and the lungs of the addressing sustainable energy, culture cities. and tourism, environmental risks, biodiversity and landscapes, people and The EUSDR strategy also prioritizes skills as well as institutional capacity knowledge and inclusion. As stated, and cooperation. “investment in people is needed so that the Region can sustainably progress and Despite not being primarily associated grow, prioritising knowledge and with culture and tourism, urban inclusion. Building on the success of parts agriculture preserves rural traditions, of the Region will open access to further which are nowadays considered education, and modernise training and intangible cultural heritage (manual social support” (EUSDR 2010: 9). Urban work, traditional farming techniques agriculture can contribute to a knowledge and tools, mutual help, rituals connected society at many levels, especially by providing a venue for interdisciplinary 26 a great method to increase institutional capacities and decrease public service related problems in the Danube Region (e.g. insufficient participatory governance of the locales/regions, low public authorities’ sensibility to social exclusion issues etc.). By involving various forms of civil society and citizens’ groups including marginal communities, it can positively affect the trust of citizens and stakeholders in image credit: Drago Kladnik political authorities. research and encouraging social innovations. However, it is particularly strong in addressing the people and CONCLUSION skills priority. It offers opportunities for hands-on training with the aim to Politics and experts agree that key world develop diverse skills and supplements problems can only be solved by active formal education by providing participation of citizens and the infrastructure for informal education inclusion of civic initiatives is becoming and lifelong learning. In this way, it one of the most cost-effective ways to increases employment opportunities for govern local areas. On the other hand, vulnerable groups as well. As one third of people often lack motivation to get EU’s population at risk of poverty—many involved in local governance and from marginalized groups including 80% administration, since they feel of the Roma communities—live in the disregarded in political and area, social and economic exclusion, economic/development agendas and not spatial segregation and sub-standard competent enough to act in decision- living conditions are top issues that need making processes. In urban and peri- to be addressed. Urban agriculture has a urban areas, however, agriculture or great potential in doing so, as it is an urban gardening are activities that many activity not requiring formal education, vulnerable groups employ as the key part special skills and division of labour, of their livelihood strategies, presenting providing the space for inclusion, the ground to include their ways of awareness-raising, socialization and engagement, skills and knowledge in the recreation. It also builds opportunities management of public spaces. The for jobs, potentially contributing to the method of participatory urban competitiveness of cities, states and the agriculture thus has a great potential to region. facilitate an active citizenship of socially marginalized people, who are generally Furthermore, by encouraging less politically engaged and rarely participatory planning and social included in lifelong learning processes. inclusion, urban agriculture can provide Furthermore, it can also provide a way to 27 build institutional capacities. Using urban agriculture as a method, the authorities can better support and promote the engagement of citizens, including the marginalized, in urban issues. Urban agricultural activities comply with local policies on sustainable urban development and actions for social inclusion. They are at least partially included in national strategies for urban development of the countries in the Danube Region, while urban agriculture governance for social inclusion is an emerging concept in national policies and strategic documents. It is therefore fruitful to utilize the potential of urban agriculture to improve public institutional capacities in tackling social exclusion and effectively govern the area using participatory planning and management. Despite its potential to contribute to the major European and macro-regional strategies (e.g. CAP, Europe 2020, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and EUSDR), urban agriculture is seldom used as a cross- sectorial field of action (Lohrberg et al. 2016: 213), which would surely enhance its positive effects. It is thus crucial to better use the integrative potential of urban agriculture, especially in addressing citizens’ participation, social inclusion and sustainable urban development. 28 III. EUROPEAN PROJECTS ADDRESSING PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE 29 the AgriGo4Cities’ strategic partners cooperated in the analysis, identifying the relevant projects of each funding programme through a standardized search of the following keywords related to the topical focus of AgriGo4Cities: garden, gardens, urban gardening, urban agriculture, urban farming, urban food. For each identified relevant project, image credit: Bojan Erhartič meta-information was compiled, INTRODUCTION including basic information on the project and its partnership, the What is the relevance of urban geographical coverage, the spatial level agriculture and gardening in the at which it worked, a brief summary, universe of EU-funded programmes and information on the relevance of the which EU-funded project results can be project in regard to each of the three of value for the scope of AgriGo4Cities? thematic objectives of AgriGo4Cities as To answer this question, the well as references to project-related AgriGo4Cities project partners carried further reading. out a systematic review of European transnational funding programmes. The The analysis was carried out by the results are expected to not only inspire AgriGo4Cities project partnership from AgriGo4Cities partners in their March to May 2018. activities, but are also an indicator for the role agriculture and gardening play in respect to sustainable urban MAIN FINDINGS development in Europe. Based on the six predetermined keywords, a total of 44 programmes were METHODOLOGY collected. 18 of them displayed results by The starting point for the project keyword search. 29 projects out of these research was a set of relevant EU 18 programmes were deemed to be of funding programmes. The strategic interest (see table on the next page). It is partners used a fixed set of keywords to worth mentioning that more than two screen these projects and documented project hits for one funding programme results in a template spreadsheet. were found by looking through those EU- funding programmes: CREATIVE- In total, 44 funding programmes were EUROPE-CULTURE, Interreg analysed, including several Mediterranean Programme 2007–2013 transnational INTERREG programmes, and Interreg South East Programme URBACT, ESPON etc. The funding period 2007–2013. was limited to projects that started in 2007 or later. Coordinated by ifuplan, 30 List of EU transnational funding programes that were analyzed. 31 Taking the three thematic objectives into consideration while looking at the 29 project hits reveals: Objective 3 (“Promote sustainable urban development”) and Objective 2 (“Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”) are more represented than Objective 1 The structure of analyzed projects, targeting AgriGo4Cities three specific objectives. (“Integration of the participatory approach in the decision-making processes”). The relevance those three objectives have for AgriGo4Cities are listed in the chart below and are classified as low, medium or high. The various projects are focused on different target groups and build upon citizens in general as well as young adults, women, communities, new citizens, immigrants, (long-term) unemployed, disabled, as well as cultural workers, certain stakeholders, producers and politicians. The following pages present the projects that were found to contain useful basic information concerning the project and its relevance for AgriGo4Cities. Projects are presented according to their relevance (from high to low and in alphabetical order) for the AgriGo4Cities project. The country codes are abbreviations of the International Standard for country codes (ISO 3166). 32 Overview of projects and their relevance in terms of the AgriGo4Cities project. 33 COST ACTION – URBAN AGRICULTURE EUROPE Programme: COST Countries: AT, BE, BG, CZ, DK, EE, FR, DE, GR, IS, IE, IL, IT, NL, NZ, NO, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, TR, UK Reference: http://www.urban-agriculture-europe.org Urban Agriculture (UA) plays a key role in two global challenges: urbanization and food security. It can provide an important contribution to sustainable, resilient urban development and the creation and maintenance of multifunctional urban landscapes. In the globally emerging research field of UA, an European approach to the subject needs to be created. It has to integrate the unique European context regarding its urban and landscape pattern, the important role of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the needs of the European society. The COST-Action Urban Agriculture Europe (UAE) will initiate the definition of this European approach on the basis of existing research projects and reference regions in the partner countries. The outcomes of the Action should help to focus future research on UA, modify the CAP and stimulate private and public activities in UA projects and planning. The Action used an innovative approach crossing bottom-up and top-down methods, using the method of research by design and creating interfaces between the three methods. By working in close cooperation with regional stakeholders from the domains of urban development and agriculture, the Action contributes to sustainable, resilient territorial development in Europe and aims for leadership in research on UA in developed countries. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high General state of the art in Europe, Definitions, Case studies, Report especially for the AgriGo4Cities aspects of governance and the role of UA Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: Important aspects of the future development of urban societies are at stake in UA. Cities and urban regions have to develop strategies on UA to assure food security and quality, environmental quality and the well-being of their citizens. But they can also use UA to strengthen social inclusion, citizens’ responsibilities and active participation in the development of their urban environment. To reach these objectives, countries, regions and cities, but also civic and societal initiatives are establishing new kinds of public policies and new forms of governance dealing with UA. WG 2 “Urban Agriculture and governance” of the COST-Action has carried out a survey of existing public policies on UA that can be established in close cooperation with the stakeholders present in the Action and the reference regions. The policies will be analysed on the background of the different national and regional institutional settings and classified accordingly. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: WG 3 has analysed and evaluated the entrepreneurial models that were developed in the partner countries through an inventory of the case-studies and established a catalogue presenting their characteristics, success factors and income potentials amongst other aspects, to allow knowledge transfer among the partner countries that create innovation. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: WG 4 “Spatial visions for Urban Agriculture” will develop new approaches and visions for spatial planning in urban regions that integrate urban agriculture. This has been done on the basis of an analysis of the role of UA in important spatial visions and designs from the last 10 years and in close cooperation with the Training Schools of the Action that work on spatial visions of UA for reference regions. The results of the WG were a definition of a design-toolbox for UA in multifunctional urban landscapes. The project WIKI is a helpful information source e.g. for case studies. Main target group: authorities 34 FOOD SMART CITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT Programme: EYD 2015 Countries: IT, ES, NL, CH, BE, FR Reference: http://www.milanurbanfoodpolicypact.org/project/ Food Smart Cities for Development – cities and civil society organizations aimed to foster the role of cities in changing the urban food production and consumption paradigm. Reducing food waste, promoting healthy eating and encouraging the purchase of food produced by respecting the rights of people and the environment are local actions that can trigger a global change. The collaboration wanted to create a coordinated urban food policy agenda and show the potential of European decentralized cooperation in the fight against poverty and hunger. The project has three main objectives: • To raise public awareness on the impact of European cooperation policies, with particular emphasis on decentralized cooperation, food security and sustainable development. • To strengthen the role of European cities as facilitators in the promotion of sustainable development, focusing on global food security strategies. • To entice partner cities and CSOs to participate in the debate about the post-2015 development agenda. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high The purpose is to help cities and civil societies to translate food strategies into action on a policy level. Building more resilient urban food systems is essential for sustainable development and in this way foster the debate and discussion on the Post-2015 development agenda. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The International Protocol (Milan Urban Food Policy Pact – MUFFO) focuses on food policies that are fundamental for the renovation of suburban areas. One of the most important goals of the project is to push participant cities to adopt a sustainable food policy by exchanging good practices and building a common framework of actions: the Food Guidelines. Main target group: citizens 35 HORTIS – HORTICULTURE IN TOWNS FOR INCLUSION AND SOCIALISATION Programme: Life Long Learning Countries: DE, IT, ES, HU Reference: http://www.hortis-europe.net HORTIS – Horticulture in Towns for Inclusion and Socialisation – is a project co-funded by the European Union in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme, sub-programme Grundtvig for adults learning. HORTIS wants to contribute to fight social exclusion, poverty and unemployment, as well as to promote lifelong learning among adults through community and urban gardening. The HORTIS concrete objectives are as follows: • To develop a set of educational materials in various formats (video tutorial, e-book etc.) and languages (English, German, Italian, Hungarian and Spanish) to illustrate the different aspects of the social and community gardening. • To organise training courses for trainers on community gardening in Berlin (DE), Budapest (HU), Bologna (IT) and Cartagena (ES) and to set up an involved a space for learning and gardening in each town (“training community garden”). • To organise pilot courses on urban gardening for adults and especially low-skilled unemployed persons. • To create an interactive and multilingual web portal with all the educational materials created by the project that fosters communication and networking among stakeholders and end users, especially civil society associations, trainers, local government officials in social work, urban planners etc. Community gardens are a great resource for our cities. They help rebuild relationships between people, create a healthy urban environment, encourage people’s creativity in order to take care of urban public spaces. Moreover, community gardens provide fresh and healthy food to urban gardeners. The HORTIS project wanted to contribute to fighting social exclusion and to promote lifelong learning among adults through community and urban gardening. More information: http://www.hortis-europe.net/files/documenti/inglese/briefhortis.pdf Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high The main focus of the project is empowering people in their urban gardening skills, while participation and governance are side issues, playing a less important role in the project. The educational material (videos, cards, e-books) may be interesting for the pilot regions as direct input to practical work Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: 10 cards with short advice about practical issues e.g. biodiversity, participation, moderation, fertilizers etc. WP2: Methodology and educational materials development: Users’ Needs Analysis Report / WP2: Methodology Report on Community Gardening and Key Competences Acquisition Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens (unemployed) 36 MADRE – METROPOLITAN AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPING AN INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE ECONOMY Programme: Interreg Mediterranean 2014–2020 Countries: AL, FR, GR, IT, ES Reference: https://madre.interreg-med.eu/ The aim is to supply Metropolitan and Periurban Agriculture (MPA) with key players (from the quadruple helix) and create a transnational cooperation in the MED area. Aiming to foster a change process in the metropolitan food supply model, the project will capitalize on the wide set of academic knowledge, pilot actions and policies, networks and transnational cooperation in order to allow MPA to reach a critical level in the MED area. More info: http://www.medcities.org/documents/10180/708002/MADRE_brochure_en_01.pdf/62bf0b4b-4c69- 4df4-93fa-19842dccce41 Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high Very similar focus on urban and peri-urban agriculture in metropolitan areas, very similar expected results (local workshops to identify hot topics and local challenges, study visits and transnational working groups, best practices catalogue, thematic web platform, joint policy recommendations). Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: The project follows the multi-stakeholder approach by operationalizing the so called “quadruple helix model” (academia, business sphere (farmers and SMEs), civil society (consumers), decision makers) into the “innovation system”. The aim is to identify the best practices of cooperation and to try to explain the interrelations between the different stakeholders. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: One of the 8 key challenges addressed by the project is social innovation. To this end, the MADRE project approach to social innovation in urban and peri-urban agriculture focuses on social diversity and the integration of the most vulnerable population groups into social life, particularly into the labour market. Some examples of this approach include agricultural farms and community gardens, which offer recreational or work-related activities for social services recipients, disabled persons, elderly people, young people and children, psychiatric patients, (former) drug addicts, burn-out victims etc. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Among other key challenges of urban agriculture, the project also widely addresses job creation, education, quality upgrading and value creation, territorial integrity and land management and environmental benefits. Main target group: citizens (vulnerable groups) 37 SAUL (SUSTAINABLE & ACCESSIBLE URBAN LANDSCAPES) Programme: NWE ENO - European Community Initiative INTERREG IIIB Countries: UK, DE, NL, LU Reference: http://3b.nweurope.eu/page/projet.php?id=456 SAUL (Sustainable and Accessible Urban Spaces) sought to take the IIC project (New Methods in Socially Compatible Development of Urban Landscapes) to the development phase, to tackle the question of the role of “socially-inclusive” spaces in metropolitan regions, as well as the themes of regional identity and learning in planning cultures and partnerships. The objective of the action project, which involved eight partners from four Member States, was to develop and test a range of practical solutions formulated through a transnational partnership to the challenges described in four key areas. It aimed to i) recognise and demonstrate the vital role of socially-inclusive spaces in the sustainable development of the metropolitan region; ii) promote regional identity and the importance of the regional dimension within spatial planning in the NWE; iii) establish more effective planning through transnational partnerships by moving towards a new planning culture; and iv) develop a transnational and regional process of learning. The SAUL project comprised of several transnational teams charged with the joint planning, design and implementation of a range of demonstration projects. Encompassing 12 investments across 6 regions, the project partners intended for their newly-tested strategies to be taken up as integral parts of national regional strategies. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high Even though it is a project from before 2013, the outcome of its work is worth mentioning, especially as there are a lot of references in literature about this project(s). It includes community engagement projects, the development of a stronger sense of belonging and presenting the importance of new urban landscapes as well as engaging businesses in partnerships with public authorities. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: The SAUL partners share the aim to engage residents, businesses and policymakers in creating and improving urban landscapes that contribute to economic vitality and social cohesion. Partners recognise, however, that each region must devise a distinct approach that draws on transnational contributions and new methods of public and business engagement, while respecting regional heritage and local sense of place. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: SAUL projects have given particular attention to traditionally under-represented groups, like the youth and immigrants. Believing that engaging these groups leads to innovation and long-term sustainability, the partners learned techniques from each other and then each designed tailor-made involvement processes to suit local situations. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Introduction to newly-tested strategies to be taken up as integral parts of national regional strategies; As SAUL partners look forward to adapting landscapes for future generations, each group also values its own sense of place and local heritage. Some partners, such as Luxembourg and Saarland, are exploring new regional governance structures that recognize the strengths of existing institutions while adapting them to better accommodate the regional needs of the future, particularly with respect to new urban landscapes. Main target group: citizens / authorities / business 38 SIDIG MED – URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE, CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Programme: ENPI Countries: IT, ES, JO, TN Reference: http://urbact.eu/resilient-urban-and-peri-urban-agriculture The SIDIG MED project aims to use urban and peri-urban agriculture as a means to improve governance processes for public authorities and to promote social and intercultural dialogue through cooperative organizations and associations fighting social exclusion and poverty. Implemented in cities and territories characterized by vast agricultural areas (Rome, Al-Balga, Mahdia and Barcelona), the project will adopt permaculture and organic farming concepts including innovative and energy-efficient techniques for water harvesting, composting to enrich the soil and beekeeping for income generation and pollination. General Objective: -To promote social and intercultural dialogue through cross-border cooperation in the realm of local urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) related governance issues. Specific Objectives: - To improve the capabilities of project partner cities and public administrations towards implementing governance policies and strategies on local urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA). - To fight urban social exclusion and poverty in city groups involved in urban and peri-urban agriculture. More information can be found on their homepage: http://www.sidigmed.org/about-us/ Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high The partnership and therefore the projects aim to mobilise a wide range of policies and actors to deal with poverty and social exclusion. This promotion of social and intercultural dialogue through cross-border cooperation in the realm of local urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) related governance issues concerns AgriGO4Cities. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: Network called EU MED UPA Network Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: The project tries to fight social exclusion and poverty in the urban and peri-urban areas (UPA) Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The project aims to improve the governance processes for local development by promoting social and intercultural dialogue Main target group: authorities / citizens (cultural workers) 39 SUSTAINABLE FOOD IN URBAN COMMUNITIES Programme: URBACT II - III Countries: UK, ES, FR, IT, GR, RO, SE, NO, NL Reference: http://urbact.eu/sustainable-food-urban-communities The thematic network "Sustainable Food in Urban Communities" involves ten European cities that wish to grow, deliver and enjoy more sustainable food. It will focus on developing low-carbon and resource-efficient urban food systems: - GROWING fruit and vegetables in the city, in gardens, in parks, on rooftops, on balconies, on derelict lands etc., safeguarding and improving fertility of lands; - DELIVERING food stuffs in a more sustainable and less carbon intensive way; - ENJOYING more sustainable food (local products, without pesticides, seasonal and fresh products etc.) while improving diets (reducing the share of animal protein and processed foods), using products that meet environmental and sustainability criteria (certification) and preventing waste (food and its packaging). This transition will involve changes in perceptions, attitudes and, finally, behaviours. The handbook provides a range of materials and different entry points that cater to different interests. The focus is on nine key topics that have emerged from the exchanges between the partner cities and their joint experience. Three main categories of information are provided for three main audiences: - Insights for city policy makers on the importance for cities to build a sustainable and more localised food system. - A series of key learning and practical tools for practitioners and actors who would like to start a similar process in their own cities. - A rich and varied set of short case studies for a wider circle of interested readers included throughout the handbook that illustrate ways in which sustainable food initiatives can change daily life in the city. For more information, please visit: http://www.sustainable-everyday-project.net/urbact-sustainable-food/ Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: high Relevant tools targeted at local stakeholders to transform the local food system, grow and deliver food in cities and to promote healthier and more sustainable diets. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: The project involves many consumers, but especially concentrates on the inclusion of those with a low income. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens / authorities / business 40 AGRIGENT Programme: ESF Contribution – Social enterprise, social inclusion. Access to employment and social inclusion Countries: DE Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=46&langId=en&projectId=1801 Social stigma and a lack of support often mean that the long-term unemployed, including those with disabilities, do not always have the opportunity to reach their professional potential. The Agrigent project in Germany is trying to change this for the benefit of participants, the environment and the community at large. Agrigent is a biological farm in the district of Göppingen, comprising 45 hectares that offers work experience and skill-building opportunities to the long-term unemployed. Apart from boosting the confidence of the participants through meaningful work opportunities, Agrigent has the broader effect of promoting a better understanding and improved integration of people with disabilities. For more information: http://www.sab-gp.de/index.php/projekte-und-angebote/waldeckhof-agrigent Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high Agrigent is interesting for local pilot areas and the follow-up planning activities. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: AGRIGENT has reached 412 long-term unemployed people, 61% of whom came from a migrant background, 20% had a severe disability and 45% had no qualifications. 59 participants entered education, training or work immediately after attending, while 46 found a job within 6 months thanks to the skills they had acquired. The initiative continues to blossom and the follow-up project now boasts an international element with partners in France and Austria. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens (unemployed) 41 AGROLABS Programme: Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014–2020 Countries: GR, AL, CY, BG Reference: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/31/ The agrofood sector plays an important social and economic role in the Balkan Med region, especially in rural communities and is emerging as the central element for the region’s development. Despite the diversity of production systems and the different degrees of obstacles, Balkan Med territories are facing common challenges that limit the development of the agrofood sector and particularly weaken the small producers. Most of the constraints are common in rural Balkan Med areas, such as a lack of innovation and productivity, quality and food safety, difficulties in promoting typical products, access to funding and the structure of the value chain at a regional level. In addition, agricultural policies implemented by Balkan Med countries in recent decades have led to their increasing dependence on imports and to their total exposure to volatile international markets. The AgroLabs project aims to foster the production and distribution of innovative agrofood products of the Balkan Med area by organising local value chains, supporting producers in their development projects and creating new markets for their products. To achieve these aims towards the sustainable growth of the Agrofood sector, all the relevant actors should be engaged. The promotion of sustainable agrofood development requires that “enabling environments”, in particular those aimed at ensuring innovation, continuing human resource development and capacity building, are promoted and maintained. This will be achieved through the development of Agrofood innovation clusters, a place where research, industry and authorities can meet to co-create the Balkan Med area’s competences in innovation of the agrofood sector. This will contribute to the organisation of agrofood value chains, support SMEs and producers and promote their products in local and international markets. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project is relevant for the methodology of a transnational event, AgroLabs and Methodology of the Local Action Plan. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: An open transnational event (Innovation Summit) will bring together multiple stakeholders from each region and will capture, share and transfer the knowledge and experiences from the stakeholders’ consultation at the regional level. All the lessons learned will be summarized in 4 Local Action Plans and these will also serve as the operational plan for the establishment of AgroLabs in WP5. WP5 aims to develop and operationalize 4 AgroLabs as a transnational network. AgroLabs’ operation involves support, monitoring, mentoring sessions and training activities, so as to ensure the sustainability of the developed cluster. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: business (food producers) 42 BALKANET Programme: Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014–2020 Countries: GR, BG, AL Reference: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/33/ The BALKANET project is inspired by the following three elements: the awareness that it is strategically important to facilitate innovative business models in the agrofood sector of the BMP area, the conviction that it is important to improve transnational cooperation opportunities of the target area and that it is necessary to enhance an operative Network through local SME’s and research centres with particular focus on young innovators skills, the importance of communication, transferring best practices to foster the sustainable growth of the area. The overall objective of the project is to favour the potential of innovation, the promotion of applied research and the support to SME’s sustainable adjustment capacity. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high Focusing on civil society and local stakeholders to share project outputs and to promote a new model of sustainable socio-economic growth (Transnational Balkanet agrofood Festivals). Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: The project proposal answers some of the specific needs of the target areas: optimize the role of a key local activity, like the agrofood sector; face the actual socio-economic frame, conditioned by high unemployment rates, especially of young people; to increase SME’s competitiveness with special reference to sustainable innovative models. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The project approach (quadruple helix) is based on the development of joint analyses, methodologies and ICT services that favour an integrated transnational process. According to this, Balkanet can secure the critical mass, enhancing mobilisation capacity and an innovation potential to overcome markets fragmentation. Main target group: business (SME) 43 COST ACTION – URBAN ALLOTMENT GARDENS Programme: COST Countries: AT, BE, HR,CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, MK, DE, GR, IE, IL, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RS, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, TR, UK Reference: http://www.urbanallotments.eu/ The mission of the COST-Action Urban Allotment Gardens is to fully comprehend and manage the relevance of Allotment Gardens in political, social, ecological and urban design aspects within the urban context of European Cities by creating an interdisciplinary network to foster the multi-dimensional aspects of knowledge about Allotment Gardens and by the identification of practices supportive for the management of Allotment Gardens within urban planning processes. Expected benefits of this Action are diverse. The Action’s primary objectives are to expand knowledge base in social integration; to expand the knowledge about the ecological function of allotment gardens; to improve knowledge about the integration of Allotment Gardens in relation to urban morphology, spatial distribution over urban territories and their spatial impacts; and to maintain integrated approaches in urban development by the identification of municipal/national development and planning policies that are supportive of or against allotment garden functions. In addition to the contribution to the ecological, societal and sustainable development needs of allotment gardens and scientific needs, the second important objective is to disseminate knowledge, specifically as outputs of the Action. More information can be found on their homepage: http://www.urbanallotments.eu/action-in-detail.html Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The fact sheets provide clear and short information; the training has to be screened for interesting input(s). Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: The fact sheets provide clear and concise information; the training has to be screened for interesting input(s). Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens 44 ECOVILLAGE STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION Programme: Anna Lindh Foundation 2012 Countries: DE, EG, MA, DZ, PS, TR Reference: http://www.annalindhfoundation.org/ar/node/2213 The project Ecovillage Strategies for Community Mobilization aims to promote intercultural dialogue and equip women multipliers with the skills necessary to apply integral approaches to sustainable development and community empowerment (ecovillage strategies). These women will help fill an IT database, a ‘solution library’, with best practices that honour traditional cultural heritage in the area of sustainability from their regions. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project is interesting, because it was able to build a strong GEN network (https://gen- europe.org/home/index.htm) and its developed solution library. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: The project enabled six women from the Southern Mediterranean (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine and Turkey) who were fulfilling grassroots leadership roles in their home countries to join an Ecovillage Design Education course in the ecovillage of Sieben Linden, Germany. One of the project’s aimed outputs was a collection of innovative and traditional sustainable solutions from the women’s home countries. This collection was the start of the Solution Library. It means leaders at local level were acknowledged and offered additional support in the form of education for the better performance of Ecovillages. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The Solution Library is a directory of sustainability solutions. It provides short descriptions, vital information, pictures and links to more information. It is a place where solutions from all over the internet are gathered in one easy-to-browse platform to help create a more sustainable world. Additionally, the Solution Library provides the possibility to share experiences with solutions, enriching the knowledge available about the solutions in the library. The Solution Library also creates a global community by enabling members to connect with one another, or with projects where the solutions are being or have been used. This way, the SL facilitates direct knowledge exchange around sustainable solutions, making it easier for people to co-create a more sustainable world. Main target group: citizens (women) 45 EUROSCAPES Programme: Interreg IVC 2007–2013 Countries: ES, PT, DE, SK, LV, IT, HU, RO, GR, PL, BE, UK Reference: https://www.keep.eu/keep/project-ext/822/EUROSCAPES? ss=8eb10e4f3a4a8d10e31ddc71d888f848&espon= EUROSCAPES is a shared vision of 14 partners coming from 13 EU Member States on the necessity to tackle natural and cultural landscape management issues in urban and peri-urban areas at an interregional level and in a sustainable way. In dense and contrasting urban environments, tackling the concept of landscapes and its related issues will prevent their loss of specificity and identity and help to make best use of these areas. In urban and peri-urban areas facing demographic changes, climate change issues, increasing economic constraints, environmental challenges and other issues, exchanges of good practices and expertise will help regional and local authorities to be more efficient in protecting, maintaining and enhancing their natural and cultural landscapes in a sustainable way. Partners of EUROSCAPES have the ambitious objective of offering a new management model for these landscapes, as a milestone policy instrument to implement the European Landscape Convention treaty objectives. Partners of the project have identified complementarities in their tools, practices and policy instruments to deal with landscape management. They will refine these complementarities, exchange and transfer good practices with a scientific support and use these good practices to feed the Landscapes Management Plan (LMP) they will develop: new approach meant to become a real public policy at the regional/local level. These LMP are based on an environmental, quality and economical approach in the maintenance and management of our natural and cultural landscapes. They will integrate important education and sensitization dimensions and take into account the territorial strategy, urban master plans etc. The project will produce a handbook of good practices and a policy recommendation paper on the LMP approach as main outputs. The main results of the project will be improved local/regional landscapes management practices and policy instruments and a more sustainable living environment. The project rests on three main innovative aspects. The areas concerned—natural and cultural landscapes in urban and peri-urban areas (green spaces like gardens, parks, squares, but also paths, riversides, deprived landscapes etc.)—are not well taken into account in planning and protecting instruments today and not managed in a coherent and sustainable way. Secondly, the approach is based on a global strategic plan using the differentiated management methodology (to be environmentally responsible, different kinds of management are defined for different kinds of landscapes identified based on their use and quality). Thirdly, the partners have all committed to jointly develop a Landscapes Management Plan as a new model of sustainable and integrated management strategy, which will be based on the good practices analysed and exchanged in the EU (European Regional Development Fund); http://www.euroscapes-eu.org/ Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project is interesting for the methodology use and developed materials: analysis of the good practices and especially landscapes management plan. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: Analysis of the good practices and more in-depth exchanges between partners’ specialist officers through workshop sessions organized around the topic of sensitization and community involvement actions. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Development of a common framework for the Landscapes Management Plan (LMP), taking into account the relevant good practices identified to be integrated into it; use as an example that can be compared to action planning. Main target group: citizens 46 GREEN MENTAL HEALTH Programme: ESF – Opening Pathways to Work Inclusive approaches Countries: ES Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=46&langId=en&projectId=1801 Green Mental Health offered two courses in the horticulture sector. One course provided training for work relating to the management of ecological vegetable gardens; the other focused more on garden maintenance and also offered participants the chance to work in a garden centre. The project aimed to improve both the personal and professional outlook of people who were at risk of exclusion. Some of the participants had spent time in prison, while others had never previously undertaken any kind of training. Green Mental Health therefore sought to provide the emotional, intellectual and social skills required to work autonomously and in the wider community. A Personalised Plan for Labour Reintegration guided the development and activities of each participant. In addition, efforts were made to get families and carers involved in the reintegration process. The project can boast a high level of continuity, as only one person withdrew early. Eight beneficiaries have since gone on to find jobs and one person has secured an internship. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project is interesting because of its result: successor courses are enabling a number of project graduates to gain further skills in areas, such as garden centre retail, floristry and plant health. The developed curricula can be used as a frame for workshops in the AgriGo4Cities project. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: A total of 269 people with disabilities and, indirectly including family members, 2388 people were included in workshops. The developed and tested programme can be used as an example when planning local events and workshops for vulnerable/marginalized groups. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens (disabled and family members) 47 HYBRID PARKS Programme: Interreg IVC 2007–2013 Countries: DE, SE, MT, PL, FI, GR, IT, AT, FR Reference: http://www.hybridparks.eu/project/ Parks, both historic and modern, are intensively managed, high quality environments. They add to the attractiveness and success of cities and regions and to the quality of life for citizens and visitors. The partnership includes many of those cities and regions energetically enhancing and using parks in a wider policy context, such as economic development, rural diversification, the protection of cultural heritage, landscapes and environment or urban renewal. The partnership also includes some “newcomers” who have started similar policies recently. They all acknowledge the unique resources of parks, the advantages of cooperation and the need to achieve additional economic, social and environmental benefits to diminish the risks of decline or loss caused by conflicting demands, budget reductions etc. Climate change is a growing threat which will affect park features. It will attract more visitors using parks as comfort places. Finally, parks will be part of risk prevention strategies such as green corridors to mitigate climate change. It is the project’s key objective that parks can fully be used for sustainable local and regional development and for policies to mitigate climate change by enhancing their abilities to better serve economic, social and environmental purposes. Such policies ensure that different functions work “hand in hand” in each park. Analogously, the idea of “Hybrid Parks” came into being. Activities cover the 3 pillars of sustainability by individual and interrelated activities, based on experiences and resources of the partnership and the objectives of “Hybrid Parks”. Best practice studies include “Economy: Tourism and urban (re)development", “Social: Widening the audience” and “Environment: Public awareness”. Policies using parks for economic, environmental or social development are investigated in two workshops each. Another six, cross-cutting or “hybrid” workshops investigate how to combine these approaches to increase the contribution and synergies of parks to sustainable development policies and the mitigation of climate change. Study tours to the UK (focus: economy), Sweden (social) and Lower Austria (environment) and four open conferences further support exchange and transfer. This feeds into improved skills, policies and regional development plans, championed by regional support teams. The final conference presents the project report, with best practice case studies and the “Hybrid Parks Model” for the integrated management of parks within sustainable development and climate change policies. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project is relevant because of: public debates about Lund’s city park, conferences, presentations on workshops and a compilation of best practice case studies. The best practice studies include “Economy: Tourism and urban (re)development”, “Social: Widening the audience” and “Environment: Public awareness”. Policies using parks for economic, environmental or social development are investigated in two workshops each. Another six, cross-cutting or “hybrid” workshops investigate how to combine these approaches to increase the contribution and synergies of parks to achieve sustainable development policies and mitigate climate change. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: Partners, local politicians and external experts joined in Lund’s city park to discuss the needs and the challenges of the transformation of this 100–year-old public park into a multi-purpose or Hybrid Park. Study tours to the UK (focus: economy), Sweden (social) and Lower Austria (environment) and four open conferences further support exchange and transfer. This feeds into improved skills, policies and regional development plans, championed by regional support teams. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The huge variety of actual uses and the great expectations related to the contribution of parks, gardens and urban spaces to sustainable urban and regional development across Europe have become very obvious in the situation reports delivered by the partners. Main target group: citizens 48 LANDSCAPE CHOREOGRAPHY FROM WASTED LAND TO SHARED SPACE Programme: CREATIVE EUROPE-CULTURE Countries: GR, IT, RO Reference: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/projects/ce-project- details/#project/522544-CU-1-2012-1-IT-CULTURE-VOL121 LANDSCAPE CHOREOGRAPHY supported collective practices of urban gardening and encouraged an innovative European culture of common spaces through an interdisciplinary approach that integrated public art, landscape architecture, performing arts and socio-anthropological analysis. The project’s objectives were: - To engage different users through artistic workshops and comparative analysis in the anthropological and urban landscape field - To develop new interdisciplinary creative languages - To initiate public events, a trans-national circulation of works and an international festival Its foreseen outputs were: - Creation of new urban gardens - Production of artistic performances and their circulation - Comparative analysis in the anthropological and urban landscape field The project activities were divided into 5 phases that metaphorically described the agriculture cycle: to dig up, to seed, to maintain, to crop, to continue. The aim was to engage the citizen in creating a new urban garden through workshops for participative construction and to stage this process through art performances: the citizen was the “creator” of the performance, the art simply gave an expressive form to these actions. The project’s title emphasized the value of this choreographic process: the bodies entered into a mutual physical relationship in order to cooperate in the creation of new urban landscapes. Some representatives of the partners involved moved to participate in the workshops in the other countries, spreading the outputs. The practice of spontaneous and creative use of abandoned public spaces can inaugurate a virtuous cycle to increase new forms of social and cultural cohabitation at an European level. These peculiar social dynamics were disseminated as examples of “best practices” and also constituted the Project European Added Value. The results for this project are not available yet. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project focus lied upon creation through participation, including citizens as “actors”. It was an artistic type of sustainable urban development using abandoned public places with the ambition to be copied at the European level. Unfortunately, no final report is available for a deeper insight into this project. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: They tried to engage citizens to create new urban gardens through workshops structured as participative project development. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Motivation to reuse abandoned public space. Main target group: citizens 49 LJUNGNÄSVILLAN Programme: ESF Contribution – 1.1.1. Opening pathways for work Countries: SE Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=46&langId=en&projectId=2797 Ljungnäsvillan is giving people who are long-term unemployed, new to Sweden, or born abroad, better employment chances. The project, based in a country house by the sea in Småland, offers on-the-job training in restaurant and café work, organic farming, property maintenance and the conference and rental business, as well as vital language skills. Although many immigrants already have practical job knowledge, finding work in Sweden is more difficult because of the language barrier. So Ljungnäsvillan combines on-the-job training with regular SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) language classes. The Ljungnäsvillan project, run by DEL-TA Produktion, expects to recruit between 80 and 90 participants in total, each working with a dedicated counsellor to create a personal development plan. So far, attendance rates have been very high, which is thought to be down to the social and self-improvement elements of the project. Participants can stay at Ljungnäsvillan for up to six months, after which they are expected to be ready to enter the market. The goal is for as many people as possible to find a job, start studying, or establish a foothold in the labour market by the end of the project. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high Inclusion and education of migrants through education, personal development planning in the field of organic farming can be relevant for local pilot actions and preparation of follow-up project activities. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: Ljungnäsvillan expects to recruit between 80–90 participants and see 60 people complete the entire training programme. A dedicated matching counsellor is employed by the project to follow the individuals throughout their training. The counsellor works at the individual level (currently with 16 participants) and creates individual development plans and matching initiatives. After the training, the participant is expected to be ready to enter the labour market. The project’s goal is for all participants who have completed their training to find a job, start studying or establish a foothold in the labour market. The participants get to stay at Ljungnäsvillan for up to 6 months before they move on to the next step in their development plan. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens (unemployed and migrants) 50 UGB – URBAN GREEN BELTS Programme: Interreg Central Europe Countries: HU, AT, SI, CZ, PL, HR, IT Reference: http://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/UGB.html Green belts are the “lungs” of densely populated cities and can provide various environmental, social and economic benefits. To achieve these, however, traditional authority approaches are no longer enough and have become inefficient. So the challenge was to manage these green spaces smartly through the cooperation of inhabitants and various authorities, also using innovative tools. The main objective of the project is to improve the planning, management and decision-making capacities of the public sector in Functional Urban Areas related to urban green spaces, thus creating sustainable urban green space management systems. These will essentially contribute to the improvement of life quality in urban cores and their hinterlands. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The project focuses on urban green spaces and their sustainable management in particular, including urban gardens, but they are not targeted in any of the project activities. However, the project has similar objectives and key elements, such as fostering the adoption of participatory approaches, developing smart methods of community involvement and co-management models aiming at multi-level and integrated management of urban green spaces, all of which will foster the capacity strengthening of the relevant public authorities. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: The project addresses an almost identical specific objective with an emphasis on active community engagement linked to planning, creating and maintaining urban green spaces. This will be facilitated by interactive community and competence building supported by smart communication tools and methods. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: Minor relevance: there are pilot actions in the project, testing community involvement techniques and tools aiming at inclusive urban green space governance, but do not address vulnerable/marginalized groups in particular. However, the smart model of community involvement, which is being developed, also takes into consideration “resource distribution equality” (with vulnerable and marginalized groups explicitly mentioned) and identifies a method and guidelines on how to engage vulnerable/underrepresented groups. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The project tackles a similar objective (sustainable, integrated management of urban green spaces): enhancing the capacities of the public sector by creating transnationally replicable smart multi-level governance models and through developing smart methods for urban green spaces assessment and integrating the green infrastructure approach into urban planning in order to improve environmental performance and mitigate climate change impacts. Main target group: citizens 51 URBACT NETWORK AGRI-URBAN Programme: URBACT II - III Countries: PT, UK, BE, SE, LV, HR, GR, IT, FR, ES Reference: http://urbact.eu/agri-urban AGRI-URBAN is about rethinking agrifood production in small and medium-sized cities. Many small and medium-sized cities across Europe have a relative specialization in agrifood production. Roughly speaking, it is a seemingly mature industry that still plays an important role in terms of GDP, employment and environmental sustainability. That is why new growth potentials have to be activated by means of innovation, new business models or making the most of the cluster approach. AGRI-URBAN tackled initiatives related to short circuits of production and consumption, access to land and employment for youth in agriculture, training policies and support for the inclusion of new producers, urban agriculture, organic products or planning regulations related to agricultural land. The main purpose is a new link between urban and rural spaces through an integrated urban focus and putting the target on employment creation. This link is based on a multi-dimensional concept of sustainability that includes three types of objectives: - Socio-cultural: promoting quality of life and wellness; strengthening the sense of place in the local communities and creating jobs in the food sector; empowering communities by strengthening the role of citizens in economic development. - Economic: territorial integration attracting and retaining population, improving city image, increasing competitiveness, attracting professionals and entrepreneurs. - Environmental: promoting organic farming and good practices, as well as environmental measures; soil preservation avoiding urban occupation of fertile land and incorporating agriculture in appropriate urban spaces and in the urban-rural interface; fostering multi-functionality in rural lands. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium / high The employment- and inclusion related aspect of urban agricultural systems is relevant for AgriGo4Cities, particularly when developing value-added chains based on sustainable urban agriculture. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Topics they are dealing with: Promoting organic farming and good practices, as well as environmental measures; soil preservation, avoiding urban occupation of fertile land and incorporating agriculture in appropriate urban spaces and in the urban-rural interface; fostering multi-functionality in rural lands. Main target group: citizens (young adults) / authorities 52 HICAPS – HISTORICAL CASTLE PARKS Programme: Interreg Central Europe Countries: HR, SI, PL, IT Reference: http://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/HICAPS.html Historical castles that form part of the European cultural heritage are often decorated by parks. In the past, such parks were kept in high-quality aesthetic standards reflecting social and cultural values of their owners, demonstrating their political and economic power. However, nowadays many of these parks vanish due to a lack of financial resources and missing knowledge on how to protect them. The HICAPS project will strengthen the capacities of the public and private sector to improve the management of historical parks and raise awareness about the parks as cultural heritage. The project will develop a strategy for evaluating cultural heritage and the potentials of historical parks. Other outputs include local action plans, a decision supporting tool for self-evaluation for local and regional development and an educational outdoor trail tool. The project will specifically address people with disabilities and test its newly developed approach in seven pilot areas by revitalising historical gardens. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium Urban agriculture/gardening is not specifically mentioned. The project also aims to strengthen the capacities of the public sector (although from the cultural heritage perspective) and tries to include people with disabilities in the process of historical park revitalization. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: The project will specifically address people with disabilities and test its newly developed approach in seven pilot areas by revitalising historical gardens. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens (disabled) 53 IFOAM EU – LIFE16 NGO/BE/200043 Programme: Life + Countries: All EU Member States, along with EFTA and EU candidate countries Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm? fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=6011#PD The IFOAM EU Group – a NGO-foundation – campaigns for sustainable food and farming and for the development and integrity of the organic movement in Europe. The NGO is an umbrella organisation of the organic agriculture movement in Europe. The NGO focuses on stimulating the wider adoption of organic agriculture, emphasising how these practices can significantly contribute to the implementation of EU environmental and climate policies and to economic growth. The goal is to influence the implementation of the 7th Environmental Action Programme, the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, the 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy and the Roadmap for a Resource Efficient Europe, so that they become a driver for profound changes in our agricultural systems. IFOAM EU will raise the awareness of policymakers through events, position papers and direct meetings. It will provide them with practical knowledge and expertise from grass-roots organisations as well as scientific evidence, in order to help them address environmental and climate challenges in an effective way. It will also contribute to better coordination and cooperation among NGOs, so as to give civil society a stronger voice in the policymaking process. In this way, IFOAM EU will build on its vision for the organic movement, based on ‘transforming food and farming’, to express the need for change in food and farming practices. The NGO will further develop the organic movement in the EU, improve its knowledge and advocacy capacities, as well as synergies and links with its members. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium Through addressing policymakers directly (events, position papers and direct meetings), it is able to support a sustainable development by providing them with practical knowledge and expertise from grassroots organisations as well as scientific evidence. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Policymakers learn from experts how to address the topic of climate and environmental challenges in urban planning Main target group: authorities 54 MAKING PLACES PROFITABLE – PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPEN SPACES Programme: Interreg IVB North Sea Region 2007–2013 Countries: UK, DE, ND, BG, SE Reference: https://www.keep.eu/keep/project-ext/20138/MP4? ss=865a45cf76bc4f8e7ea5b82f6050401a&espon= Making Places Profitable focuses on innovative approaches for planning and designing, maintaining and using public places. The project aim is to demonstrate how open space improvements offer positive socio-economic benefits and how the benefits offered to key communities can be maintained in the long run (‘place-keeping’). In cooperation with key EU policymakers and networks, the project activities illustrate support for greater interaction between all those involved in the open space management process. The project created a model agreement for partnerships and social enterprises and implemented 8 urban regeneration projects. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: MP4 focuses on innovative approaches for planning and designing, maintaining and using public place. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: authorities / business / citizens 55 RDI2CLUB Programme: Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2014–2020 Countries: FI, NO, PL, LV, EE Reference: http://www.rdi2club.eu/ RDI2CluB aims to help innovation actors apply EU smart specialisation approaches to their specific field and region. The transnational partnership and network of the project plans to, for instance, support new business development in rural areas and create bio-business hubs to improve innovation management. Bioeconomy means economic activities that utilize the biological natural resources and turn them into food, energy and other products and services providing jobs and business opportunities. The rural areas of the Baltic Sea region have a great potential for bioeconomy, as they have abundant natural resources. However, these regions struggle to reach their full potential due to limited human capital, business networks and clusters. So far, the small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in bioeconomy are mostly in traditional, resource-based industries that have not taken full advantage of the latest technology and service innovations. RDI2CluB unites authorities, research, development and innovation (RDI) institutes and business development bodies from five regions to a joint quest of boosting smart and sustainable bioeconomy development in the rural regions around the Baltic Sea. At the core of RDI2CluB is a transnational learning process that results in regional bioeconomy profiles and joint action plans for developing innovation capacity and enhancing smart specialization. Thereafter, the partner regions have built a joint innovation model and a digital platform that functions as a virtual working environment for the collaborative development of new products and services. The platform offers an interface to access data on natural resources and bioeconomy potential that can spark new ideas and market entries both at regional and transnational levels. Finally, piloting with the SMEs provides feedback on the smart specialization potential in bioeconomy as well as helps to validate the usability and functionality of the transnational innovation model and to scale up the digital platform. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium The Open Virtual Biobusiness Hub as virtual working environment that enables active participation of all stakeholders. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: The Open Virtual Biobusiness Hub is a virtual working environment, a digital platform that enables the joint development of new products, services and business opportunities. The platform enables matchmaking, collaboration and creative encounters between experts of different fields in a regional and transnational context. Furthermore, it functions as an interface to access data on natural resources and socioecological environment. Interaction on the platform can spark ideas with business potential and support the transition to smart and sustainable bioeconomy. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: Pilot models will be created in the project that evaluate the ecological and social sustainability of new bioeconomy products/services as well as create business plans that incorporate an ecological, social and economic sustainability evaluation. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: In a pilot model in Poland, a model for innovation management will be created based on the 5-helix approach. By involving the natural environment and surrounding society, the Quintuple Helix supports the formation of innovations that create a win-win situation between ecology, knowledge and innovation, creating synergies between economy, society, and democracy. Main target group: authorities / business (SME) / R&D institutes 56 TRANSPARENT BOUNDARIES (LACE – NETWORKS – SPACE –ARCHITECTURE): DIALOGUE WITH THE ELDER Programme: CREATIVE EUROPE-CULTURE Countries: UK, IT, EL, DK Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/projects/ce-project- details/#project/522676-CU-1-2012-1-UK-CULTURE-VOL121 The Aim of the project is to explore the visibility of the elder in contemporary Europe through creative dialogue informed by the structural and cultural understanding of lace “net-works”. The Objectives are: - Question the materiality and form of boundaries and thresholds in order to challenge their purpose and function. - Develop lace net-works both materially and conceptually as a means of forming a series of innovative connections, surrounding but not enclosing space, thus affording access. - Capture the impact of lace net-work structures on community inter-connectedness through transgenerational and cross-cultural creative collaborations. - Disseminate outcomes through a series of exhibitions, performances and workshops Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: medium It is a good example how to communicate in a cross-generational way. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes": none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: It is a cultural project with the goal to have a transnational, interdisciplinary and crossgenerational exchange between the older generation, society and cultural settings in which they live. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: none Main target group: citizens (elderly) 57 CAMARG – CLUSTER OF INNOVATIVE ZERO-KM AGRO-FOOD MARKETPLACES FOR GROWTH Programme: Interreg Mediterranean 2014–2020 Countries: HR, FR, IT, ES Reference: https://camarg.interreg-med.eu/ Project CAMARG aims to test and validate an advanced e-Commerce solution suited to support small producers (farmers, food artisans, small retailers) in MED territories characterized by agrofood excellence. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: low / medium The CAMARG project is relevant for the AgriGo4Cities project only indirectly. By clustering the agrofood producers and developing the e-Commerce solutions, it may represent a transferable practice to support the development of urban agriculture (production and consummation) in other areas as well. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: The project touches on this field only briefly by exposing the involvement of citizens in the decision process of new/updated electronic services. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: CAMARG does not explicitly target vulnerable/marginalised groups. Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The CAMARG project supports small agrofood producers exposed to the market competition of the emerging mass retail business models. It attempts to change consumer behaviour and show them the best way of getting fresh and authentic products directly from the local producer. Although the urban context is not explicitly mentioned, the solutions brought forth may also help urban citizens to pay for excellent food at the same price spent in supermarkets for lower-level goods. The ICT technology helps eliminate wasting time visiting different producers’ sites and find everything easy to reach and possibly have products at the same price at one’s own home, office or hotel. Main target group: business (food producers and retailers) 58 SUPURBFOOD – TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MODES OF URBAN AND PERI-URBAN FOOD PROVISIONING Programme: Horizon2020 Countries: NE, IT Reference: http://supurbfood.eu/; http://www.ruaf.org/projects/supurbfood-towards-sustainable- modes-urban-food-provisioning Short food supply chains have been advocated as a means to reduce the environmental impact of the agrofood system. However, to improve the ecological performance of the agro-food system, other flows (e.g. nutrients, water and urban waste) need to be considered as well. In the current context, these aspects are usually treated separately. This project will treat them in an integrated manner. The research will be carried out in seven European city-regions (Rotterdam (NL), Rome (IT), Ghent (BE), Vigo (ES), Bristol (UK), Zürich (CH) and Riga (LV)) in collaboration with a diverse group of SMEs and will identify innovative modes of urban and peri-urban food provisioning, nutrient, water and waste management and the multifunctional use of urban and peri-urban space. The project will also establish links with researchers, policymakers and SMEs in these domains in developing countries. This will be organised through a process of dialogue, sharing of experiences, exchange of best practice and joint learning. Until recently, short food supply chains and multifunctional agriculture were considered to be part of the rural development realm. This project looks at these topics from the perspective of urban rather than rural development. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: low / medium Has a strong focus on UA practice and more technical improvement. Governance and participation is not emphasized. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach in decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: The project partners described and analysed the agri-food dynamics, policies and governance arrangements in 7 European city regions. The goal was to develop a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience among various stakeholder groups. It is also guidance for experimenting with innovations in each of the key themes of the Supurbfood project. Main target group: citizens / authorities 59 RESILIENTS Programme: CREATIVE EUROPE-CULTURE Countries: AT, BE, SE, UK, SI Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/projects/ce-project- details/#project/513701-CU-1-2011-1-BE-CULTURE-VOL121 Resilients (RT) fostered cultural resilience by blending diverse European traditions with emerging arts and technologies, strengthened through the intercultural exchange of people, ideas & works. Resilients are cultural workers of all ages preparing for uncertain futures by studying and experimenting with new models of living and working as a form of artistic practice. Each partner had a specific approach to resilience, adding value to RT’s transnational collaboration. The project provided the partners with an opportunity to empower cultural workers to engage in an Europe-wide cultural resilience, while functioning as a compelling narrative to engage with diverse public contexts. RT had four primary motivations: to collect, create, share and support the development of resilient creative practices that can contribute to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of European culture. Current and historic models of resilient culture were collected in residencies and field trips. These models were integrated with contemporary artistic forms in five case studies: experiments with new materials, media and technologies in the context of endangered crafts, urban gardening, sustainable forestry, contemporary pilgrimage and future readiness. Theoretical reflections on collecting and creating, together with their practical applications, were gathered in the “Resilients Handbook”. For the duration of the project, the process and results of RT were shared at public events and online. Support of resilient creatives took the form of workshops, gatherings, apprenticeships and meetings. These activities provided a stable foundation for RT’s long-term vision: to form a transnational support infrastructure called ‘Guild of Resilients’, a fellowship for learning, experimentation and reflection on temporal, resilient creative practices. More information is available on their homepage: https://libarynth.org/resilients/start Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: low It gives a very good introduction to the expression of resilience and what it constitutes. It supports sustainable urban development and talks about different experiences in the Resilients Handbook, which reads like a diary. With regards to urban gardening, they describe their activities, but the handbook is missing a tangible toolkit that would explain not only “what” they did, but “how” they did it. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Resilience to share accumulated skills, knowledge and cultural products Main target group: citizens (cultural workers) 60 SUPPORTING PIONEERS IN URBAN-RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO CREATE VITAL NEW HUBS Programme: Interreg IVB - North West Europe 2007–2013 Countries: BG, NL, UK, DE Reference: http://www.purehubs.eu/ The Pure-Hub-Project aims to enhance the economic and social performance of cities and their rural hinterlands and establish better functional links between urban communities and rural production in the Northwest Europe area. This general aim is translated into 3 objectives: 3 objectives: Objective 1: To enhance the SOCIAL relationships between urban communities and adjacent rural areas enabling cross-sector cooperation and ultimately more effective supply chains for locally produced goods and services. Objective 2: To strengthen innovative urban-rural entrepreneurship stimulating new ECONOMIC relations between cities and their hinterlands and developing new business models that better exploit the economic potential of peri-urban areas and also directly meet the socio-economic demands of the cities. Objective 3: To sustain and to further improve these urban-rural linkages through embedding them in the long-term area development policies of local and regional authorities. This project sets out the proposition of ‘PURE Hubs’ (PURE=Pioneers in Urban Rural Entrepreneurship) as a specific strategy for generating urban-rural economic and social resilience. The project sets out the proposition of ‘PURE Hubs’ (PURE=Pioneers in Urban Rural Entrepreneurship) as a specific strategy for generating Urban-Rural economic and social resilience. We see a ‘PURE Hub’ as an active node. or connection point. in a comprehensive Urban-Rural network which can incorporate infrastructural as well as organisational elements. A PURE Hub can be a physical building. or an organisational node linking networks of people and organisations. The common factor is that it would: - Reconnect the relationship between rural practice and the needs of urban social and economic wellbeing. contributing to prosperity and enhanced quality of life in both cities and their rural hinterlands. - Provide economic and social added value through the empowering of urban and rural stakeholders by involvement and commitment within PURE networks facilitating interaction and knowledge transfer. https://www.keep.eu/keep/project-ext/21108/PURE+HUBS? ss=71de826602d98438712ac79afb9c8b71&espon= Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: low Focus on food production and connecting rural and urban areas; the creation of therapy farms. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: none Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Focus on food production and connecting rural and urban areas; the creation of therapy farms is especially interesting. Main target group: citizens 61 UP TO NATURE Programme: CREATIVE EUROPE-CULTURE Countries: AT, UK, FI, NO, SI Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/projects/ce-project- details/#project/513522-CU-1-2011-1-AT-CULTURE-VOL121 UP TO NATURE was an interdisciplinary production festival for experimental theatre, dance, music, live art and performance art in Vienna (AT), Bristol (UK), Kuopio (FI) and Oslo (NO). The partners produced a series of five unplugged performance productions for the greens and woods of their cities. The coproduction partners brut Vienna, Inbetween Time Productions Bristol, Black Box Theatre Oslo and Anti Festival in Kuopio agreed to produce a festival in the recreation areas close to their cities. A minimum of five international artistic productions were co-commissioned and presented in all four places. All the artistic productions had been basically unfurnished with any theatre equipment, normally provided by venues such as light, sound or stage systems. The programme was an unplugged performance festival for the metropolitan audience in the greens outside the cities. The entire process of the production and presentation had been critically reflected on by theorists. The art reviews were published within the international publication scheme of MASKA Ljubljana (SI). European artists and companies were invited to produce unplugged performances dealing with issues of: - ecology - climate change - natural resources & alternative energy - social stability - urban architectures - agriculture & gardening - flora & fauna The festival ran during the warm months in 2012. Until now, no results for this project have been available. Relevance for AgriGo4Cities in general: low It was a festival in the recreation areas outside the four cities, showing international artist production – mainly drawing attention to important points of a sustainable urban development. Also there is no information about a final report. Relevance for objective 1 “Integration of the participatory approach into the decision-making processes”: Festival to engage citizens. Relevance for objective 2 “Increase the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable/marginalised groups”: none Relevance for objective 3 “Promote sustainable urban development”: Festival providing education about: ecology, climate change, natural resources & alternative energy, social sustainability, urban architectures, agriculture & gardening, flora & fauna. Main target group: citizens 62 IV. GOOD PRACTICES OF PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE 63 SELECTED GOOD PRACTICES OF PARTICIPATORY URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY GARDENS COUNTRY PAGE Palota-kert Palace Garden Hungary 66 Plecharna Czechia 73 ZáZeMie Miraculous Greenspace Slovakia 78 Friendship Garden Bulgaria 84 StadtAcker Germany 91 Vidimova Czechia 96 KZ Kuchyňka Czechia 104 Krasnansky garden Slovakia 109 Beyond the construction site Slovenia 115 Makkosházi Hungary 122 Tlateloco garden Mexico 129 New Horizons Bosnian Garden Canada 137 THERAPEUTIC GARDENS L'Arche Slovenia 144 Rose Slovenia 151 SOCIAL GARDENS LivadaLAB Slovenia 157 Roma gardens Slovenia 163 International Gardens in Göttingen Germany 170 EDUCATIONAL GARDENS Little Terrace Slovenia 178 Kardjali School Garden Bulgaria 184 Na Beránku Czechia 189 Baltimore Urban Gardening USA 197 64 COMMUNITY GARDENS 65 Palace Garden / Palota-kert The first community garden in Székesfehérvár was established in 2013 in a high-rise neighbourhood Székesfehérvár called Palotaváros (Palace city). The motivation of HUNGARY the initiators was to create a community space where local people who do not have the opportunity to own a garden can meet and do some gardening in Target groups: a community. During the establishment, the - decision makers: local Garden-friendly Association, whose members were councillor the leaders of the process, received help from the - vulnerable groups: elderly area’s city councillor and from a fellow people environmentalist association. The whole planning - other stakeholders: local and establishment process was carried out with the NGOs involvement of the local community and the future gardeners. Read on for their story about community Contact: gardening, their successes as well as challenges that - information in English: Máté they were faced with. Szalók, mate.szalok@kdriu.hu - coordinator of the garden written by: and information in Máté Szalók, Central Transdanubian Regional Hungarian: Edit Márton, +36 Innovation Agency 30/385 0487 photo above: Raised beds in the Palota-garden (image credit: Ferenc Máthé) 66 worked together to establish the garden. The local government of Székesfehérvár provided 1 million HUF (about EUR 3300 at the time) of non-refundable support from the Environmental Protection Fund for establishing the garden. Companies around the city also provided support: they donated their products and tools or offered discounts on them. The builders of the garden (image credit: Ferenc Máthé) The participants had several meetings during the planning phase. The rules of TAKING THE FIRST the garden were defined during these STEPS meetings; they are based on the proposals of the participants, existing expert The Garden-friendly Association of publications and the legislation. The Székesfehérvár was established in 2009 involvement of these actors did not as a Garden-friendly Club and became happen at the same time, as many of the an association in 2012. Their idea about future gardeners and new members of the establishing a community garden in the association joined after they read the Palotaváros, which is a high-rise articles in the local media or observed the neighbourhood in Székesfehérvár, arose actual work in the garden. In order to in 2013. The members of the association build the garden, the participants met with the local councillor and organized workdays where 12–30 people because their ideas were similar, they participated. Besides the physical work, started the joint project. They wanted to they also had small events during the provide people from the neighbourhood construction, at which the participants got the opportunity to produce fresh food by a chance to get to know each other better. themselves and be part of a good community. Furthermore, they wanted to involve new land into urban EVERY SINGLE agricultural producing that is suitable for this activity, but has been unused PERSON MATTERS and because of this does not fit into the urban environment. The future gardeners were involved in the initiative from the beginning: they Both bottom-up and top-down methods participated in the planning and were combined for the establishment of implementation of the garden, they were the Palota-kert. The members of the also involved in the maintenance. Because Garden-friendly and the Gaja the garden was built in a high-rise Environmentalist Association, the future neighbourhood, the main target group was gardeners, other people from the the local community. Due to this, many neighbourhood and the local councillor elderly people joined the initiative and became gardeners in the neighbourhood. 67 Furthermore, elderly people from the members had already been known to the Garden-friendly Association have been local councillor and the members of the part of the life of the garden since the Garden-friendly Association and they were beginning, even though they do not own invited to the process as an external a plot. support. The garden is open to everyone: for All the listed actors participated in people who live in the high-rise establishing the garden. The members of neighbourhood, elderly people, families the Garden-friendly Association were the with small children. The participants coordinators of the process, but other pay special attention to building a actors also had a significant role. After community, because this kind of work assessing the needs, a local representative creates bonds and friendships between checked the possible location for the the members of these groups, which garden and allocated it for establishing a then lead to intergenerational community garden. He also helped with the neighbourly harmony. For example, the administrative aspect and organized a elderly can take care of the small press conference about the establishment children, the younger members can help of the garden. the elderly people and everyone likes to be a part of a healthy community. The Gaja Environmentalist Organization also provided support during the process of The motivation of the gardeners and selecting the proper land and obtaining the other participants was based on several necessary permits. First, an organization factors. The gardeners wanted to spend had to be established for operating the their free time in a useful way, in a garden; it was named Community Garden community; in addition, gardening itself Palotváros. This organization did not have and producing their own vegetables also legal personality, so the leadership of the played a significant role. The elderly Székesfehérvár Garden-friendly members who do garden themselves Association signed a contract with the Local joined because they wanted to be part of Government of Székesfehérvár after it was the community; they support the approved by the city council. gardeners and attend the events in the garden. The city councillor of the area During the garden establishing process, the has also been involved since the birth of members of the Gaja association the idea. In addition, the involvement of participated in presenting former good the Gaja Environmentalist Association is practices, which provided important input a good indicator of the broad and knowledge. The story of the Első Kis- cooperation between different actors. Pesti Kert (The First Community Garden in This association is a significant actor in Kispest) was presented to the local Székesfehérvár in environmental councillor, the residents and the employees protection and raising awareness about of the Environment Office with the environmental consciousness; its involvement of the local media. 68 community garden in Székesfehérvár, where the participants can learn about different methods and aspects of gardening. Furthermore, strong friendships have been formed among the gardeners and other members and because of that, they participate at events in Székesfehérvár, celebrate birthdays and go on trips together. The members of the local community built the garden together (image credit: Ferenc Máthé) SECRET INGREDIENTS For the physical construction of the Palota-kert is not just a place for garden, a local representative obtained gardening, but it has become a vivid pallets that had been recycled for community place as well; events are building raised beds. Building the organized in the garden regularly and garden itself was based on a joint non-gardeners are welcome as well. All of cooperation and participation of the the interviewed actors mentioned the future gardeners and other members of important role the community has had the Garden-friendly Association, the during the establishment and local representative and the Gaja maintenance of the garden. The local Environmentalist Association. They all decision-maker believes that the performed physical work during the community garden was a true bottom-up construction. Besides the hard work, initiative. He mentioned that the they also organized the first community founders of the garden are really events (e.g. barbecuing) at the time, so enthusiastic people, who strive really they got the chance to get to know each hard to realize their ideas, which are also other better. good for the community. The garden is useful, because people who did not know The gardeners are responsible for their each other before have had the individual plots and for maintaining the opportunity to meet and organize a new garden, but they receive support from micro-community, which is still working others. The members of the association and continues to develop. who do not own a plot support the gardeners and attend events. The Gaja The representative of the Gaja Environmentalist Association also helps Environmentalist Organization thinks with the maintenance. They assist in that the best thing in being involved in solving technical problems, support the the garden is that people can see the birth composting process, help with the and the deepening of human procurements and they also attend the relationships. It is really good to see that events. The Garden-friendly Association the community garden, the result of hard organizes monthly workshops in another physical and organizational work, 69 functions well in the heart of the city. PARTICIPATORY The municipality, the local people and the media appreciate the community ASPECTS garden and new people want to join the The interested stakeholders and future community. He thinks that the garden gardeners were involved in the entire has proven to be sustainable and process of establishing the garden. The liveable even after the initial support members of the neighbourhood were that was used to establish the garden addressed via press conference at the city had ceased. hall and directly through personal relationships. The planning process When talking about the future, it must began at a meeting, where the idea of a be said that more communal features in community garden was presented. After the garden (e.g. stage in the garden, that, the leaders of the process met on the garden furnace and kitchen) are needed, location of the garden regularly with as they would enable the community to those who wanted to be involved. In order organize even more events. These events to have a fast and effective way of could bring new people into the communicating, an e-mail list was created, community, new dynamics and fresh which proved to be quite useful. ideas that could improve the attitude in the garden. Internal and external For setting up the rules, the organizers communication could be also improved: used the founding document of the Városi the garden would be even more effective Kertek Egyesület (Association of Urban if the communication was strengthened Gardens), which is the Hungarian initiator between the members of the community, organization for community gardens. so that any emerging issues could be These rules were tailored to the needs of solved in a more organized way; for the community. The gardeners, including example, they could organize more the members of the vulnerable group frequent meetings for the gardeners or (elderly people from the neighbourhood), establish a simple communication feel that they are part of the society and policy. they think that the local government considers their opinions. This could be In addition, more coverage in the local because of the active involvement of the media would be beneficial for the garden local representative and other members of as well as for the gardening association. the local government. This could enhance the interest towards During the establishment and taking urban gardening and increase the possession of the land, many legal numbers of visitors at the events in the questions emerged. To solve these issues, garden. The maintenance of the the city councillor of the district, the local technical elements is also important. The government and the Environmental Office raised beds, tools and community areas of the city provided support. The have visibly deteriorated since the maintenance service of the city also project launched. 70 supported the participants: they provided It seems the garden can be sustainable tools and the employees of the company from the legal aspect as well, because took part in the physical work, since many the local government of the city of the volunteers were women. When the believes in it and values a strong and water support of the garden was not lively community initiative. solved, the maintenance service provided water. Besides these issues, the ignorance GUIDANCE FOR from some people has also been an obstacle for the community, because they BEGINNERS might spread this attitude onto others. Many people from the local community Finding the right space is the first step remained passive towards the garden: towards successly establishing a according to the opinion of one community garden. After deciding on interviewee, “they do not do anything the location, the preparatory work is besides just being at home and waiting crucial as well and the enthusiastic for things to change instead of trying to initiators should thoroughly analyse create a small change themselves.” the entire process and make a solid plan. They should involve the B RIGHTER FUTURE interested stakeholders into this process and build on existing T he future of the initiative is a very knowledge and good practices. In order e xciting question. It seems to be crucial to do this, they should build a good t o have 4–5 people with initiating skills relationship with the local government, and with enough free time who can media and contact the members of manage the issues in the community. operating gardens who can share their They can support the introverted experience. They should start building members and incite them to take part a community, create a leader core from in the community life. With such a the local people in the earliest stage of strong leading core, the community can the project and involve the future stay stable, even if some people leave gardeners into the planning stage and and others join. The whole physical labour during the neighbourhood would profit from the construction of the garden. This garden, if other members of the local process forms work bonds between the society besides the gardeners were members, which strengthens the involved in the community. In addition cohesion between the gardeners; this to the local residents, members of the enables the members to solve problems local association of pensioners, and conflicts in an effective and students at the local primary school or positive way. This can potentially associations for disabled people could discourage new members from joining, join in the future. The involvement of but with suitable clear rules, a people who are currently inactive can transparent decision-making process be achieved by disseminating the and measures, the integral results and successes so far. operation of the garden can be ensured. 71 as it was in the case of the lead consultant of the association. The interviewed representative of the elderly people joined because he likes gardening and being part of a good community. He said that gardening as a physical activity contributes to keeping his body in good physical condition and that observing, admiring the changes and seeing the achievements were good for his mental Community event in the garden (image credit: Ferenc Máthé) health. Not being disappointed when facing However, although the garden seems to obstacles is also important, as they are be a successful initiative, the main goals often an inescapable part of the have not been completely achieved yet. process. Try to involve as many Even though the community areas of the supporters as possible, because they garden have been built, involving can help each other and the project outsiders in the community has not been through hard times that might arise fully realized yet. This would be during the process because of personal, important for the garden in order to institutional or private life-related become a gathering place for the entire reasons. neighbourhood. With the cooperation of civic associations, the garden could be a ONE PERSON CAN place for events on raising awareness about a green and environmentally CHANGE THE WORLD conscious lifestyle. Furthermore, these The reasons why the participants joined events could generate some income were related to the community, a love of and/or donations for the garden, which gardening and the environmental would ensure the its economic aspects. The city councillor of the area sustainability. said that he has supported the initiative since the beginning. The social aspects were crucial points, but the creation of a green urban environment was also important to him. The main motivation of the Gaja association to get involved was their love of gardening. Reading a good book on the topic or listening to a presentation by an enthusiastic person with lots of experience and knowledge in the area could be also a good motivation, Reward of the hard gardening work (image credit: Ferenc Máthé) 72 Plecharna Community Centre Plechárna is a local community, leisure and cultural Prague centre offering a wide range of activities. It is a CZECH REPUBLIC meeting place and a zone for starting up activities that help the overall revival of the Prague 14 housing Target groups: estate. The basic idea was to make the city for its - decision makers: people and improve the quality of their lives. An Municipal District of Prague important part of Plechárna is a beautiful community 14 garden, which is not just about growing vegetables - vulnerable groups: Citizens and herbs. It has communal flowerbeds, rock gardens, of Prague 14: families with a compost heap and, most importantly, friendly children, single parents, gardening mates. elderly, foreigners - stakeholders: Plechárna written by: employees, visitors Kateřina Janatová, European Development Agency Contact: Kateřina Plevová, katerina.plevova@praha14kulturni.cz, +420 777 783 662 photo above: Bird's Eye view on the garden (image credit: Kateřina Plevová) 73 Plechárna was established using a combination of the bottom-up and top- down approaches. The main initiators of the community centre were the mayor of the municipal district of Prague 14, Radek Vondra, and the director of the Prague 14 cultural contributory organization, David Kašpar; together, they created a new future for the previously abandoned space. However, the idea for establishing Plechárna (image credit: Kateřina Plevová) the community garden came from the citizens of Prague 14, who had been TAKING THE FIRST interested in this kind of a leisure activity. STEPS Establishing the garden was also a good opportunity for utilizing the empty place The Plechárna community garden is a behind the building and creating a quiet part of a community centre situated in zone in the area. the municipal district of Prague 14. It is located between the housing estate and The community garden is a part of the refurbished park with many paths Plechárna, which is entrusted to the for cycling or inline skating. Prague 14 cultural centre. The rules concerning the functioning of the The building of the community centre community garden such as annual was first a boiler house and later served membership fees, types of cultivation, tool as a car repair shop. Following the rental, watering or workshops reconstruction of the nearby park in organization are determined by Prague 14. 2013, Plechárna was rebuilt into a There are thirteen employees responsible Prague 14 community centre offering a for managing the community centre, broad range of activities, a leisure-time including the community garden, and facility and a café. setting the rules. Prague 14 cultural centre is a formal contributory organization of The main purpose of developing the Prague 14, whose main purpose is to community garden within Plechárna was promote culture as a tool for improving to create a calm place where citizens can the quality of life of the citizens of Prague meet each other and spend their free 14. Its scope of activities is to map the time. Gardening appeared to be a great cultural and social environment of Prague tool on how to bring people together, 14, to develop a corresponding cultural develop and strengthen neighbourly infrastructure and to organize leisure, relations. Moreover, children living in community, social and sport activities. the housing estate can see how different plants and crops are grown. The basic Nevertheless, an annual budget for the idea was to make the city for its people garden, which is also suggested by the and improve the quality of their lives. employees of the organization, always has 74 This is a district with a lot of families with small children, single parents, and the elderly and many of them originate from foreign countries such as Russia, Vietnam or Mongolia. Some of them also come to the garden to work and socialize, so it can be said that the gardeners also include members of various vulnerable groups. The decision-makers are in charge of the management of the community garden. It is overseen by Mrs. Kateřina Plevová and two of her colleagues. The garden is financially supported by the municipal district of Prague 14. Their role is to sustain, develop the community, and coordinate the running of the garden. Before and After (image credit: Kateřina Plevová) to be confirmed by the municipal district The community is open to everyone. The of Prague 14. garden includes people living in the municipal district and a few people EVERY SINGLE commuting from other districts. The PERSON MATTERS gardeners’ role is to maintain and The local residents have been involved in improve the community garden and the the planning and implementation of the space around it. Furthermore, the garden from the very beginning. During employees of the café grow herbs there. the establishment of the garden, the future Other people including families with gardeners could participate in public children, the elderly, and teenagers—not meetings, at which most of the just those from Prague— come to the stakeholders including decision-makers garden for public events and frequent met and had the opportunity to suggest workshops. different ideas or express their opinions. Currently, the community gardeners still The primary reason why most of the voice their demands whenever they wish, people participate in the community personally or by email (e.g. what they garden is that they want to do gardening need, what is not working, some of their even on a small piece of land because new ideas etc.). they really enjoy it. The second reason is meeting other people. They want to be Furthermore, the community organizes an outdoors, spend time with their families informal meeting of all the members and and friends, and meet neighbours or new employees every month, where they people, as well as develop a community. discuss what is necessary and which workshops, barbecues etc. are planned. 75 Almost 80% of the people who have PARTICIPATORY started gardening in Plechárna at the very beginning (in 2013) continue to ASPECTS participate. Some have stopped coming, All the interested stakeholders including mostly because they moved out or started the local residents, decision-makers, and gardening in other gardening colonies representatives of the municipal district that are also situated in Prague 14. of Prague 14 and Prague 14 cultural Nevertheless, any free plot of land is centre have been involved in the entire quickly occupied. The demand always process of establishing the garden since exceeds the supply. the beginning and their engagement still persists. SECRET INGREDIENTS The members of the community garden Plechárna is a good practice, because it are satisfied with the extent of their welcomes all people regardless of age, participation. They all know that they can nationality, gender or family status. The always ask for something they need, so community garden brings people they respect the rules. So far, the together, helps them understand each community has not encountered serious other and develops their gardening skills. problems or obstacles. Sometimes small Moreover, it improves local development disagreements happen between the and gives children a place where they can gardeners and the decision-makers, but spend some of their free time, which is these are easy to solve. Everything important, because Prague 14 currently depends on the budget available for the has issues with an increasing number of community garden. If the budget is too youth gangs and violence. low to ensure the functioning of the garden, problems will appear. However, it So far, the garden is running well. On the can be assumed that the community’s other hand, there is always room for interest is to solve the problems, because improvement. Most of the ideas come the inner power of the community is from the gardeners. They would like to strong and the relations between the have more covered sitting areas and more members have already been created. garden beds; however, that is not currently possible. BRIGHTER FUTURE As for the community, it depends a lot on how much energy is put into sustaining Nobody knows what the future brings. it. There must always be a leader in The community does not want to change charge of the community. If the anything. The problem is that the community does not get enough energy, community centre as a contributory the garden grows, but the relationships organization depends on the government do not. In this case, the leader is Mrs. of the municipal district of Prague 14. Kateřina Plevová, who is responsible for The current government likes the garden both the garden and the community. and therefore supports it. However, there will be elections in the autumn of 2018 76 and everything depends on who will be The community centre funded by Prague elected and how they will be inclined 14 provided a part of its land to create towards the garden. The fact is that the garden. For the beginner, this is a Prague 14 has already invested a lot of very good way to establish a community money, time and energy in this garden. When the garden is a part of the community centre (including the community centre, potential gardeners community garden) to make it work. It can easily gain the land, the funds are seems unreasonable to cut the garden provided by the municipal district and completely. Furthermore, the citizens the community is already working here. would be dissatisfied and would express their disagreement. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD GUIDANCE FOR The greatest motivation of everyone BEGINNERS involved is their love of gardening. Most Establishing a community garden means of them have done it their entire lives and completing a lot of tasks, such as finding a the idea of a community garden is perfect suitable place, addressing the interested in many ways. stakeholders, starting to create a community, or strengthening the relations One of the reasons why the main with the local government. Nevertheless, representative also acting as the manager this community garden considerably of the garden joined this community is differs from other community gardens: it that she can take care of the garden and belongs to a contributory organization, so the community as part of her work. This is it is not necessary to deal with as many possible because she is a part-time things as common community gardens, employee of the community centre. The e.g. financing, lease of land or lack of added value is that she also has her own knowledge regarding gardening. garden bed, where she can grow whatever she wants in her free time, which also Finally, it is simply amazing to have a helps her build friendly relationships community garden inside the city; with other gardeners. therefore the most important advice for beginners is that everything is possible if Gardening contributes to personal you want it. In this case, the local satisfaction. Working in a garden calms community centre with the support of the people down. They can work with their municipal district organized public own hands outside the office and not just meetings with citizens of Prague 14 who sit behind a computer screen all day. wanted to join the community and were Gardening is a relaxing activity that helps interested in gardening. The idea of a combat stress. Moreover, it is possible to community garden as a part of the see the results of one’s work “here and community centre came after a discussion now”. with the centre representatives. 77 Miraculous Greenspace / ZáZeMie The ZáZeMie (Miraculous Greenspace) community Spišská Nová Ves garden is a good practice of cooperation of three SLOVAKIA NGOs, the local government and the public. It is situated near a river and apartment buildings. It is a Target groups: favourite place especially for young people, families - decision makers: and mothers with children, because they have an representatives of local opportunity to play in a natural playground. government Founders of the garden organise a few community - vulnerable groups: activities with an educational character: they work families, single mothers with natural materials like clay, wood etc. They would with children like to intensify gardening by planting some fruit - other stakeholders: trees and start environmental education for children volunteers by building ECO centres. written by: Contact: Lucia Vačoková and Eva Mihová, FB: Zazracne zelene miesto ENVICORP Slovakia SNV photo above: 6. Celebration of Earth Day from the block-house window around the site in 2016 (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) 78 (Zóna bez peňazí) project in 2013, where TAKING THE FIRST the idea of building a community garden STEPS first originated. The story of the ZáZeMie community Negotiations with local authorities began garden began in the 1970s when the once suitable locations were identified surrounding area was built up and the and the project itself was submitted in locals used the site as a natural April 2014. The success of the submitted swimming area up until the 1980s. The project was confirmed in April 2014 with swimming area was closed, as it no the signature of a partnership agreement longer met hygienic requirements. with the City of Spišská Nová Ves, which Despite this, the area continued to be provided the three civic associations with frequented by dog owners and for walks the land on the bank of the Hornád River around the banks of the Hornád River known as Vyšná Hať Fľúder and the by different groups, such as agreement was concluded for a minimum kindergarteners, primary and secondary period of five years. Within the first four school students. years of this “greenfield” project, the basis of the community garden was set up, The community garden space is part of including a natural playground for the Hornád River bank and is located children, permaculture beds, a herb spiral inside the urban core of the and small architectural elements such as a neighbourhood, but has retained its sensory walkway, a clay climbing natural character. The City of Spišská structure, a fruit orchard, a garden shed in Nová Ves, which owns and manages the a trailer and an informational board about land, lacks the necessary funding to the ZáZeMie project. It was and continues revitalise it. The land is classified in the to be a place for cultivating cultural city spatial plan as recreational land. produce and less known produce, herbs The community garden covers a total and spices, primarily in the name of area of 3000 m2. informational and educational activities. The driving force behind the development The ZáZeMie community garden was of the concept of establishing the garden created as a result of the Miraculous was teaching and the acquisition of Greenspace (Slovak ZáZeMie – Zázračné cultivation skills, as well as the zelené miesto) project, which was demonstration of cultivation techniques supported by the Ekopolis Foundation’s for educational and information purposes. City Comfort (Slovak Pohoda za mestom) grant program in 2014. The entire project was driven by the EVERY SINGLE enthusiasm of the representatives from PERSON MATTERS three civic associations in the Spišská Nová Ves District: Dietka Mother’s The rules for maintaining the garden were centre NGO, Barefoot NGO and Root defined through a partnership NGO. All 3 collaboratively engaged in declaration between the civic associations the Slovakia-wide Money Free Zone and the City of Spišská Nová Ves, in which 79 both parties committed to inform one inform the project owner, i.e. the city, of another about the progress of the the progress of the project and any ZáZeMie project and made the changes to it. The city government commitment to assist one another in the provided free removal of trash from the case of any changes. In this declaration, garden site and participated in clean-up the associations committed to use the brigades. Nowadays, the founders of the city’s land under the terms of the garden remove the trash by themselves. community garden project. The declaration included the rules for Both parties signed a partnership communication and exchanging agreement, in which these conditions were information, especially if the local clearly defined. The Dietka Mother’s centre government intended to use the land for NGO signed the agreement on behalf of the any other purpose. The associations will other associations, but the partnership use the space for an open-ended period agreement transferred to NGO Root at the of at least five years from the beginning end of 2017 due to the resignation of the of the project in 2014 (to ensure the statutory body of Dietka. This has not sustainability of the supported project) affected the garden, which continues to and a notice period of one year has been thrive. mutually agreed upon. The use of the garden space is based on mutual respect. SECRET INGREDIENTS The community garden’s target group is the public. The garden has no fencing Entrance to the garden is free for visitors and is publicly accessible. The goal is to and it provides services including access especially attract young people, families for dogs, the use of the children’s with children and primary and playground, barrier-free access and the secondary school students. All current garden founders serve complimentary users already joined the community refreshments at events and clean-up garden at the beginning: they helped brigades. Vulnerable groups that are build the garden and they still actively participating and working in the participate in workshops. garden are young mothers with their children. The local government was engaged in The garden attracts the target groups in the preparatory phase of the project. It the following way: provided city-owned land for the • project preparation phase – a Facebook construction of the garden for a profile was created and active before the minimum of five years under the first project was submitted, conditions that it is used for the • flyers were created during the working construction of the ZáZeMie community on the project and were distributed at garden and that the project initiators, public events (Money Free Zone, Opening the associations themselves, maintain Day of the Hiking Season, Children’s Day, the garden, continue to care for it and Folk Craft Days + City Days) 80 • articles and reports were published in associations that operate it. Events of an local media (regular, a free monthly educational nature, such as the “working publication distributed to all with oyster mushrooms”, the “come play households called Informátor, TV with wood” workshops and the regular Reduta, a local TV station, the websites planting of trees are the most interesting of the participating civic organisations and most well-attended. The spring and (www.dietka.sk, www.ozkoren.tym.sk, the autumn clean-up brigades beautify the project’s Facebook profile and a blog at surrounding area and are traditionally blog.sme.sk), all of which remain in use. associated with activities for families with children and the cooking of traditional Operating the community garden goulash stew. brought its founder a new action team and the opportunity to teach and PARTICIPATORY educate people in nature. The intensity of the beds management and their ASPECTS expansion as well as the involvement of The garden users feel satisfied with their volunteers could be improved. The role in using the garden and cooperating Dietka NGO, which was involved in the with the local government. They are happy construction and maintenance of the that they have some space where their ZáZeMie community garden until 2017, children can play or where they can meet gained a great deal of experience in each other. working with the community and the public. It managed to create an excellent What the local government has action team of ten people, who managed appreciated the most about the the garden until the autumn of 2017, community garden is the initiative shown when the NGO Koreň took up the main by the young people in the establishment initiative and the Dietka NGO is no of the garden and the improvements to the longer a part of the garden. space, their drive and enthusiasm, which are critical to its operation. In general, the The community garden has tremendous garden thrives with more people and potential as a garden and as a natural volunteers and the favour of the local playground for children, as a space for government. formal and informal meetings of different interest groups, a space for It is critical to maintain the motivation of organising cultural events and volunteers and leaders among the workshops in the fields of gardening and participating associations and the support natural construction and for promoting and goodwill of the local government to the use of the principles of keep the land as a community garden. permaculture. Non-profit organisations took the lead on the city-owned land. A team of around ten Organising different community active members of these associations activities is among the basic tasks within engaged in the construction of the garden. the portfolio of the garden and the civic The public was informed through 81 Users would like to maintain the community garden and they would appreciate an expansion, but there has to be an interest from the public and the government. The positive message is that the government has given its approval to continue this community garden. Representatives of the Root NGO continue the vision of the Dietka NGO. Planting trees in autumn (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) organised workshops, meetings and GUIDANCE FOR events organised at the ZáZeMie BEGINNERS community garden via the garden’s Facebook profile. The garden has gained For other founders of community gardens numerous fans and followers, and even who are just getting started, the founders more volunteers who have shared in its of this garden recommend tapping into construction, even if in smaller the ample supply of active people and numbers. Volunteers from Embraco helpers, to combine forces with other Slovakia s.r.o., DM Drogerie and other active people, as this is absolutely crucial. volunteers who approached them Of course, it is also very important to have through the Ekopolis Foundation’s Our a good relationship with the local City (Naše mesto) Spišská Nová Ves government, because it can be beneficial project also helped build the community in many ways. The location of the garden. community garden is very important as well – it should be near houses, because BRIGHTER FUTURE residents can come to the garden, but it is also good to for it to be situated it in a As the founder says, in an ideal situation, green, calm, quiet area where people can the beds and cultivation would be relax. To avoid vandalism, they expanded, the biodiversity of the recommend a garden fence. cultivated crops would be increased, new elements would be added to the natural Unfortunately, there are still many young children’s playground and collaboration people who would rather destroy than with schools, kindergartens and create. The use of funding available in the conservation groups would be developed. form of grants by various foundations is The construction of an ecological centre, another good opportunity. There is also a a self-sufficient structure made of possibility that changes will occur: for natural materials and surrounded by a example, for family reasons when permaculture garden and an orchard for members simply no longer have time. The ecological education is the dream next major deficiencies can be the lack of scenario. communication with institutions in the city and the inability to retain and motivate volunteers. 82 ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The motivations of individual groups are different; for the founder of the garden, it is about engagement in volunteering, to show and teach people about permaculture, sustainability and building a community; for garden users, Summer gathering (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) it is about a place to spend their free time, be outdoors, learn new things during workshops and clean-up brigades, a place where the children of the growers are shown a fun way to volunteer without structured pressure. For some gardeners, gardening is one of the most rewarding activities and a hobby offering the wonderful feeling of growing your own food and socialising in a natural environment. The main reason for the local government to participate in a community garden was the feeling that it can help to create a space where residents of the city can relax and do what they like. 83 Friendship Garden / Градина за дружба In early 2017, a pioneer allotment garden was Sofia established in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. It is BULGARIA organized on municipal land and the municipality also provides water and security on the site. There are about 40 participants, including some representatives of the Target groups: city’s vulnerable groups, such as elderly people and an - decision makers: NGO working against poverty. There are jointly municipal officials developed simple rules and many common initiatives. - vulnerable groups: elderly The ambition of the participants is to attract many new people members and become an inspiration for other similar - stakeholders: young gardens in the city. Together with the local authorities, people; NGOs working with they also believe they can raise greater public vulnerable groups awareness about UPA and even make positive changes in the legislation. Contact: Nikola Bonchev, written by: +359 888 625665, Simana Markovska, facebook: Urban Farming - Association of South-Western Sofia Municipalities photo above: Garden theater (image credit: Nikola Bonchev) 84 TAKING THE FIRST The small community has access to a ploughing machine, which is brought to STEPS the spot when needed; everyone brings The initiator of this practice was a their own seeding material, but the young Bulgarian, Nikola Bonchev, who members help each other and there are went to university in Vienna. One of his also various organizations around Sofia fellow students there was researching offering free seeds. The land and water are the history of urban agriculture within used free of charge and there is even on the city walls and that was the first time site security, all provided by the Nikola heard the definition of UPA, back municipality as the land owner. in 2011. Upon his return to Sofia, he started a small garden in his backyard Although the idea came from Nikola, he and two seasons later came to the idea claims every decision about its of a larger communal garden, where development has been based on a bottom- everyone would work together and then up approach and agreed upon collectively take part in the distribution of the by the participants. He believes there is a produced goods. For two years, the real need for such initiatives in every big model was tested on an unused city and that is felt by a growing number of municipal lot in another quarter of people every day. The simple rules that Sofia; they operated it with the ‘silent guide the use of the garden were also consent’ of the municipality, until it developed collectively and approved by became clear that everybody wanted to voting. The very idea of having rules came take part in the work, but nobody after a TV interview with Nikola, where he showed up for the distribution of the was asked by the host how they were going produce; for this reason, it was to cope with a growing civil interest. distributed by the initiator to other people in need. In the beginning of 2017, And the interest is growing, especially they changed the model to an allotment thanks to the media coverage and the fact garden. that even now, the Friendship Garden is the only such garden in Sofia. 85% of the At present, there are 24 allotments with members joined last year after a about 40 participants, most of whom publication in the Capital Newspaper, are individuals, but some collective which is widely known as the media members have started to appear as well. dealing with the most serious topics For instance, one of the four newcomers nationally. In addition, the community in 2018 is a social NGO called Food Not organizes a lot of events for themselves Bombs that works in support of poor and other people that help promote the people. About 80% of the individual garden. participants are young people aged 25– 35 and the other 20% are elderly people above 60. 90% of the participants have a university education or higher. 85 EVERY SINGLE own hands and his main role in the maintenance of the garden includes PERSON MATTERS digging ditches for irrigation, but he performs other duties as well if the need The Friendship Garden is open to arises. everyone who accepts the rules and wishes to become a part of a special Tsveti Ivanova is on the opposite of the age family united by the idea of direct scale to Slavcho; she is one of the youngest democracy, improvement of the system (mid-20s) members of the Friendship and legislation and, of course, dedicated Garden community. She heard about the to the common cause of food production. garden at a Facebook event, where Nikola Nikola’s original idea was to specifically invited people to go and see what they had address the poor people in the city who been doing. Now, she has been here for are in a much more vulnerable position more than a year and is happy, because than the poor in the countryside and she likes to try new things. that idea still stands. For the moment, however, the represented vulnerable The role of Tsveti in the garden is like groups are mostly the elderly and the everyone else’s: to turn a piece of land that city families with small children, groups has never been processed into a piece of with generally below-average income. arable land. She started with the idea of growing strawberries as they are her The municipality’s role was providing favourite fruit. This year, she intends to the land for the garden via one of its expand the ‘assortment’ and thinks that public companies called Markets South; working in the nature can energize a so far, it has not asked for any rent. It person in a way that nothing else can. also provides onsite security by fencing the terrain and bringing guards. The Ivan Velkov is the Deputy-Chairperson of role of the members from the vulnerable the Municipal Council at Stolichna groups was and is to take equal part in Municipality of the city of Sofia, where the every step of the garden’s development, Friendship Garden is located. He came including making decisions about its across this good practice at the start of his future. mandate, when he had to review the Green Projects Municipal Programme meant to One representative of a vulnerable support various initiatives of citizens and group (elderly people) participating in organizations. He has been trying to the Friendship Garden community is support the cause in every way he can for Slavcho Todorov. He joined the project more than 18 months now (March 2018). last spring with great enthusiasm as he had been expecting the emergence of In the summer of 2017, the activists of the such an initiative for many years. organization Food Not Bombs (FNB) His expectations were related mostly to working against inequality and for social the production of healthy food with his justice decided to look for new ways of involving vulnerable people in community 86 would guarantee the long-term use of the land by the members. Slavcho thinks the practice is good, as it gives everyone who loves nature and agriculture, but lives in a city, the chance to hold a shovel instead of a TV remote control in their hands. Thus it brings together all sorts of different people. Same goes for Tsveti: she also sees the A hat full of city food (image credit: Nikola Bonchev) garden as an opportunity to teach our children where real food comes from. life in addition to their traditional Slavcho sees a chance for improvement in common cooking and sharing of food. technical issues, like for example securing They heard good things about the running water all year round, as otherwise Friendship Garden from various sources, it is very difficult for everybody, while so they invited its representatives to the Tsveti thinks only the promotion needs to first Vegan Festival of Solidarity in Sofia be improved. (in December 2017) and thus started a constructive cooperation. From the point of view of a municipal Activists of the FNB see their role in official, Ivan believes that the Friendship maintaining the garden in working Garden is a good practice, because it equally with everybody else: digging, succeeds in spite of the not-very-friendly irrigating, logistical work and exchange environment, which includes of knowledge useful to all members. They unfavourable legislation and limited expect to participate directly in the administrative support. He thinks that the decision-making about the management legislative base can be improved in the of the garden, including the publicizing short term and that the inclusion of UPA of support needs, the recruitment of and the Friendship Garden in particular volunteers etc. in various municipal programmes could help the members and citizens in general. SECRET In the long term, he sees support in the form of fiscal stimuli for such practices, INGREDIENTS including tax reductions and similar. Nikola believes this practice is good because it is a real bottom-up initiative In the opinion of Food Not Bombs, UPA and everything is made by the people and should be a part of every self-respecting for the people. The members love the city. Its development helps the community freedom to be able to do what they wish, come together and develop habits that are provided no common rules are broken useful for the maintenance of the social nor any of the other members disturbed. and ecological balance. Improvement is Improvement could come through better related to the attitude of institutions, infrastructure and the signing of a proper which should work more closely with the contract with the Municipality, which 87 active people willing to achieve Standing at the other end of this public something good. It is a general opinion communication line, Ivan as a that the Friendship Garden community representative of local authorities also has done miracles with a formerly thinks that the ties should be intensified. abandoned and empty space, where life He sees the Friendship Garden as an now thrives, people work with example of how UPA can bring real change enthusiasm and it is all visible from the to vulnerable groups, especially the young achieved results. ones being part of a minority or another marginalized group or having some sort of special needs. Ivan also believes the PARTICIPATORY garden is a wonderful place for elderly ASPECTS people, since it is a cross-point for communication, exchange of experience As a representative of a vulnerable and knowledge, and—after all— group participating in this practice, friendship. Slavcho sees no reason to feel unsatisfied with how he is being Ivan himself has not faced any obstacles in included in the community. First of all, his work and contacts with the Friendship they have a Facebook group where Garden; he is afraid that its members everyone can share and find information might lose motivation and enthusiasm as they believe would be useful and time goes by if the economic and social interesting for others and can easily environment does not change gradually. communicate with the group. Secondly, He believes that those levels of active decisions are taken by all the members citizenship might be supported if other together and everyone feels free to similar examples started to appear. Ivan is express any opinion they have. For working actively at the level of the Tsveti, good communication and mutual Municipal Council with the new support have been of vital importance, as management team of the Markets South she admits to have been fully ignorant of municipal company to solve the problem agriculture when she started. with the long-term contract for the land; he hopes that the solution will be found Another aspect is the involvement of the soon. local municipality, where the whole community thinks that a more active The Food Not Bombs organization approach will be of mutual benefit. communicates in solidarity with people Slavcho sees no other barriers in with mental disabilities, the homeless, participating other than the long elderly people with very low income, distance he has to travel twice a week people with limited mobility. The between his home and the garden (more members of the group communicate than 15 km by public transport). His wish directly with people on the streets, sharing is that more initiatives like that were food and talk. To boost a participatory available all around the city. process, FNB uses the personal example, 88 everyone feels welcome at any time. Last but not least, he intends to offer more events with a social orientation. Being a representative of the group of elderly people, Slavcho believes that a brighter future for the Friendship Garden can be secured only if local authorities take a more proactive approach, which Summer in the Friendship Garden (image credit: Dobrin Minkov) might even include the securing of funds for development from various financing the free conversation at every cooking programmes. At the same time, as a young event, the sharing of food, information person, Tsveti thinks that more people will brochures and posters, showing special surely join, but it will be a slow process, as movies and keeping personal contact many prefer to take a walk in the park in with every individual. their free time instead of digging for a small production. FNB faces barriers every day, which are discussed at weekly meetings and Ivan from the Stolichna Municipality solutions are found jointly. Examples of Council sees the future of this practice as a such barriers are the public opinion and part of a larger-scale project for the attitude, the climatic conditions, the development of the city as a real European meeting sites, the danger of attracting capital, where sustainability, people who actually do not share the environmental issues and social inclusion values of the community and especially are considered on a daily basis. the fundamental principles of mutual support, non-discrimination etc. The According to the FNB, after the number of organization finds the rules of the such gardens increases and sustainability Friendship Garden just and fair, as they is reached, every citizen would be able to were approved by every participant act locally in their own neighbourhood. In using the principle of the horizontal this way, citizens would carry greater structure. responsibility for the prevention and eradication of social injustice and the BRIGHTER FUTURE unification of society in the name of good causes. The future, according to Nikola, is directly related to the signing of a long- term contract with the municipality for the use of the land. He also expects more members to join, as the garden can offer up to 10,000 sq. m., and now only 4,000 are used due to the lack of people who would like to garden. He hopes that the garden develops into a place where 89 GUIDANCE FOR In addition, there is the social aspect for him, meeting different people, learning BEGINNERS from them and hoping that they learn from him, too. Tsveti defines her work in To any beginner who wishes to start a the garden as an “anti-stress therapy with similar good practice, Nikola would added value” (her strawberries). recommend to first talk to someone like the Friendship Garden members and Ivan’s personal motivation to get involved then find friends and supporters, with this practice is related mostly to his because there is a lot of hard work to be desire to develop Bulgarian cities in a done. Nikola himself came to the modern way and to provide urban municipal officers through a friend and Bulgarians with the opportunity to not colleague of his, but the first contact lose their roots, which were primarily with public authorities could also be based on agriculture. formal through the use of official channels. Ivan adds that the beginners FNB’s goals include educational elements should first and most of all arm and a healthy lifestyle by working with themselves with patience and insistence. the land, but also constructive activities The FNB members’ advice includes together with, instead of simply for, the immediate action without second people in a vulnerable position. They thought, perseverance and hard work in believe some of their goals have already spite of all the difficulties, plus been achieved by contacting and networking without the loss of interacting with the Friendship Garden, independence or a compromise on the but they are aware that such places will be basic values. more and more needed all over the city and that everybody needs to learn from ONE PERSON CAN others while pursuing their personal aims. CHANGE THE WORLD Nikola believes that such initiatives are a way to show people that things can depend on them and not on someone who is too far or too busy with other things. To Slavcho, the garden brings aesthetic pleasure, the joy of producing something with his own hands, the chance to maintain a good physical shape A space for all ages (image credit: Nikola Bonchev) and the energy he draws from interacting with the land. 90 StadtAcker Munich GERMANY One of the most recent urban gardening projects in Target groups: Munich, the StadtAcker, is part of a wider - decision makers: neighbourhood initiative in one of Munich’s larger Municipality urban housing projects. It is open to different groups - vulnerable groups: the and follows the approach of a true community garden whole international with communally cultivated beds. The project stems neighbourhood from a bottom-up initiative, but its formalisation - other stakeholders: the allowed the municipality to get involved and provide neighbourhood association financial and infrastructural support. After a year of Ackermannbogen e.V. operation, the first experiences are promising and the garden is perceived as a valuable and long-term feature of the neighbourhood. written by: Florian Lintzmeyer, ifuplan photo above: StadtAcker garden with storage hut (image credit: ifuplan) 91 intercultural openness and inclusion, the TAKING THE FIRST gardening project is explicitly intended to STEPS address and involve residents. The planning process started in 2011 as The rules and usage conditions of the part of the wider neighbourhood StadtAcker community garden were initiative Ackermannbogen e.V., located defined through speakers of the different in the newly developed residential gardening groups in close cooperation neighbourhood Ackermannbogen. Due with the sponsoring organisation, the to a lack of access to a suitable plot, the Ackermannbogen e.V. neighbourhood initiative organised decentralised initiative, which is open for membership gardening activities in the for an annual fee of EUR 50. Any necessary neighbourhood, some of them also adaptation of the rules and conditions is mobile, to raise awareness for the idea of always discussed and decided within this a local community garden. group. Furthermore, all rules have to be in line with the conditions set out by the land The initiative for the garden came from owner, the Municipality of Munich. the Ackermannbogen e.V. association, which, according to its charter, is EVERY SINGLE PERSON dedicated to the promotion of local civic engagement for the public good and the MATTERS establishment of local facilities that promote networking. Community The main target group of the community gardening is an activity that neatly are residents of the Ackermannbogen combines several of these objectives. neighbourhood. Apart from them, the In general, it was a bottom-up process, StadtAcker is open to anybody who is which is also illustrated by the fact that interested. As a socio-cultural the initiative had to wait until 2017 to neighbourhood initiative, groups that are finally have been allocated a gardening experiencing specific difficulties with plot on a lease-basis by the Municipality participating in an urban society, of Munich on municipal property. It characterised by increasing polarisation required the coordination of individual and marginalisation, are particularly residents through the exemplarily welcome. managed neighbourhood initiative and its respective thematic background in In the initial stage (2011), the municipality participation methods and processes. together with the neighbourhood initiative carried out a scenario workshop, followed The main goal was to establish an open by a bidding competition for the space for learning and cooperation in establishment of the urban green area, the Ackermannbogen neighbourhood. where the garden was supposed to be Gardening is a low-threshold activity to located. In the course of the establishment bring people together in the of the garden, the municipality and city neighbourhood. In the sense of administration supported the StadtAcker initiative by providing the necessary 92 infrastructure (storage facility, well, and resources to the initiative. fencing). After this intensive engagement The StadtAcker creates benefits for social on behalf of the city administration in cohesion, strengthens the residents’ sense the initial stage, its current involvement of belonging as well as brings people is limited to that of the land owner together through networking. The charging a limited rent. The initiative is too small to create economic Ackermannbogen association acts as benefits or to draw tourists. However, as a contract partner for the lease good practice example of supra-local arrangement and bears liability risks as relevance, it is drawing the attention of the supporting organisation. Gardeners expert groups in the field of urban and contribute their knowledge of different community gardening. gardening practices and plant varieties. In the words of one representative, their Users of the garden appreciate its expectation is to learn something new openness, irrespective of whether one and to make friends in the wants to garden or just relax and hang out. neighbourhood. Working in the garden The garden is perceived as a meeting point gives participants a lot of opportunities in the neighbourhood where some activity for small talk and is also a lot of fun for is always going on. the gardeners’ children. The city administration is underlining the fact that the project has been proven to SECRET INGREDIENTS work and is well-received among residents. However, the existence of a The Ackermannbogen housing contracting body is quintessential, development is a flagship project for otherwise the city would not lease the environmentally responsible and land. socially inclusive urban development of the City of Munich. Therefore, Ways for improvement include even more neighbourhood initiatives such as the diversity in the garden and more exchange Ackermannbogen e.V. association and between different user groups. socio-ecological projects such as the StadtAcker receive support from the City PARTICIPATORY of Munich. The Department of Cultural Affairs contributes funding to the ASPECTS association for its services in promoting and coordinating neighbourhood According to the gardeners, participation activities. In short: in a counter-flow is ensured on a broad basis in the form of process, the neighbourhood initiative members’ meetings, different offers, addresses basic principles of the overall formats and gardening groups and there is urban development strategy of the City little need for improvements. The of Munich (Stadtentwicklungskonzept association follows the concept of Perspektive München), which in turn “neighbourhood-oriented residential allows the municipality to allocate land organising” (Quartierbezogene Bewohnerarbeit) of the City of Munich. 93 Every member of the StadtAcker initiative land owners as early as possible and to is invited to meetings and it is up to each team up with people who are engaged and individual to get involved. There have stick with the idea from the concept to the been no obstacles yet to participate in the realisation. garden. Municipalities are crucial because they BRIGHTER FUTURE can provide assistance and resources to initiatives that cannot sustain their After the first gardening season in 2017, projects based solely on volunteering. the initiators are positive that the Access to land, including the conditions in StadtAcker works: not only in a regard to lease arrangements and time- gardening sense, but also as a platform frame, is elementary for every gardening for knowledge exchange and community. initiative, which makes land owners The gardeners are also convinced that crucial stakeholders. The most important the project is being appreciated precondition for the city administration is throughout the neighbourhood; they a reliable contact; in this case the expect that many more will join in the registered Ackermannbogen e.V. future and that the StadtAcker is here to association. Without a contractual stay. The city administration also arrangement, the project would not have emphasizes the long-term lease received support from the municipality. arrangement for the garden. As long as no problems arise, the garden use is secured for probably several decades. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The stakeholders are therefore truly optimistic that the StadtAcker According to StadtAcker organizers, community garden will continue to community gardens are an illustrative strengthen the neighbourhood on a example that, for neighbourhoods to permanent basis. The project is a flourish, it takes people willing to constant learning process, so the cooperate and contribute beyond their StadtAcker can be imagined as an individual interest for the common initiator and a platform for more social, development of their residential ecological and cultural activities in the surroundings. Community gardens can be neighbourhood that cannot be exactly an interface between local and personal foreseen yet. engagement and the broader interest of strengthening the public interest and GUIDANCE FOR welfare on a city level. BEGINNERS For gardeners, the motivation was to grow The initiators underline the importance something by themselves, to learn and to of creating an attractive vision that get to know other residents of the inspires others to involve crucial neighbourhood. Working in the garden is stakeholders, such as municipalities and simply perceived as an enjoyable pastime. 94 Beyond that, it broadens horizons with respect to the source of food and organic agriculture. These issues need to be discussed more and community gardens such as the StadtAcker are one such place to start. Art installation at the StadtAcker (image credit: ifuplan) 95 Community garden Vidimova / Komunitní zahrada Vidimova The Vidimova community garden is located in Prague 11 and is operated by the Kokoza non- Prague governmental organization. This NGO is focused on CZECH REPUBLIC community gardening and composting in Prague. The Vidimova garden unites about a hundred Target groups: gardeners who are also community members. Each - decision makers: of them rents out a certain number of garden beds Municipality of Prague 11, for one season, grows the plants, takes care of the Municipality of Prague common garden beds and organizes the community (magistrát), NGO Kokoza activities. The garden coordinator is Ms. Černá, who - vulnerable groups: mothers is in charge of all the joint activities. Apart from the with children, people with gardeners from local neighbourhood community, mental health problems there is also a group of permanent helpers. Those - other stakeholders: families are people who are recovering from mental and young couples, NGO disorders. One of the goals is to reintegrate these . Kokoza and coordinators people into society by engaging them in various workshops and activities. Contact: written by: Anna Černá anicka@kokoza.cz Barbora Kvačková, Municipality Prague 9 photo above: the whole premises of the garden (image credit: Anna Černá) 96 works in the garden, e.g. cutting the grass or trimming the bushes. The Kokoza NGO and the community of gardeners organize workshops, seminars and events in the garden, which are not necessarily connected with gardening and not only for members. In addition, there is a special event every spring when the garden opens its imaginary gates and Kids working on the garden beds with strawberries (image credit: Anna Černá) everybody greets the start of the season. The Vidimova community garden is Similarly, they close the gates in autumn, located in Prague 11. It lies on the saying farewell to the gardening season. grounds of the Prague 11 town hall. It is in Both events are complemented by an the middle of block housing estates, interesting programme for children. which is why most of the surface of the Everybody who likes urban gardening and garden is solid. green cities is more than welcome. Kokoza is a non-governmental At Vidimova, all members work towards organization focused on composting and improving the garden: new plants are gardening in cities in the Czech Republic. added each year. The community keeps The Kokoza NGO founded the Vidimova improving the utility rooms as well. In garden in 2013 as their second 2016, Kokoza equipped the garden not community garden. Here, 45 families only with new raised garden beds, but from the near surroundings grow plants also with a new playground for kids on 50 garden beds. The Vidimova garden (swing, sandpit, muddy kitchen). They was supposed to be an illustration of how also replenished the basic equipment urban gardening and composting work. It used for maintenance (ladder, barrels for is open for relaxation, sharing and water, hosepipe, notice boards and drill). meeting of neighbours, people from near- by and more distant surroundings. There is a growing interest in bio-waste composting in Prague 11. That is why the Ms. Anna Černá has been the coordinator coordinators had to expand the compost of the garden since 2016. She regularly heap in 2017. From then on, there has meets with all the members of the been a special composting toilet in the community garden and introduces garden. This means the garden is almost newcomers. Ms. Černá also organizes all waste-free. the workshops and public events. She is the main intermediary between the The Vidimova garden was originally members of the community garden and designed as a garden for social the Kokoza NGO and gets a monthly integration. People experiencing mental salary for managing the garden from disorders regularly participate in the Kokoza. She coordinates the common 97 garden activities. Gardeners in the 45 families so far. This means that around a community are aware that some of hundred people are currently involved in Kokoza’s employees are people who the gardening. have overcome mental difficulties. They meet during work in the garden and The rules of the garden for members are people with mental problems not written down, but are transmitted are included into the community as verbally. Ms. Černá oversees everyone equal members. Coordinators also complying with the rules. The rules are as invite people who have recovered from follows: look after your kids; clean up after mental disorders to attend public your kids; clean up after your dog; clean events in the garden, so that they have up after the campfire you make; clean up the possibility to participate in after your work in the garden; do not everyday life. Afterwards, people from harvest anybody else’s fruits (each member different social environments meet and has their own garden bed, there are also exchange pie recipes or young plants. common garden beds for herbs), conserve water, water each other’s plants when The financial help for the development necessary. These rules are not definite and of the garden through special grants the community is still developing them. was provided by T-Mobile and the The stakeholders of the Vidimova garden Prague 11 town hall. are families of the nearby surroundings, the elderly, young couples, mothers with children, employees of Kokoza, people who TAKING THE FIRST have experienced mental health problems STEPS and coordinators. The general idea is that the garden is open to everyone who wants The Kokoza NGO needed a place where to participate. they could show and present community gardening, composting and outdoor workshops. They found an EVERY SINGLE PERSON empty plot of land, signed a contract MATTERS with the Prague 11 town hall and rented it as an outdoor base. This means the This garden is dedicated mainly to families Vidimova community garden is an and mothers with children. Nonetheless, example of the bottom-up approach. one social grant was granted to employ people who have experienced mental The establishment of the Vidimova disorders, so they also participate. They are garden was publicly promoted in “Klíč”, employed by the Kokoza NGO. The idea is to the magazine of Prague 11 and in the reintegrate them into society through the nearby library. During the first year, activities in the garden. There are currently nine gardeners were involved. They had five people with mental health problems to grow their plants in temporary bags, working in the Vidimova community because they had no elevated garden garden. They do not have their own garden beds yet. Within five years, the garden beds, but work on the garden beds with the gained in popularity and has welcomed shared plants and help with the general 98 maintenance or construct the wooden beds. In the summer, during the hot days, garden beds. they like to spend time in the garden under the cherry tree and the kids in the small As a representative of the decision- children's pool. Since many of those makers, we interviewed Ing. Helena mothers live close to the garden, going Křovinová, who works at the Prague 11 there is very handy. They can help each Town hall in the office of the secretary. other on very short notice and bring The municipality of Prague 11 gave supplies. Kokoza the space to use for a symbolic amount of money. The municipality In order to learn more about one of the provides the garden some small vulnerable groups (young mothers), we financial support. Due to the fact that contacted Ms. Břízová. She is a young the garden is situated right next to the mother and a member of the Vidimova town hall, the decision-makers community garden. demanded that Kokoza signed an agreement with certain conditions on Ms. Černá and Ms. Břízová are currently using the garden. These conditions are discussing how to make the garden even as follows: Organizing events in the better. They are looking for places and new garden is not allowed on Mondays and plants they want to grow. If necessary, Ms. Wednesdays (office hours). In addition, Břízová can step in for Ms. Černá at some gardeners should not loiter in the events, e.g. “Community Days”. She also immediate proximity of the windows. informs any new interested people on how Also, the garden must be kept tidy.” the garden works. Moreover, she helps Ms. Černá with the preparation and Families and mothers with children organization of the events and workshops. appreciate this garden, mainly because All of this proves that Ms. Břízová feels a it represents a place where they have part of the community and belongs to its their piece of land to grow anything most active members. In fact, she officially they want. It is up to them to make use became a part of the coordinating group in of that entrusted land. Many pregnant 2018. women and mothers with children are very happy to have a place to relax and The participation of the decision-makers garden so close to their home. Mothers started after the Kokoza NGO contacted the are also very pleased that the garden Prague 11 municipality and expressed its can keep developing according to their interest in renting the grounds next to the imagination. town hall building. Authorities in the town hall agreed and from then on, they have As a benefit, mothers believe that the acted only as the provider of the grounds. kids like to actively participate in Despite their proximity, there is no deeper gardening. Furthermore, families have a cooperation between the Kokoza NGO and small source of good fruit and the municipality authorities and they do vegetables from their own garden bed not participate in the garden activities. and herbs from the common garden 99 time together doing many different activities. The members of the garden perceive it as a place where they can gain a special kind of knowledge. This garden functions well, because the members have grown closer after some time and they have created a real community. People who met at the garden later became friends and also meet outside the garden now. Gardens are a wonderful playground for kids (image credit: Anna Černá) It is very important for people with mental health problems to get to know the As a representative of the stakeholders place of integration and the people they and also the vulnerable group (people will socialize with very well. Since they who have recovered from a mental feel good and comfortable in the illness), Ondřej Rynda answered my community, they can visit public events in questions. He is not only working for the the garden and be further integrated. Kokoza NGO as a member of the Despite their mental difficulties, they “Integration workshop” (working with sometimes even visit the events for the people who have recovered from mental wider public. illness), but he has also co-founded another community garden – Kuchyňka. Representatives of the vulnerable group think that the Vidimova community He decided to participate in urban garden is a great option for anyone who gardening in 2012, when he started wants to have their own garden at the thinking about establishing his own block housing estates and also a place for community garden. In the end, he joined spending time meaningfully. It is also very the Kuchyňka community garden as well comfortable to have some basic facilities, as Kokoza later on. His main motivation like a kitchen and a toilet. The members for the participation was growing food from the housing estates perceive the in a responsible way. Furthermore, he Vidimova community garden as an ideal, wanted to eat healthy, unfrozen fruit partially private relaxing zone. It has without using any chemical fertilizers or brought the notion to some people who pesticides. At Kokoza, he is in charge of had been unfamiliar with gardening that the integration workshop for people it is necessary to care for plants and gives who have recovered from mental them opportunity to learn something new. disorders. Ms. Černá would like to hand over more SECRET responsibilities for running the garden to INGREDIENTS other active members. This could unite the community and result in closer The Vidimova community garden is a place where neighbours meet and spend 100 relations among the community garden coordinator. She evaluates the members. She also thinks that the participatory system in the garden as very financial situation should be more stable good, and also as evolving gradually. than it is now, because membership fees are not high enough to maintain the At the beginning, Kokoza was inspired by garden financially. In her opinion, it the idea promoted by Green Doors. This would be reasonable to look for other non-governmental organization helps financial resources. people with mental disorders on their way back to establishing a working routine. At Vidimova, there is enough basic The point is to support people to gardening equipment in the garden, but it overcome the crisis caused by the mental is quite worn out. Even though the illness and encourage them to handle gardeners buy the seeds and small plants working load/strain. at their own expense, the garden would need a better funding. The professional experience of working with people with mental disorders came The decision-makers mostly care that the from one of the founders of Kokoza, Lucie property is well maintained and clean. Matoušková Lankašová. She brought this Some of the windows from the town hall know-how into Kokoza, as she had face the garden, so if there is any type of extensive experience with social work clutter, it is very visible. In the summer, from her previous activities. She became the noise from the garden can be the head of the integration workshop and occasionally distracting. As a result, the she works as a specialized supervisor. Mr. operator of the garden, the Kokoza NGO, Rynda works as an assistant and he is faces constant uncertainty over the responsible for guiding the group in the garden’s existence. garden during the work. The Vidimova garden could stabilize its Kokoza uses the participative approach position by involving employees from the when organizing workshops, joint part- town hall into the community, showing time jobs and garden parties. They use the the good sides of the garden. If the town Vidimova garden as a training working hall employees employees participate in place. The events and public workshops the garden, this may prevent any are convenient for people with mental unexpected termination of the land lease disorders to integrate into society without agreement. much pressure. PARTICIPATORY The garden users so far have not felt any barriers hindering their participation. Ms. ASPECTS Černá thinks the integration of people who have recovered from mental illness As the representative of a vulnerable happens through working in the garden group (young mothers), ms. Břízová is rather than through social events. In a convinced that the participation process depends on the communication with the 101 wider perspective she detects some The community should take over the barriers in the communication within initiative from Kokoza and organize more the community. People are generally events and community meetings without afraid to make the first move and incentives from the operator. People in introduce themselves after joining the the community should take over the garden. This problem emerged when responsibility of running the community several members entered the community garden. at once. BRIGHTER FUTURE GUIDANCE FOR BEGINNERS The representatives and initiators of the garden see the future very realistically. The organizers recommend the following They are afraid they will lose the land “Ten Commandments of a Gardener”, that belongs to the Prague 11 town hall. presented by the Kokoza NGO. These are: Decision-makers from the town hall 1. find the place, 2. find the people, 3. confirm this as a justified fear. However, cooperate with them, 4. invite the they also agree that the community in the neighbours, 5. no garden without a garden has developed well and that they compost heap, 6. one tomato is not a are happy that people are more failure, 7. educate yourself, 8. the first interested in gardening. The future of the step is to be self-sufficient, 9. count it up, garden also depends on further steps of 10. inspire others. The main the Kokoza NGO, the official operator of recommendation coming from the the Vidimova community garden. decision-makers is to avoid selecting an unsuitable space for the garden and find According to the community members, out in advance what are the intentions of the number of people interested in urban the owner of the land in the future. The gardening is constantly increasing. gardeners recommend establishing a People are more interested in what they coordination group within the eat and like to spend their free time community that will take care of the actively. The community members are administration and organization of the convinced that the Vidimova community community garden. They suggest that it garden will grow and that it will be even is also practical to hire a coordinator who more popular in the future. The decision- will get monthly salary. They share ms. makers point out that the future of the Černá’s opinion and emphasize how garden will also depend on the new important it is to find people who are as political representation after the enthusiastic about the garden as they are. municipality elections in October 2018. The gardeners add that the community that has developed through the years should grow closer and that the members should be more united. 102 ONE PERSON CAN improving the approach of the society towards the land. CHANGE THE WORLD The gardeners point out that achieving There were several reasons why Ms. Černá the goals for the garden is a long run got involved in this good practice: not thing, but the community is heading in only meeting more people who have the the right direction. same goals and desires, but it was also important for her as a mother to get the children involved in gardening. Kids help her in the garden and at the same time learn how natural cycles work, which is good for their personal development. The reason why most members decided to join the community garden is that they do not have any space for gardening or relaxing at home. Almost all the members Garden beds are true masterpieces (image credit: Anna Černá) live in the block of flats surrounding the garden. The community members need to invest time and energy into some projects of their own. Most of the mothers at the Vidimova community consider gardening a part of their life and they cannot imagine life without it. They appreciate that kids can play around safely and they do not have to watch over them. The mums know that the kids are safe and they can focus on their gardening. Ms. Křovinová as the decision-maker took charge of the communication with Kokoza when the garden was established. It became one of her responsibilities as an employee of the secretary’s office. It seems that the main goal of the decision- makers in the case of the Vidimova garden is to improve the relationships and communication with the NGO. For Mr. Rynda, the motivation to get involved in the Vidimova garden was mainly about food self-sufficiency and 103 Kuchyňka Garden / KZ Kuchyňka Prague KZ Kuchyňka is a community garden in the municipal CZECH REPUBLIC district of Prague 8. Roughly 3000 m2 of land offers a unique microclimate and a flora of a former vineyard, orchard and a garden colony with wide terraces Target groups: overlooking Prague. The garden was established by - decision makers: Kateřina the merger of lands after the defunct garden colony Janatová that had been dilapidating for many years closed. - vulnerable groups: low- Instead of this ramshackle garden colony, the income families, single willingness and support of the landowners and a mothers, elderly, students group of enthusiasts in gardening created a beautiful - other stakeholders: outdoor area for leisure time activities. At the same commuters, NGOs, KomPot, time, the garden serves as a meeting place. person in charge for the garden written by: Kateřina Janatová, Contact: European Development Jarmila Kostiuková, 608 850 Agency 917, kzkuchynka@gmail.com photo above: Kuchyňka (image credit: Kateřina Janatová) 104 TAKING THE FIRST Her inspiration was so strong that she decided to reach out to one of KomPot’s STEPS founders, who supported her idea and helped her establish a civic association to The community garden is situated on a join forces and start reconstructing the slope in the territory of Prague 8 and is abandoned garden colony. The bottom-up run by the KZ Kuchyňka association. approach was used in the case of the In the past, a gardening colony stood on establishment of KZ Kuchyňka. the location of today’s garden. Most of the gardens were confiscated during the As for the financing, the landowner communist occupation and the provided the initial investment. Currently, nationalization process. After the fall of the community garden is funded by the communist regime, the gardens were annual contributions of the community once again returned to private ownership. members. Moreover, it gained two grants However, the previous gardeners started from different NGOs. The rules concerning getting older and their children did not the functioning of the community garden want to take over from them. Therefore, are set by all members at the community’s the garden colony began gradually general meetings. However, there is also a overgrowing and disappearing. As a coordination group that helps lead the result, a lot of homeless people and entire community in the right direction. junkies began settling there. After that, they started destroying the lands, stealing The main reason why the community and the area has been experiencing garden was established was the spacious increasing disorder. unused space ideal for growing crops and plants. This was supported by local Fortunately, a woman, one of the residents, who were interested in landowners, came up with an idea of gardening and wanted a place where they getting involved in a social project could meet each other. Furthermore, there specified for marginalized groups that were a local mothers’ club and forest would allow them to work in the gardens kindergarten and the consequent idea was in exchange for a wage. However, these to connect the emerging community people did not take the advantage of this garden with these two organizations. The opportunity and refused to work. Hence, garden is beneficial to both people and the project was forced to finish nature, because the land is cultivated and prematurely. not overgrown with bushes anymore. Despite the fact that this attempt failed, the lady came up with another idea. She was inspired by a community association EVERY SINGLE called KomPot (which means community food), also situated in Prague, and wanted PERSON MATTERS to rebuild this unused space into a community garden for local residents. Citizens of the municipal district of Prague 8 were considered as the main target 105 group. Predominantly low-income the same time the members of the local families, single mothers, the elderly and community. students living in local dormitories were addressed. Members of the community The role of the local community is garden also include commuters from maintaining the community, improving other districts in Prague. relationships within the community and Among the interested stakeholders of the beyond and beautifying the garden. The garden are members of the local most important factor is the main community, the municipal district of gardener living on the garden’s parcel of Prague 8, two different NGOs that land, who takes care of the garden every provided two grants to the garden and the day. He is a part-time employee of the KomPot non-profit association, which garden, employed by the KZ Kuchyňka supported and helped Kuchyňka in the association. The member’s expectations process of establishing the garden. were different and have been successfully fulfilled. The primary reason why most of The engagement process of the local the people participate in the community community members was very similar to garden is that they want to garden, spend the snowball effect. Landowners were their leisure time outdoors, meet new addressing their neighbours and friends, people or just escape the city for nature. who then started addressing others up to the point when the community could not accept any more members due to the SECRET INGREDIENTS limited space of the garden. Currently, the local community has approximately 30 KZ Kuchyňka is a good practice example, members, which is optimal. Not everyone since it offers the possibility to create joined the local community at the same tended nature and harvest its fruits. Not time, but it took less than two years for the only community members, but also the community to reach this number. Another general public can meaningfully spend advantage is that anyone can be a member their free time in Kuchyňka while of the community, as there are no entry attending various events, workshops and criteria. However, the space is truly meetings especially focused on vegetable limiting and therefore the community or fruit sowing, planting shrubs or cannot accept new members at this time. building small wooden buildings. Everything is decided together at general Kuchyňka is not limited to gardening, but meetings once a month. Nevertheless, it is aims to strengthen neighbourly and necessary to coordinate the five-member intergenerational relationships, provide group. They are responsible for the entertainment and help people have financing, communication or coordination access to local food. of the garden and are elected by the local community members in general meetings The garden also provides the space for every two years. It means that the the forest kindergarten and the mothers’ members of the coordination group are at club, whose children can learn to garden and identify different crops, plants or 106 income families, single mothers, the elderly and students) who are not also members of the coordination group are satisfied with the extent of their participation. The extent is sufficient for them, because they consider the garden as a place for their leisure time, where they do not want to argue with anyone. Furthermore, all the members can Community Garden on Slope always say when they need or want (image credit: Kateřina Janatová) something. animals. Moreover, KZ Kuchyňka in cooperation with the Association of Local So far, the community and the garden Food Initiatives provides schools or other have not encountered any serious groups the option of work-educational problems or obstacles. The only excursions to the garden, the bee house or complication that occurs here is the lack to the orchard. of time for some community members, but it is partly solved by the daily work of So far, the community garden has been the employed gardener. running very well. Naturally, some improvements are needed, because the BRIGHTER FUTURE garden is still in the process of creation. A positive effect was the main gardener’s All the stakeholders included in this move directly to the garden plot. He works good practice see the future of the there every day and oversees the garden community garden very positively. They as often as possible, especially during the hope that the garden with its functioning summer months. Members do not have community will be there for a long time enough time to be in the garden daily, and will continue to grow. The only therefore, they visit the garden mainly on concern is what is going to happen when the weekends, which is not enough for its the gardener moves out of the garden’s regular upkeep. parcel. Obviously, somebody will have to replace him because the community PARTICIPATORY alone is not capable of taking care of it. ASPECTS GUIDANCE FOR The community members, decision- BEGINNERS makers and representatives were involved in the entire process of the establishment A lot of things need to be arranged for of the garden and their engagement still establishing a community garden: persists. Everyone can attend the general finding a suitable place, addressing the meetings, where current matters are interested stakeholders, creating the discussed and jointly decided. community and strengthening relations Members of the local community (low- with the local government. 107 However, the most important thing is the functioning community with plenty of members. Without the community, a garden cannot bring different people together. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The greatest motivation of everyone involved is their love for gardening, which contributes to their personal satisfaction. Community gardening gives families and individuals without their own land the opportunity to produce food and is also a place for sharing knowledge and skills. It Important part of the garden gives access to fresh, traditionally (image credit: Kateřina Janatová) produced and nutritionally rich foods. Moreover, it provides a place to retreat from the noise and commotion of urban environments. This community garden also offers opportunities for the employment, education, and entrepreneurship of a variety of people, including students, recent immigrants and homeless people. While vacant plots can be magnets for litter and criminal activity, community gardens are overseen and managed by gardeners, resulting in a cleaner space and more active local community. 108 Krasnansky garden / Krasňanský zelovoc The Krasňanský zelovoc community garden is the first Bratislava community garden in Bratislava. It was established in SLOVAKIA 2012 by the Ráčik NGO and is situated in a neighbourhood with apartment buildings. It has 27 Target groups: individual plots where families with their children - decision makers: grow their own fruits and vegetables. Every year, the representatives of local founders of the garden organise events, where users of government the garden sell their homegrown produce. - vulnerable groups: mothers with children, written by: elderly people Lucia Vačoková and Eva Mihová, - other stakeholders: ENVICORP Slovakia residents of apartment building nearby Contact: http://www.krasnanskyzelovoc.sk/ photo above: Children love to help in the garden (image credit: ENVICORP 109 Slovakia) Before work on the project began, the president of the Ráčik civic association published a notice of the plan to implement the community garden in Krasňany at the Ráčik community centre in plain sight to all its visitors. Other future gardeners were contacted via email and were provided with more details on the community garden project. The idea behind the project The final realization of community garden in 2013 (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) attracted so much interest that users signed up for all the garden plots before TAKING THE FIRST the garden was even constructed. Gardeners applied by stating their STEPS interest for the plot via e-mail. The The establishment of a community garden founder of the garden made a list of the was initiated by the president of the Ráčik first 27 future gardeners. civic association, which operates a community centre in the Krasňany He then organised a meeting, where they neighbourhood in the Rača borough of participated in planning the garden. The Bratislava. The community garden was garden covers approx. 650 m2 and has a established on an unused land near a total of 27 plots, where families can grow former medical facility located on their fresh fruits and vegetables. They Hubeného Street, directly beneath the share tools, compost, crops, facilities etc. windows of the apartment buildings in the The raised beds measure 12 m2 each and neighbourhood. The president of the the growing bags around 3 m2. The association wanted to give residents from garden users grow fruits and vegetables the local neighbourhood the ability to in raised beds and growing bags, which grow their own healthy fruits and is becoming an ever more popular trend. vegetables near their own homes. They are completely mobile, which means they can be moved when needed The SPP Foundation together with and can be tended without the gardeners EkoFund announced the 2nd year of the having to bend over. A 50-year-old SPPoločne programme in May 2012 and trailer was also brought to the site, requested proposals from non-profit legal which required a truck to transport it entities for projects to beautify their from a nearby town and was then moved surroundings, revive traditions in the into the current place in Rača with a region and improve the quality of life for tractor. The enthusiasts painted the the local residents. The Ráčik family centre trailer and made it much more attractive was one of the successful candidates and and now use it for tool storage. The its Krasňanský zelovoc project received a garden space was also expanded to total of EUR 8,070 in support. include a sitting area, composters and other small items. 110 of belonging to a group. In this way, the garden brings together more and more people. SECRET INGREDIENTS The Krasňanský zelovoc community garden is the first community garden in Bratislava. The garden’s effects are social cohesion, local development and food A community garden provides space for disadvantaged groups self-sufficiency. The users are proud of (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) special features like an ecological EVERY SINGLE irrigation system. It includes a rainwater reservoir, which supplies approximately PERSON MATTERS two weeks of the garden’s watering needs The community garden project attracted (for periods of no rain). primarily young families with children living in flats in the big city During the construction process, the neighbourhood with a lack of their own garden’s founders took inspiration from space and an interest to grow more Scandinavia and incorporated organic products than they could buy Hugelkultur beds into the garden, a from retail chains. The founder’s goal was permaculture process that embeds bulky to show the children living in the (in this case wood) organic material into buildings around the garden that the ground with subsequent backfilling, a vegetables do not grow on supermarket technique that helps retain moisture and shelves. generates radiant heat. This warmth has a positive effect on the plants that are The local borough was receptive to the planted around the mound and can help original project from the start after it was extend the crops’ growing season, contacted by the president of Ráčik and ensuring they ripen and mature fully. leased the plot of land for five years in exchange for a symbolic lease payment. The community was formed by organising The local council supported the project some events. The official opening of the from Bratislava’s participatory budget garden serving 27 families took place in with a total of EUR 2,615 to purchase May 2013. The celebratory opening had building materials, tools and plants. two phases, both an official and an In addition to growing their own crops, unofficial ceremony. The unofficial garden users participate in clean-up opening of the community garden was brigades for various purposes (typically held on the symbolic Labour Day on 1st in the spring and autumn) and share the May 2013. Numerous officials, including workload of organising various events the mayor of Rača, representatives from (the Gardens and Parks Open House the city hall and SPP, which provided event, “Krasňanský zelovoc hosts guests” funds to develop the garden, as well as the and others), which gives them a sense 111 media attended the official opening on 22nd May 2013. PARTICIPATORY ASPECTS During the official opening, gardeners showed off their first crop that was ready Representatives of the gardeners are for harvesting, including radishes, onions satisfied with their involvement in the and strawberries. The next phase of the process. They think that local authorities garden saw an expansion to include a help them with everything they need in library with books available to anyone. connection with the community garden. The gardeners cooperated with a local council of the deputy of Bratislava and They also think the community garden managed to install a box for the books. connects the locals. Whether in shared The library works on the principle clean-up brigades, at various events or “provide–borrow–give back”. The garden meetings, it is wonderful to chat with founder informs its supporters about someone about watering the garden or available book titles on the Facebook harvesting crops. In today’s busy world page. The community garden users and in a city like Bratislava, people often decided to improve their neighbourly feel that many are simply “going their relations apartment building complex own way" and do not take much interest immediately neighbouring the garden by in their surroundings or the people cutting the grass and building a small around them. The land users believe that front garden with a bird feeder. their actions have gone a long way towards convincing disinterested people Organising various events in the garden that they are bringing people together, has strengthened public awareness in not dividing them and that they are Rača about the community garden. The trying to build healthy, friendly and safe first event was a “restaurant day.” It was relations that extend beyond their named “Krasňanský zelovoc hosts guests” community. and enticed guests with a variety of grilled foods using vegetables grown in The local council supported the project the garden as side dishes. The success of from Bratislava’s participatory budget this event with around 200 guests was with a total of EUR 2,615 to purchase the followed by several other events seeking building materials, tools and plants and to offer visitors healthy, interesting and rent the space for a symbolic fee. “I am tasty food options. These events, along very pleased that such a remarkable, with clean-up brigades during every successful and useful project has season except winter, are now scheduled succeeded in Rača. I would like to thank on a regular basis. its creators who showed tremendous determination to follow their dream step-by-step, so that we cand have this opportunity to christen it today,” said 112 since the establishment of the garden. Enthusiasm and personal engagement have been the key factors in the successful operation of the garden and they are certainly not lacking. It still holds true that anyone can succeed with a good idea, dedication and support and even contribute to the beauty of the world itself by improving the lives of the people and their surroundings. The Restaurant day named „Krasňanský zelovoc host guests“ (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) It still holds true that anyone can succeed with a good idea, dedication and support the then mayor of Rača, who gifted five and even contribute to the beauty of the vines of the legendary Račianska world itself by improving the lives of the frankovka grape variety to the founders of people and their surroundings. the project at the celebratory opening of the garden. GUIDANCE FOR The Krasňanský zelovoc community BEGINNERS garden has tremendous potential. In a matter of a few short years, its founders The space you choose to set up a have convinced those around them of its community garden is not important. importance and potential. This garden What is important is with whom you was the first community garden in decide to set up the garden. Only Bratislava. Today, there are more such cooperation with the “right” people can gardens in the city, but Krasňanský ensure success. It is not easy, because not zelovoc remains a good example for everyone likes the idea about setting up a establishing new gardens. garden in the middle of an apartment building complex (especially if there is a More positive news for its continuation is problem with parking spaces). You must that the local government has extended work hard and spend much time and the lease for the land of the community energy to avoid mistakes. You must garden until 2022. Future development of realise that you are not setting up a the garden may deliver additional community garden only for yourself: you synergies with other community gardens are just a small part of a large unit. and communities and stimulate the Sometimes, something unexpected can organisation of more events, which have happen. When information about the become quite popular among opening of the garden was disseminated, neighbourhood residents. unknown vandals destroyed the garden’s first crop. Who did it and why remains a Much time, energy and hard work have mystery to this day. Despite this negative been invested over the past five years experience, the founders were undeterred from their engagement 113 in the community garden. While some themselves up more to the public and gardeners did leave the community, they publicly communicated their were soon replaced by newcomers. objectives and goals. In addition to tending to the garden beds, they began ONE PERSON CAN organising other events. During the development of the garden, everyone in CHANGE THE WORLD the community learned that they all are peas in the same pod, a metaphor which The community garden provides green is illustrated in the community garden’s space to families and single mothers with logo. children from the nearby buildings. The project is the next in line of projects helping to make the city a bit cleaner, greener and more pleasant place to live. It combines civic engagement, local participation in decision-making in public matters and improvement of the environment. Bratislava supports similar civic activities via the city’s participatory budget and local residents are encouraged to propose projects and get involved in the process of deciding where this portion of the city’s finances are spent. The operation of the garden has brought A cake given to the head of the NGO Ráčik at the opening users social cohesion, local development ceremony (2013) (image credit: ENVICORP Slovakia) and food self-sufficiency and the users learn how to be considerate to their neighbours, to nature and to themselves and have a meaningful way of spending their time and an opportunity to grow their own food. The word “community” itself indicates that the garden is being built and further developed by the community. Despite doubts in the garden expressed by some of the neighbourhood’s residents (mostly people who don’t like novelties and changes in their surroundings), the gardeners themselves were not discouraged. That is the true strength of a community. They did not shut themselves off; they rather opened 114 Onkraj gradbišča / Beyond the construction site Beyond the construction site garden is a community Ljubljana garden in the inner-city district of Ljubljana. In 2010, SLOVENIA the Obrat cultural NGO set up a garden at the abandoned construction site in the framework of the Young Lions cultural festival. They made a deal with Target groups: the City of Ljubljana for the temporary use of land. - decision makers: City of The discussion with the local residents revealed that Ljubljana they wanted to make a community garden. They - vulnerable groups: none in cleaned the site, secured it, brought the soil and the particular, but welcoming material to make some beds, made the paths, and the elderly, single mothers arranged a community area. Now, around 100 people with children, precarious take care for the 40 beds and engage in common and low-skilled workers etc. actions, organize events, socialize and help each other. - other stakeholders: local community, artists, written by: researchers, NGOs, media Saša Poljak Istenič, Research Centre of the Slovenian Contact: Academy of Sciences and Arts obrat@obrat.org photo above (image credit: Saša Poljak Istenič) 115 transmission. After several discussions, it TAKING THE FIRST was crystallized that the residents STEPS wanted to have a green space for recreation and together with the NGO, so Onkraj gradbišča is a community garden they decided to create a community in Tabor, a former industrial and working garden. They cleaned up the site, secured class neighbourhood in the inner-city it (as it was a construction site with deep district of Ljubljana, located between the pits), brought the material to make some town hall, the main railway, bus station plots and the soil to fill them, made the and the University Medical Centre paths, and arranged a community place Ljubljana. Until 2009, the district had with a few beds, a sitting area, common been under the pressure of property compost heaps and a tool shed. Due to the market development and experienced a interest of the neighbours, the site loss of residential and social life as well developed further with the consent of the as a degradation of public spaces, city after the festival ended. especially a lack of green areas and non- commercial public spaces. In May 2010, Obrat NGO set up three basic rules: 1. The the Obrat cultural and artistic site is a community place; 2. Each association asked Bunker, a prominent participant sets up their own bed; 3. The NGO specialized in the performance and gardening must be organic, pesticides are organization of cultural events, to make not allowed. A few other rules (e.g. dogs setting up a garden at the abandoned on the leash, the attendance of common construction site a part of the Mladi levi / actions) were set up according to the Young Lions cultural festival. The main experience of other community gardens reason was that the members of the Obrat across the globe and were then discussed NGO were the residents of this and modified or even abandoned neighbourhood and the brownfield really according to the participants’ needs and bothered and challenged them as artists; wishes. on the other hand, they also wanted to experiment with participation and The community is changing; however, community initiative in planning, around 10% of the gardeners have been architecture and urbanism. They made a there since the beginning. People ask the deal with the City of Ljubljana for the gardeners or the Obrat NGO if there are temporary use of the land and started to free plots and they are put on a waiting involve people interested in doing list. The NGO sends them the rules in something in their neighbourhood. advance in order to let them know about the community aspect and they may join Obrat NGO organized several meetings the community when somebody decides with local residents to brainstorm ideas. to leave. A few new members come every They used different means to invite them: spring, so the community is rather fluid. invitations in mailboxes, announcements The members connect and interact at in public spaces, social media and oral common actions and there have not been 116 any major problems with the inclusion of prevented them from escalating; the newcomers. tolerance even gradually improved. Apart from that, she did not have any special EVERY SINGLE expectations and only wanted to have a safe place for her child to explore nature PERSON MATTERS and be free. The greatest benefit for her is The target group of the garden are the that her life has been enriched, that she neighbourhood residents and the has additional interests she can immerse residents of the inner-city district of herself into and that she is not confined Ljubljana, but no particular vulnerable by four walls and constrained by working group. However, some gardeners can be behind a computer. In a precarious classified as vulnerable, as they include situation and neoliberal conditions, she the elderly, single mothers with children, has set up new do-it-yourself goals—not precarious workers and low-skilled, low- directly connected to the garden, but life educated and low-paid workers. Young in general—and in her worst moments, families are the most prevalent; however, the garden represented an anchor where the space is distinctily intergenerational. she found refuge and took control over The members use the garden to grow food her plot of land, relaxed and socialized. and interact with other members. They co- decide on the rules, common actions and She never had a formal role, but was a events in the garden, but are not directly mediator when discussions heated up. involved in negotiations with municipality Currently, she is willing to be elected as officials. one of the coordinators. She generally feels a part of the group, although not as The members of the garden joined the much in cases when many members leave practice in different phases and years. The the garden and newcomers join in or interviewed member joined when the site when the community aspect is dominated had already been cleaned and the local by individualistic practices. However, residents were invited to participate again. common actions greatly help in building She got an invitation in the mailbox and a sense of community and belonging, so since she was a newcomer in the the members have managed to function neighbourhood, she saw this as a good as a community so far. opportunity to get to know the local residents and interact with them. The garden was a space where she could SECRET INGREDIENTS receive the support of other gardeners through socializing and communicating. The gardeners are encouraged to She liked that the gardeners are very participate in the management of the heterogeneous and only feared that they public space and this motivates them to would not be as tolerant as they seemed at decide on the common issues. The garden first. Although there were some issues and does not target a specific vulnerable disagreements among the members, the group, however, it includes vulnerable initiators successfully stepped in and 117 The garden is functioning well, but would benefit greatly from an upgraded infrastructure, e.g. a water supply. On the other hand, some members want to open up the space even more and organize more social activities, such as cultural events or help for people in need, e.g. baby-sitting, help with carrying groceries or performing some tasks for people who are not able to do so due to health reasons or age. Shed for common tools and equipment (image credit: Saša Poljak Istenič) In a way, the practice with its good persons in every way possible, as they example of participation and community are able to interact with non-vulnerable involvement influences, i.e. softens, members on a regular basis and co- relatively stiff top-down municipal decide on the common issues as equal conditions for managing public spaces members. Although the annual and proves that a bottom-up initiative contribution for covering common costs and public participation can indeed (soil, water, tools, wood etc.) is 20 €, the render fruitful results. The city still does most economically weak members may not have a systemic solution about how to pay only half or are even exempt from let people use abandoned public spaces paying the fee. and achieve participation, but the first slow steps have been taken. It has given The most important aspect of the up its overly rigid rules applying to garden for the vulnerable members is public spaces, e.g. for renting municipal the possibility to grow food with no or gardens, it has arranged common spaces relatively low costs. One representative in some urban gardens and let the people recalled a time when her daughter and decide how to deal with management of she had practically no funds, so they the common issues (e.g. choosing and would go to the garden every day to see paying for the manager or caring for it if any courgettes had grown yet. The themselves), which was not possible in garden gives its members “stability in 2010 when the Beyond the construction life” (in a psychological sense); they can site garden was established. decide what to do there and have control over it. The most valued Additionally, the garden added to qualities of the garden are that it Ljubljana’s positive green image and was connects the community and opens the used as a good practice in the space up for use in line with the candidature for the European Green community’s desires; through this, it has Capital award as well as for the city’s transformed a sleeping settlement into a promotion. It is also a popular location lively place. for various artistic and environmental projects, initiatives, and events, it attracts 118 mass media coverage as well as the local common actions are specifically community. dedicated to helping physically weaker members, i.e. those who cannot repair the PARTICIPATORY bed’s frame or dig up the garden. This also positively affects the feeling of ASPECTS belonging to a community and The Obrat NGO knew that the biggest participation. Additionally, the initiators challenge would be to ensure the continuously make an effort to open the sustainability of the practice, so they garden outward towards the wider local communicated regularly with the community as much as possible. gardeners on what they want and how to do it. For five years, they have tried to The municipality officials occasionally motivate the gardeners to manage the get directly involved with the garden or practice by themselves and finally gardeners when invited or asked (they succeeded in convincing them to establish attend events or conferences), but most a coordinating committee. It consists of 4 of the time, they ensure that the practice or 5 coordinators, elected annually by the is running smoothly only indirectly by garden members; however, they are still issuing the permission for the temporary supported by the Obrat NGO. The use of the land and by responding to any coordinators oversee regular issues, e.g. questions from the initiators. ordering water or new soil, repairing the infrastructure, collecting membership BRIGHTER FUTURE fees, arranging meetings, communicating with new members etc. They need to react to a situation by communicating to the The Obrat NGO and the gardeners are other members on what needs to be done, aware they are here temporarily, but not do everything for them. refuse to leave, even if a different temporary practice were established. The The initiators from Obrat call the first gardeners encourage the initiators to yearly meeting, help organize major keep the practice going or, in the worst events, observe how the garden is case scenario, negotiate another space functioning—especially its community for the garden, although it is unlikely aspects—, communicate with the that all the members would care to move municipality and take care of all legal if that happened. The key for them is that issues, as the gardeners do not want to the garden is close to their homes, so if register their own association. that were not the case, they would likely give up gardening. The gardeners feel that they have all the opportunities to be involved in the Both initiators and gardeners constantly decision-making and management of the ponder how to further develop the garden; however, they are hindered by the garden, although they admit it can be lack of time and their modern way of life hard at times to even sustain the practice and busy work schedules. In 2018, the and be motivated to participate in the common issues. 119 They are considering opening up the but in person, with tolerance and a desire space and removing the fence, but this is to be inclusive. One needs to examine currently not possible without a major how the community functions and then financing source due to the dangerous support it. The second recommendation construction pit at the edge of the site. is to set up simple general rules. If the Some of them have also proposed rules are too defined and detailed, abandoning the individual plots and predicting all the actions and sanctions, transforming them into common beds, they narrow the space for negotiations however, the majority of the people are and discussions and negatively affect not ready for that; they like having community building. individual beds and the feeling that something belongs to them. The municipalities can benefit greatly by supporting such practices. If possible, On the other hand, they want to use the the best thing would be to grant the practice to show the positive effects of initiative a space at no cost. Such gardens common public spaces. They want to support the city’s sustainable policies, spread the participatory approach and add to its positive image and provide raise awareness on its potential. people with a place for recreation. They can also add to the people’s (or city’s) The municipality will support the practice food self-supply. until they find an investor for the construction site; however, due to the positive effects of the Beyond the construction site garden, they are now ONE PERSON CAN keener than ever to support such CHANGE THE WORLD practices. The members of the Obrat NGO saw this GUIDANCE FOR garden as a step forward from their previous projects; they had explored BEGINNERS community public spaces in other There is no generic advice on how to countries and in other forms and wanted establish a community garden, except to to materialize one in their home find a suitable land and agree on the environment. The construction site stuck conditions for its use with the owner. The out as a sore thumb in a relatively organizers should keep a good balance, so upscale neighbourhood and they wanted that desires of individuals do not prevail; to experiment in practice if it could be a community aspect must be the main transformed into a neat social place only principle. The key to a success is with minor interventions. communication. The most important thing is to make the space inclusive; not The interviewed gardener gardens be a dictator with defined rules, but because she is fascinated that people in discuss and communicate about the the past possessed this knowledge she practice, preferably not via the internet does not today. She is particularly 120 satisfied when something grows from the soil; it is rewarding when one sows a seed in the soil and it bears fruit. She does it to relax and regards it as her anti-stress therapy. However, she is also keen on the community approach and advocates for the common actions. The gardeners who are economically deprived put more attention to growing food, while young Garden in autumn (image credit: Saša Poljak Istenič) families appreciate having a place where children can play and learn by doing. The municipality supports the practice, because it adds to its green image. It sustains the formerly abandoned and degraded place as clean, green and tidy and revitalizes the neighbourhood. 121 Makkosházi Community Garden and Recreation Centre / Makkosházi Közösségi Kert és Szabadidő The Makkosházi community garden was built in Szeged in a Központ high-rise neighbourhood. The first reason for establishing the garden was the local need for gardening possibilities. Then, the first activities were followed by many others, such Szeged as involving children in the life of the garden and creating HUNGARY additional space for recreational purposes. The Makkosházi garden is an example of a community garden, in which a local resident’s idea was materialized by the local Target groups: government, which unfortunately limits community - decision makers: local participation in the decision-making process. The main representatives target groups are: local citizens, focusing on the elderly, - vulnerable groups: the disabled people and students of a local school. Nevertheless, the main challenge is not building the garden, but building elderly, people with the community. Some critical issues still remain. The idea is disabilities to increase the number of social events to get closer to the - other stakeholders: heterogeneous target groups for a better cohabitation and Environmental Management cooperation in the garden. non-profit organization written by: Contact: Csaba Bende, - info in English: Csaba Bende, University of Szeged csaba.bende92@gmail.com photo above: An average garden plot in Makkosházi Community Garden (image credit: Csaba Bende) 122 but several other actors joined the TAKING THE FIRST establishment and maintenance of the STEPS garden later. When the idea of the garden started to materialize, the Environmental The establishment of the community Management non-profit organization garden was the idea of a middle-aged joined and they have been present since local lady, who has a large family. Her the physical creation of the garden. Later personal motivation was gardening; she on, as the garden was supplemented by a wanted to have a place to plant fitness area, various social groups vegetables somewhere near her flat. At appeared in the garden and became first, she intended to rent an allotment constant actors in the garden. These garden, but she could not find one; later, groups are mostly comprised of the youth, she realized that starting her own but occasional users from middle-aged gardening project would be beneficial groups and the elderly are present as well for the entire community, since other and their main motivation is the people could join as well, which would preservation of their physical health. After strengthen the ties of locals. She the garden began its second season, a local communicated her idea to the local representative offered a plot for a local community and convinced them to school. In the third season (2017), a local establish a community garden. NGO helping people with various disabilities applied for a plot as well. To Later on, she presented the idea of a sum up: as the garden evolved, many community garden to a representative of different stakeholders—the local school, a the city district. He understood the civil organisation fostering the inclusion of significance of the garden and started to people with disabilities—became active in look for possible locations. After finding it. the right plot, he reviewed the spatial plan of the area. He offered his own The municipality provided the plot, which budget to take the first steps in creating used to be a brownfield site until it was the garden, since the plot was the turned into a garden. The municipality and property of the local government. He the local representative secured the also mobilized his personal network in financial background for the soil change the local government to find other and ground works, the water access and possible supporters for the initiative. the creation of composting site. The fencing was donated. The maintenance There were various reasons for costs of the garden, mostly water usage, are establishing the community garden: for covered by the municipality and the local example, providing locals the possibility representative. to produce their own vegetables, involving children in the life of the There are no formal restrictions for the garden and later to create a recreational member gardeners. Since the garden is a space for the community. This local publicly accessible recreational area, it is representative was the first supporter, maintained by the Szeged Environmental 123 EVERY SINGLE PERSON MATTERS The main target group of the garden are the local residents, but some gardeners come from the neighbouring city districts as well. In the case of the Makkosháza community garden, there are three main vulnerable groups: elderly people, people with disabilities and the students of the local school. Due to the fact that most of Part of the garden is also kids' playground the gardeners come from the local (image credit: Csaba Bende) community, the gardeners’ age structure Management non-profit company, an represents the age structure of the large organization linked to the local housing estates, thus it is mostly elderly government responsible for the green people participating in gardening and we spaces in the entire city. They do all the might consider them a vulnerable group. necessary maintenance works, as well as They mostly joined because of their desire the seasonal cleaning and mowing. to cultivate, produce their own fruits and However, the gardeners are informally vegetables, sometimes even because of responsible for the tidiness and economic considerations. Besides, they appearance of their own plots and of the really want to spend more time in the garden as well. If anything goes wrong, community life. Although their they need to report it to the non-profit motivations are complex and the organization. community is the main motivation, recreation, cultivation and access to fresh As explained, the idea of the garden chemical-free produce are also important. came from the local community, but the It is hard to create a hierarchy among the realization of it would not have been motivations. possible without the local government. The creation of the garden was overseen They are obviously satisfied with the by the government and the gardeners opportunity for gardening. But the were not involved in the planning community life is a problematic field; most process. Thus, it clearly resembles top- of them keep in contact with each other down methods with a very limited and they are happy to meet other participation of the actual users in the gardeners in the garden, but sometimes, decision-making. Later, the local these connections do not evolve in space government became the patron of the and remain attached to the garden site and initiative, while the creation and no strong connections appear. In addition, maintenance became the task of the conflicts and the lack of social events make Szeged Environmental Management it difficult to have a real community life. NGO. 124 The students from the local school see the plot as a place for growing joined in the second season of the vegetables, but locals who enter only to use garden, when the local representative the fitness machines see it as a recreational offered them a plot. Their main place. The different visions of the plot motivation is to use the garden for necessarily create problems over how to educational purposes. The garden was develop it in the future, what are the main operating for the third year, when goals, who should be more and who less people with disabilities joined and took involved in the life of the garden and in the over a plot. They consider gardening to decision-making. As a former brownfield be a good way for integrating people site, it was a great tool to improve the with disabilities into society and it is aesthetic value of the locality as well. also a great way for them to relax, as The members of the largest vulnerable cultivating helps them feel better and group, the elderly people, are very positive gain some new experiences and skills. about the garden. They think it brings All the gardeners have accepted their people together and contributes to their presence in the garden. The vulnerable savings. They mostly feel pleased to spend groups were not involved in establishing time in the garden, as it is a recreational the community garden, but in the activity that brings them joy and future, the NGO working with people satisfaction. However, they see the fitness with disabilities and the local school park as a source of conflict. They do not like might have a more important role in the that sometimes people enter the garden to management of the garden. exercise and do not even say hello to them. Also, they have seen that some vegetables SECRET have disappeared and they accused those who use the machines in the fitness park of INGREDIENTS taking them. In the past, people with dogs would enter, but they later put up a sign The garden is a great place for residents that entering with animals is not allowed. to produce their own vegetables; there are also many people who use the site Despite that, the garden functions well, but for exercising in the fitness park within there is always room for improvement. The the garden. The garden brings various location lacks a community space, although groups of people together in one place there are some benches and a fire pit. The and provides the possibility for shape of the plot works against the improving local social cohesion. Thus, it community building as well, since the is a great advantage of the garden that it garden is not compact and narrow, but long functions as a multi-level community in shape. The lack of a central area makes it place; however, the high number of users difficult to foster community building. and their various motivations and Thus, a possible solution would be to create interests might make it difficult to a central community area, where the address the needs of each group. gardeners could enjoy each other’s Conflicts arise over the function and company. purpose of the garden. The gardeners 125 specific needs, they contact the local representative and he tries to solve these issues. The elderly also mentioned that sometimes things could be better organized and managed. They believe having a full-time coordinator is necessary, because even though the local representative is quite helpful, he is too busy to listen and solve all the problems, so in a way, the garden exists on its own Garden plants are aligned next to a nicely maintained footpath and no one really cares about it. The main (image credit: Csaba Bende) barrier of the elderly to participate in the The elderly think that more social events decision-making is that they always need would be necessary, since they do not to contact the representative first and really have socializing events. They seek things can be done only after he has the help of the local representative in considered every aspect of it. They have a organizing these events, but rarely limited chance to solve problems on their organize anything on their own. In a few own and do not have enough autonomy in cases, they also mentioned that people the garden. If there were a coordinator, have come down to the garden to barbecue, the gardeners could relate their problems but only involved their own family and or ideas directly to them. made food for themselves, without inviting other gardeners. Thus, they believe that BRIGHTER FUTURE there are problems with the attitude of some gardeners towards the community. The older gardeners do think many Since they see the fitness park as a source things will change. The younger of conflicts, they would rather have the generation is not interested in gardening, fitness park outside the garden. so they will not come to the garden to grow vegetables, they might venture to PARTICIPATORY the fitness park. They have ambiguous feelings towards the community: they ASPECTS think the gardeners are helpful and nice, but they do not really engage with each The need for the garden was a bottom-up other. They are aware that further steps idea from the local community, but during need to be taken to have a real the establishment, the local representative community life in the garden. The of the city district took the lead and he still representative believes that the garden remains an important person in the life of community will be strengthened and the the garden. He is the contact person who garden will become a living community organizes the life of the garden. If the space of the neighbourhood. gardeners experience problems or have 126 He sees the project as a good practice that difficulties. For example, the local might become a good example for other government needed to create the legal city districts and cities. He plans on background for a community garden as a opening the back fence of the garden to land use type and lacked information on enable expansion. He thinks this will bring how to create a garden. However, since more people to the garden. they have overcome these difficulties, the creation of any future gardens might be GUIDANCE FOR easier. To sum up, creating a garden in an BEGINNERS area without any previous experience in the field might make the materialization The local representative thinks the most process more challenging. important thing is to have a location with access. Then, it is possible to go further ONE PERSON CAN and start thinking about how to create the garden. He says that the location matters, CHANGE THE WORLD because then, people can monitor their garden, see who enters, but– they can also The local representative was delighted use it as their own backyard since it is when the local residents came to him with close to their flats. their idea of the garden. He really liked that the idea came from them, the It is therefore clear that besides residents, and he thought that as a establishing a garden as a physical place, representative, he should support these much emphasis should also be on building kinds of ideas. a community. Building the garden itself can be done in a quite a short time, but When joining, the primary motivation of building a community takes longer. the elderly people was the community; Community life can be enhanced by they wanted to get to know people and applying participatory methods during spend more time in community. However, the implementation and the maintenance it is also important for this group to have and by organizing events in the garden. an activity that keeps them busy and they consider gardening a hobby. It also helps It is also important to note the opinion of them increase their savings. It is really the local resident who initiated the cheering up the elderly that they can creation of the community garden and spend time outside their flats with other started to look for potential partners. She locals in their age group. They consider described some initial barriers. Even gardening as equivalent to the though the local representative of the city community experience. district ensured her he supported her idea, it took several years until the ground The students of the local school joined in works started. This might be because the second season of the garden, mostly community gardens were not well-known because of the educational possibilities in outside of Budapest and as a consequence, the garden. People with disabilities have the creation of the garden faced various been gardening since the third season; 127 their primary motivation was to improve their integration into society and they see gardening as a recreational activity. Growing vegetables (image credit: Csaba Bende) 128 Huerto Tlateloco / Tlateloco garden Huerto Tlateloco was created in Mexico City in 2012 thanks Mexico City to the Cultiva Ciudad civil association. The following reasons MEXICO gave birth to this unique garden: providing healthy food for the society, creating a comfortable and quality area for Target groups: citizens that promotes social cohesion and fighting against - decision makers: local climate change. The urban garden is also focused on the educational, ecological and ethical aspects. The first government challenge was to clean the place of garbage and construction - vulnerable groups: waste after the 1985 earthquake, but bit by bit, the garden disadvantaged people of the has been set up and volunteers, above all elderly women, community, young people started to be involved and joined the team. Now, the garden - other stakeholders: is a great space where the community (nowadays a lot of universities and NGOs young people as well) can engage in positive activities, learn (CULTIVA Ciudad civil about gardening, find inspiration and enjoy a quality green association) space. written by: Contact: Serena Cannavò, Karina Schwartzman, Central Transdanubian Regional karinasch@gmail.com, Innovation Agency and Gabriela Vargas, gabriela@cultivaciudad.com photo above: Community garden connects people 129 (image credit: Tlateloco garden) quality area for citizens, a coexistence TAKING THE FIRST and social cohesion space and she wanted STEPS to fight the heat island, reduce temperature and increase moisture. As an Huerto Tlateloco is situated in Mexico City architect, Karina realized she could help in the urban area of Nonoalco-Tlatelolco in the landscape gardening project on Paseo de la Reforma (Reform Street). In through designing the spatial and 2012, the Cultivaciudad AC civil aesthetic details. association obtained permission (they were invited by the delegation to continue In addition to their personal reasons, the a previous Vivero Urbano Reforma initiators started this practice for many project) to start the Huerto Tlateloco other motives, such as promoting its (Tlateloco garden) project. The urban educational and demonstrative potential. garden measures 1650 m2 with more than Furthermore, they wanted to emphasize 50 species of plants and it has been the meaning of food production and operating since 2012. It was built on an improve the people’s knowledge about area that was occupied by the Oaxaca cycling nutrients. In other words, they Tower, a big building demolished in 1990 thought that a community garden can due to the 1985 earthquake. This urban change people’s lives, foster a green space garden is a unique example in Mexico City, in the town for the co-existence of the a model of urban sustainability that community, promote smart regenerated an abandoned plot of land in environmental technology and encourage an urban centre. The protagonists of this water filtration. They are also focused on community garden are Gabriela Vargas educational, ecological and ethical Romero, founder of Cultiva Ciudad, who aspects, e.g. reusing material for the has been working in urban agriculture construction, harvesting rainwater, dry since 2000, and Karina Schwartzman, who bath, a hotel for bugs to help preserve the has been working in the urban garden diverse species of insects currently since 2012. endangered by agricultural practices, or the seed bank. These are some of the best Several reasons led this big community to examples of eco-technology. create a garden. Gabriela’s main reason Several field visits were made to see if the was maternity. She started her own edible plot was a suitable area. These visits were garden in her house and while looking out carried out by Gabriela’s friends, who the window, she started to think: “How can specialize in sustainability issues and I feed my daughter?” Her motivation was productive projects. Karina was involved thus linked to healthy nutrition. She was in these visits as well; she joined to inspired by agrarian urbanism, namely by support Gabriella from the beginning in the slogan “bring the rural to the urban”. issues regarding the spatial design, Karina, who is an architect, has been bioconstruction, and planning. There influenced by bioclimatic urbanism and were many challenges and the biggest wanted to create a comfortable and was that half of the area was full of garbage and construction waste. 130 to discuss the current situation, new laws and new opportunities in the city for urban gardening. The design was a collaborative project that was carried out by Gabriela, Karina and their friends. Karina worked on the landscape and architectural issues. Some changes have been made over the years, Garden means relaxation (image credit: Adam Wiseman) but the initial idea is still the same. The The municipality thus supported the people met as volunteers; there was no establishment of the garden with 120 compensation for their time and work, as trucks to remove the garbage and gravel they have wanted to support the project and clean the place (the municipality from the beginning. Volunteers were then helped move the soil, bricks, plants and invited to support the internal team. The other materials from Vivero Reforma to garden has been set up little by little. Tlateloco, where they built and Regardless of the initiators, the urban established the first half of the garden garden would not have existed without productive beds with those materials). the main pillar of the garden, namely the community itself. Although the initiative The Reforma space that had lasted 3 and the maintenance of the garden arose years was conveniently concluding its from Karina and Gabriela, aided by the cycle at the time, so everything from group of the city and friends, the locals there was moved and half of the who joined the team really made this cultivation beds were set up with that garden a bottom-up practice. material. In the past five years, the The relationship with the government is municipality has given them the space, based on a collaboration to gain water and electricity; it allows them to permission and the government lends plan and execute workshops; at some them the tables for the events and events, the municipality helps by transports the pallets. It sometimes uses providing tables and other materials or the space for agriculture workshops. The with security for large events or when involvement of the community is most schools come to visit the garden. When visible at the festivals focusing on sharing the community garden is involved in and cooperating, such as the Mother Earth other events, the municipality helps the Festival (Festival por la Madre Tierra ). community with workforce to move During these festivals, the community plants. It helped install the cisterns in the participates in free workshops, products garden and fix the fence that was in a markets, and children’s constructive very poor state. Furthermore, in 2017, the games. community garden organized the first urban gardens gathering in Mexico The stakeholders did not join the garden City. Members of the municipality were at the same time. The government was the invited to participate in a panel first stakeholder involved in the practice 131 and helped to provide the place and not Ildefonso Guerrero Domínguez has been long after, the volunteers joined the volunteering for two years and he said: “I initiative individually. joined the Tlatelolco garden because when I was walking home from school, I saw people working wearing hats EVERY SINGLE because of the sun and I noticed that PERSON MATTERS there were not many people, so I decided to go in and ask”. Furthermore, other The stakeholders involved in the project interested people joined the practice as are the Cultiva Ciudad civil association, well, because the Tlateloco garden offers the International Renewable Resources formal diploma courses for those Institute and the local community. The interested in attaining a certificate in main target group of the garden is the gardening. Tlateloco local community itself. Many members of the community who The roles of the stakeholders are participate in the garden are volunteers different. The municipality deals with and some of them belong to disadvantaged infrastructure and security; it helps the groups. The gardening community is thus community garden with security very diverse in terms of age, gender and cameras. The volunteers’ role is to help social status. Elderly people represent and learn (even though not all the more than 60% of the members and volunteers belong to vulnerable groups). women represent more than 70%. The María Osmara Camacho, who is a garden offers the residents of Tlatelolco volunteer in the garden, said that urban and the inhabitants of the city a possibility gardening gives her peace, calmness and to harvest the crops and a place to connect joy. She decided to join the initiative with the nature. when her work absorbed her too much To the community, the garden is a place and she did not feel happy and where they can engage in positive motivated. She decided to explore activities, learn about agroecology gardening and help its users. She techniques, find inspiration and enjoy a recognized the benefit, such as getting in quality green space. The garden is a touch with nature, which makes her feel “demonstrative and educational” space alive. She is amazed when plants grow. where the people are taught to produce Her main expectation is to learn every healthy organic food and acquire healthy day and to see how the plants are eating habits. Volunteers can take home developing and changing. vegetables for their own consumption, however, the community garden is not a The International Renewable Resources source of production that would Institute A.C. (IRRI Mexico) had its own completely fulfil their nutritional needs. reasons to join the practice. The mass The garden is open to everyone. Recently, production and the food in many young people have been expressing market chains are causing social their wish to join the garden; the youngest destructions and emissions, which member is 14 years old and very willing influence the environment in negative and helpful. 132 social cohesion thanks to the “learning by doing” concept, to learn by using our hands and collective knowledge. Nevertheless, fundraising and the visibility plan should be improved, as they are necessary for the livelihood of the garden. Volunteer María Osmara Camacho thinks that the secret for the practice’s success is gratitude. The first step is to Tlateloco garden from the top (image credit: Adam Wiseman) realize that the work is visible and the ways; IRRI’s aim is to sustain the safety result is for everyone, not just for and sovereignty of food. Carlos Delgado individuals. She thinks that the practice is from IRRI said that the civil association good, because gardeners are surrounded (IRRI) wants to develop technical skills by people with the same interest, so for regenerative agriculture, establish sharing and cooperation help them to good practices and provide courses, relax their mind and soul. workshops, diploma courses in The stakeholders have different opinions partnership with allied organisations. on the improvement of the practice; the Creating technical skills is the volunteers do not see anything substantial cornerstone of IRRI, because people can that would need changing, but want to adopt and reproduce the practices expand the practice. IRRI claims that locally. All in all, the different involving the government to empower the stakeholders—even if sporting different local and sustainable food market would ideas—seem to support each other with be a good benefit for the entire the aim of being a part of a group. community. SECRET PARTICIPATORY INGREDIENTS ASPECTS The Tlateloco garden is a good example María Osmara Camacho, who is the voice of humans reconnecting with soil. of the volunteers, said that she is quite Karina explained that they can connect satisfied with the inclusion in the practice. with themselves and nature as well. She She never faced any barriers, because thinks that urban gardening provides anyone can choose to participate and to them with healthy and local food and help as a volunteer. The volunteering and the garden also improves their quality participation is even more satisfactory of life through healthy physical with a good planning and monitoring plan; activities and at the spiritual level. The as was the case with the Tlateloco garden. practice is good because it affects the She feels that the municipality does not sense of the community, especially when give them enough attention, because the everybody has the same purpose. Karina government is dedicated to other things. recognizes that the practice brings 133 IRRI works with indigenous communities The visits come from universities, and women in the peri-urban area of the schools, kindergartens and companies city by addressing them through local from the field of social responsibility. and/or allied organizations to ensure a Usually, an organization called “Milpazu” veritable and deep community is involved in guiding children around involvement and facilitate the actions in the garden, while Karina guides students this way. IRRI uses digital media, courses, who come from universities and gives workshops and diploma courses and sets talks about sustainability, architecture, up high-impact social projects as the tools and urbanism topics. Also, the for the participation process. However, the volunteers help receive groups as guides main barrier remains: how to empower for many activities, such as separating people and to ensure the adoption of new seeds in the greenhouse. practices. The association is thus working on the development of local agents of The Tlateloco garden has already change who would be capable to promote received visitors from Brazil, Cuba, the interventions. Argentina, the United States, France and Germany. Some of them were very keen BRIGHTER FUTURE on learning about the garden. The majority wanted to learn how to grow The attitude to the future of the people your own food at home, how to manage involved is very positive and they have this kind of project and what kind of high hopes for the garden. Karina would ecotechnologies can be used. Some like to involve more initiatives to wanted to conduct a research at the strengthen the volunteering culture. bachelor’s and master’s level in different fields, such as sociology, biology or Furthermore, she would like to establish a environmental sciences. Others wanted stronger relationship with the to volunteer and support the project. government, namely to strengthen collaboration between the government Some of these visits relate to universities and civil society. The representatives hope interested in developing gardens in their that the practice will be adopted by others. university space: for example, the To achieve this goal, they intend to foster Tlateloco community garden has helped visits. In the last five years, the garden has UIA (Libero-American University) start been visited by more than 10,000 visitors their own garden. Some researchers are and in the 2018, it received over 2,000 also interested in the urban garden; guests, 75% from Mexico City, 20% from Karina is the coordinator of the research other places in the country, and 5% from on climate change; furthermore, the other countries. Karina thinks that the representatives of the garden help community must “wake up” to increase the students prepare their thesis projects in garden’s visibility, so the urban garden other fields such as sociology, ecology and universities from the United States, and art. Baja California and Guatemala work together to encourage the visits. 134 garden, Karina’s expertise and Gabriela’s strong and maternity-driven motivation have generated a virtuous circle of social inclusion, knowledge, well-being and fun. The representative from IRRI thinks that having a robust impact measurement system would be useful to start creating a good practice. If the results, activities and impacts are clear, it is much more feasible to promote the intervention as a successful practice. Community garden means smiling (image credit: Adam Wiseman) ONE PERSON CAN In addition, several NGOs approached the CHANGE THE WORLD garden with the purpose of linking their projects with the garden and The community garden brings together strengthening initiatives, such as the sale people who have different motivations, of organic food, water management in but something in common: willingness cities and the construction of a replicable and creativity. Karina’s personal model for the operation of urban gardens. motivation was learning by doing; she Ultimately, as argued by the interviewed wanted to materialize an idea of helping volunteer, more and more people are the community into practice. People call becoming interested in joining the the Tlateloco garden an oasis or a temple practice, because returning to one’s roots and this is a huge satisfaction for her. contributes a lot to a quality and Gabriella’s motivation was healthy food satisfactory living. and a healthy society, whereas Karina was more concerned with creating a GUIDANCE FOR healthy space. What unites them is the BEGINNERS vision of a social change. Karina suggests setting up a team of people Volunteer María Osmara Camacho said with different qualities, knowledge, as well that she joined the garden to acquire the as with passion and ambitions. Expertise and knowledge and to support the practice; know-how is important, but passion is on the other hand, the garden is very crucial. Technicians, architects, gardeners, close to her house and the place is calm farmers, biologists, agronomists, and natural. She loves gardening and she sociologists, geographers, designers and said: “I do gardening because it gets me in artists can create the garden, but a strong touch with myself and with living beings and colourful community garden also needs that grow up bit by bit with their rhythm. passionate and willing volunteers from For me, gardening is life, death, food, different backgrounds who are essential to light, calmness and joy. Everyone avoiding marginalization and fostering supports each other and we make up a social inclusion. In the case of the Tatleloco part of the whole. 135 Gardening has helped me to build a full and happy life.” Finally, the sense of belonging to a community seems to be the main reason for the practice, but promoting global and long-term sustainability are important features as well, as advocated by Estephania from IRRI. Seeds for everybody (image credit: Tlateloco garden Team) 136 New Horizons Bosnian Garden New Horizons Bosnian Garden is a community garden Toronto established in 2007 in Toronto’s Tom Rilley Park at CANADA Bloor/Islington by the members of the “Multicultural Association of Bosnian Seniors and their Friends”. This Target groups: association is organized as a non-profit organization - decision makers: local that operates in the city of Toronto in Canada and is as government such funded by the Social Development Canada Fund - vulnerable groups: as a part of the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The refugees from Bosnia and establishment of this community garden was ex-Yugoslavian republics facilitated by cooperation of many partners and local - other stakeholders: / authority representatives who made it possible for the association to open this community garden and Contact: provided them with an appropriate place for their Milka Manojlovic, garden. +6478862003 Branko Nesterovic, written by: +16475444817 Artan Coboviq and Kaltrina Meqikukiq, Municipality of Ulcinj photo above: Gardening means hard work (image credit: Milka Manojlovic) 137 their lives and through this, significantly contributing to this community. By giving them a meaningful project (such as gardening) to work on, they were able to reduce their feeling of isolation by interacting with others. Every decision within the association was made based on a bottom-up approach, by collecting and considering the opinions of all its members and participants. Additionally, the general Sunny day means working on the garden plots rules and regulations of maintaining the (image credit: Milka Manojlovic) garden were developed collectively and TAKING THE FIRST according to the gardeners’ needs. STEPS The members of this community garden are Initially, Julia Huterer, an Immigrant mostly seniors from Bosnia and Services Counselor, now named Herzegovina and other parts of the former President of the Association, came up Yugoslavia who moved out of their with the idea to create a non-profit countries during the war period, looking organization of this kind for Bosnian for a better life abroad. immigrants, mostly seniors. However, the community welcomes any Consequently, the first informal other new members who want to be part of meeting, held on November 2003, was the community regardless of their origin. In successful due to the fact that everyone relation to this, four new families with present showed interest and agreed that different backgrounds (Polish, Portuguese, it would be beneficial to meet. All the Ukrainian and Chilean) joined the group attendants (over 20 people present) shortly after it opened and began diligently agreed to continue with this practice tending to their plots. Currently, the and just like that, the newly formed association numbers 140 members, who association started its activity with the meet daily and take care of the garden and aim to help its members share their undertake other daily activities. From experiences among each other and November to April, they meet at the COSTI socialize, but mostly to help them in the Corvetti Education Centre (Immigrant process of integration into Canadian Services) due to the inappropriate weather society. conditions; during the summer, from May to October, they hold their meetings in the The “Multicultural Association of community garden. Bosnian Seniors and their Friends” with its list of planned activities and several The community garden is an integral part projects, including community of the Multicultural Association of Bosnian gardening, was especially created in Seniors and their Friends. The general order to empower seniors by enriching rules of maintaining the practice are 138 defined by the Governing Council of the The municipality, in cooperation with Association, which is responsible for all other partners, has been the largest the activities of the association, including supporter in creating this magnificent the community garden. The Coalition of garden and contributed greatly by Gardeners and the Executive Garden providing the terrain for setting up the Committee (EGC) have been set up to garden in Tom Riley Park via one of its control the operation of the garden and public companies named ‘City of attend scheduled meetings with the aim to Toronto Parks and Recreation improve the work in the garden and its Department’ and for providing free appearance. The EGC presides over the water supply. The establishment of this Coalition of Gardeners. The EGC prepares community garden would not be annual garden plans, which are followed by possible if it had not had the support of the Coalition of Gardeners; it is also other partners and volunteers who put responsible for ensuring proper land hundreds of work hours and intensive distribution and overseeing the acceptance hard work into the community, such as: of new members. New members who wish Social Development Canada for to have a garden plot must sign up on the providing grants for seniors through the waiting list; priority is given to those who New Horizons for Seniors Program and have been members of the Association for for donating a considerable amount of the longest period of time. Non-members of money to the community garden the Association can also have their own project; COSTI Immigrant Services garden plot, if this is approved by the EGC agency for supporting this initiative and and the Governing Council of the helping immigrants from Bosnia and Association. other parts of the former Yugoslavia to integrate into Canadian Society faster; and to agronomists Mr. Miodrag EVERY SINGLE PERSON Zakonovic and Ms. Zora Ignjatovic who offered their expertise every step of the MATTERS way in establishing this garden by providing relevant input and The main objective of the Association i.e. knowledge. The role of the community the community garden is to represent and garden members mainly consists of help vulnerable and isolated seniors, who their responsibility for organizing, also represent the main target group. These maintaining and managing the garden, seniors have limited knowledge of the including making decisions on how they English language and are experiencing will build their success in the future. cultural, emotional and financial hardships. Regardless of this, the New Milka Manojlovic, a member of the Horizons Community Garden is open to Bosnian community, the representative everyone who wants to become a part of the of the vulnerable group and garden community, is willing to accept its general coordinator, has been a member of the and maintaining rules and agrees to community since the very beginning. cultivate their individual plots as well as She says that depending on the weather the common ones. 139 Mr. Peter Milczyn (Ward 5 Councilor) in collaboration with the City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Department joined this practice in the very beginning, just when Julia came up with the idea of creating a garden of this type. In this way, the municipal land, where the garden is located today, was provided as well as the water supply. The city of Toronto has shown its readiness to support such initiatives, organized by the citizens and organizations and has kept up with it up to the present day. Happy kids are an added value of the community garden (image credit: Milka Manojlovic) A community garden coordinator, Mr. Solomon Boye, should also be mentioned conditions in Toronto, they meet for the efforts he put into establishing a frequently from May to October, thus new community garden in the City of interacting with each other through Toronto. He provided his professional gardening, participating in educational knowledge at every step of the way. workshops and attending social gatherings. As a person with plenty of free time, she feels more fulfilled, more SECRET INGREDIENTS productive and more active in her everyday life. She visits the garden almost Based on the satisfaction of the garden daily to look after her plants, to see if they members, the New Horizons Community need watering, but most importantly, to Garden can be rated as very successful. socialize with other gardeners, whom she The Bosnian seniors and their friends now calls her friends. Among other things, from different regions have turned empty she enjoys visiting the garden and admits plots into a flourishing garden in a short it is a wonderful experience to see all the period of time. Passers-by admire the community members working together in garden and find it wonderful to see all harmony and for a good cause and most those seniors socialize, work together and importantly, the fact that they are able to be so passionate about what they are determine the future of their garden doing. Because of the garden and their themselves. She finds their garden sense of obligation, many of them feel beautiful and she is very passionate about that for the first time since immigrating caring for it. She works on it with love, to Canada, they actually belong here. Just enthusiasm, commitment and carefulness. by seeing them, you can tell they feel This garden feels like a second home to happy, proud, useful and valued. On the her, because she is able to chat, laugh and other hand, improvements are always just relax with the other members, sharing welcome, which means that small their experiences and talents between investments, such as an appropriate stage each other and of course, doing what they in the garden for organizing various love most: gardening. events would be very helpful in bringing 140 new people to the community and as a become one of the main attractions in result, a new spirit, new ideas will increase the neighbourhood and is also admired the satisfaction level within the by the visitors and people passing by the community. Bloor subway line. She was part of the group that set up the general rules and Milka finds herself very satisfied when she regulations for the New Horizons does gardening. She can spend hours and Community Garden. Everyone’s opinion hours taking care of her plants and not and recommendation is taken into even realizing how time passes by. She consideration when it comes to intends to involve her grandchildren in compiling the rules for maintenance of her everyday activities and teach them the garden. about the importance and relevance of cultivating organic products. In terms of Milka and other members also take part improvement, she also stands for a proper and contribute to organizing various promotion and more coverage in the local events and meetings, such as the media, which would be of great interest to Organic Food Festival, Garden Day for the garden and Association. Children and Seniors, picnics and workshops. During the June–September From the point of view of the decision- period, the members and their friends makers, they find it very beneficial that meet in their garden instead of their formerly abandoned and empty spaces regular meetings at COSTI Corvetti were transformed into thriving gardens Education Centre for educational where people can interact with each other, workshops, socializing, having fun and take part and feel more involved in enjoying BBQ. decision making processes on community gardening. As for improving the The only barrier Milka mentioned is the municipality’s attitude towards these involvement of the local authorities, matters, a lot has to be done, starting from pointing out that a better approach of the legislation and to several municipal the decision-makers to this matter programmes that should be included in would be very beneficial for these kinds local action plans and policy regulation. of communities and the municipality as well. Decision-makers can push communities and the municipality to a PARTICIPATORY close cooperation and to be partners in these kinds of activities. Their support is ASPECTS of the greatest interest to the community. As a garden coordinator, Milka has been involved in all the stages of the establishment of this community garden. BRIGHTER FUTURE She says that the New Horizons community garden has been a remarkable Considering all the benefits and success. This garden is highly rated among satisfaction gardeners find in this other gardens in Toronto and it has community garden, the seniors have 141 already made plans for the future. They vulnerable groups. With their plan to create educational workshops on involvement, the role of the community organic gardening or composting. Also, garden will be completed and the they intend to connect with other supporters and staff will be more community gardens and to collaborate motivated. Involvement of the with neighbouring schools, seniors’ groups vulnerable groups from the beginning is and the community. the best option. On the other hand, Milka is worried about ONE PERSON CAN the future of her garden, since the number of seniors participating is not growing and CHANGE THE WORLD today’s youth is not particularly interested in maintaining the garden, participating All the members of the community enjoy and being part of the community activities. not only gardening and looking after In spite of this, Milka will not give up on their plants and flowers, but also her garden and the opportunity to socializing, making new friends, sharing improve this practice to be even better in their abundant experiences, laughing the future. She has already convinced her with each other and spending time children and grandchildren to come and together. This is not only good for the visit her and her garden and see all the community, but also for the effort she has put into it. surroundings, thus providing an aesthetic element to the city and serving a good cause. They now feel like they GUIDANCE FOR belong to this place, after moving from BEGINNERS their country of origin. For any beginner who wishes to start setting up a community garden, the first and most important advice would be to establish a connection with the local authorities in order to get the needed support that is crucial for achieving the intended goals. This is because the local authorities are the main actors who will lead and give permission to use the space for your garden. Another important The people behind the community garden element is water supply, which must be (image credit: Milka Manojlovic) provided at all costs. Another advice is to involve as many supporters as possible, so they can help you in the different stages of the process: financial, institutional and other aspects as well. It is very important to find a time and form of involvement for the 142 THERAPEUTIC GARDENS 143 L'Arche / Barka The Sora field (Sorško polje) spans across three Medvode municipalities, at the confluence of two Slovenian rivers, SLOVENIA Selška and Poljanska Sora. It is a flat area between the densely urbanised Slovenian capital Ljubljana and the Target groups: Alps, which is one of the important factors for intensive - decision makers: Matjaž agriculture in Slovenia. Intensive farming and industry Jerala, president of Sora Field heavily influenced the area, resulting in decreased soil Association and Blaž Brešan, quality and other environmental issues. This is the main leader of L’Arche Slovenia reason why locals from the area established the Sora Field - vulnerable groups: persons in Association (Društvo Sorško polje) in 2011. They gathered care of L’Arche Slovenia – to gain education, achieve cooperation between different homeless adults with mental stakeholders and organise different events in order to disabilities and locals, active in make their local area more environmentally friendly Sora Field Association again. In the years of their operation, they have already - other stakeholders: different conducted numerous activities, including establishing an experts (permaculture, organic garden in cooperation with representatives of Montessori teachers, etc.) L’Arche International in Slovenia. Contact: written by: Nela Halilović, matjaz.jerala@siol.net, Municipality of Velenje barka.skup@guest.arnes.si photo above: Community garden is new place where locals can exchange knowledge for sustainable living and food self-suifency (image credit: Matjaž Jerala) 144 empowering people with different disabilities to play a vital and active role in society. In Slovenia, they help homeless adults with mental disabilities. These two organisations started to cooperate because on the one hand, the Sora Field Association needed a new place for a garden and for other indoor activities, and on the other hand, L’Arche Slovenia are the owners of the land, which was not being used at the time By engaging new people and organising different activities (annual bonfire event at garden), you also achieve better and they wanted to enrich their regular promotion and more people learn about you, so it is easier to get programme for the persons in their care. help if needed (e.g. sponsors, volunteers) (image credit: Matjaž Jerala) They wanted to empower them through regular contacts with the locals. TAKING THE FIRST Together, they defined the rules, agreed STEPS that the members of the Sora Field President of the Sora Field Association Association can use the house for and a local, Mr. Matjaž Jerala, and like- community activities and that they will minded volunteers were the first to regularly take care of the garden. They initiate the establishment of the planned activities together (educational, association. Every activity since then culinary and gardening workshops etc.), has been a kind of spontaneous but later realised that the program was a decision or decision that stemmed from bit too stressful for L’Arche’s persons in the demands of the locals. After many care. They agreed that they can harvest a successfully concluded activities, they part of the products and that they will established the first organic garden in have their workshops in the morning the Praše settlement in the hours in their house and use the garden. Municipality of Kranj with the main The members of the Sora Field goal to produce vegetables, exchange Association therefore meet regularly in seeds and educate the locals about the afternoon time (after their day jobs), sustainable food self-sufficiency. work in the garden during the season and use the L’arche house for They noticed the need for a community community matters. area where they could spend some time after working in the garden with Only two members of the organisations volunteers and locals. They studied the have been involved in the whole activity possibilities and discovered the L’arche of setting up the garden. At the International (Skupnost Barka) area in beginning, shortly after the garden was front of their newly acquired opened, the Mayor of the Municipality of sponsored community house in Zbilje. L’arche is an international association 145 Slovenia association, where the second community garden is now located (besides the one in Praše). The role of the representative is to organise as many activities as possible (mainly meant for locals in general) to fulfil their objectives. The role of the users is to maintain the garden and gain knowledge to transfer it to their own home practices, Even though community garden is located in rural area, since the garden is located in a mostly people can gain and exchange knowledge, which can be used for their own garden at home (image credit: Matjaž Jerala) rural municipality. Besides Medvode locals, inhabitants from neighbouring Medvode donated a few fruit trees and municipalities regularly attend all the attended the symbolic planting ceremony. garden activities. Persons in care of A permaculture teacher, Miss Jožica L’Arche Slovenia wanted to maintain the Fabjan, who is also a member of the Sora garden on a regular basis. As they were Field Association, led the planting action. not able to do it alone, they tried to Persons in care of L’Arche Slovenia and coordinate the schedule with Sora Field members of the Sora Field Association Association members who work in the cooperated in the planting. They invited garden mainly in the afternoon (after local musicians and organised a market their regular jobs). for exchanging seeds and plants. However, this was the last time they collaborated However, the persons in care of L’Arche with the municipality. The employees of are mainly available for such activities in the Municipality of Medvode are aware of the morning. Because of this, they are the garden and morally support it, but now only observers of the process and they do not have any interest in joining the Sora Field Association members their activities. allow them to harvest some of the produce in the garden. Nevertheless, members of both organisations still get EVERY SINGLE together once or twice a year for some PERSON MATTERS joint activities,– mostly for digging the garden or seeding. The expectations of The representative of the Sora Field the L’Arche Slovenia representatives of Association is addressing mainly locals to connect their persons in care with who are members of the association to locals more tightly have therefore not join the garden. As at the beginning, the been completely fulfilled. Both aim of their operation was to bring organisations have plans for the future, nature back to their everyday life with with the aim to connect members of both different activities for everyone. The organisations on more occasions with collaboration with the vulnerable group new activities that will be more suitable (grown-ups with mental disabilities) to the L’Arche persons in care. started because they were gifted the space for the garden from the L’Arche 146 The Sora Field Association fulfilled its food self-sufficiency, ecological expectations about the garden, as development etc. The garden’s location members now have a place where they also benefits the L’Arche persons in care. can hold regular meetings and activities. Besides regular workshops in their The L’Arche Slovenia house is right next house, the persons in care got a new to the garden. A lot of the association’s opportunity to do gardening, which members who have their own garden by empowered them to a certain extent their house joined the association to gain through occasional contacts with the new knowledge about modern gardening wider society. methods (e.g. permaculture), food self- subsistence and other sustainable The volunteers of the Sora Field practices and to share experiences with Association are trying to spread their each other. They also like being part of a passion for nature to the wider local group, especially one who organises environment with organising many many different activities, so everyone diverse activities through a year that are can find something for themselves. not necessarily strictly connected to gardening. Different people come on different occasions, but the SECRET majority of activities are held in a house beside the garden. When seeing the INGREDIENTS garden, people get motivated to set up The organic community garden in Zbilje something in their own backyard or on is a good practice, because it was their balcony. The association has established as an initiative from the encouraged numerous primary schools locals. Volunteers from the Sora Field and kindergartens to make their own Association wanted to have better garden or to at least attend some conditions for working in their workshops on gardening. Their aim is organisation, so they sought out free much wider than just maintaining the local land where they could establish a garden in Zbilje. The most visited yearly second garden and they wanted to have a event is a bonfire party in May with place for their indoor activities. They many events throughout the day participated in the establishment and finishing with an evening bon fire and a construction of the garden in musical programme with local collaboration with experts on sustainable musicians. development. The participatory bottom- up approach is an absolute must if one L’Arche Slovenia representatives think wants to develop a garden that will live the garden was a good decision, because on. They established a place where they gained something new in front of everyone feels welcome and can learn their house for workshops. They something new about sustainable living implemented the garden and gardening in their local environment. The benefits into their regular activities with persons are numerous: local development, in care and they can see some positive networking of different stakeholders, effects on them. Besides that, the view of 147 the empty space in front of the house caretakers agree that their participation was not very motivational; making a in the garden suits their condition. It garden there was also a good idea from could be improved if the Sora Field the aesthetical point of view. Persons in Association organised activities in the care of L’Arche are happy to have it and morning. Nevertheless, everyone agrees to harvest part of the produce that they that they should still be careful in order usually use for some culinary not to put too much pressure on them. workshops. They have gained new skills However, they do not think that this is an because of it, and have heard some obstacle to participation. lectures about seeding, planting and harvesting. They have also learned They are satisfied with the way things are. about the process of food production, During the participatory process of the since they were not aware before where planning, it is important to know the the food they are eating comes from. social group with whom you are working. They think that the decision to not The participatory method should be having as much responsibility for the chosen based on their limitations. garden is okay, since it lets them carry Members from the Sora Field Association out their own activities according to the are satisfied with their involvement in the principles set by L’Arche International. entire process of setting up and They just use it whenever their teachers maintaining the garden. They would like think it is a good idea to do so. to receive more attention from the Both organisations have harmonised municipality, even though they do not their expectations and capacity and no mind being on their own, as they do not one has any restrictions for now. Some have any legal restrictions. loose boundaries were set up in the process. They are trying to find a way for better collaboration based on what they BRIGHTER FUTURE have learned until now. In future, the Sora Field Association wants to improve their collaboration with PARTICIPATORY persons in care in the L’Arche house. A ASPECTS more intense collaboration has not been realised because of the unsynchronized L’Arche Slovenia persons in care follow a working hours. They have already talked regular schedule of their activities. about future actions that could bring Usually, they have different workshops more people to the garden in the morning outside their base house in the hours. They will try to organize new mornings. Their participation in activities for younger people, possibly gardening together with the Sora Field children from schools and kindergartens Association members is limited because or children who are in home day-care with of their schedule and health. They are their parents or grandparents. They want persons with mental health problems to do some workshops for kids to spend and no one wants to stress them with too more time there. They are in contact with many obligations. They and their a Montessori teacher, who will provide 148 contents for those activities. They would Beside the plans for the future of this like to build new beds/plots only for garden, representatives from the Sora kids. They think that this would solve Field Association are considering the L’Arche persons’ problem of not upgrading their activities with some having regular contacts with others. community green houses, which would improve the production of vegetables. Their only problem is that they cannot They also want to improve communication apply for any municipal funding, in the whole area of their operation because their head office is registered between those who want to challenge in a different municipality, Kranj. themselves with farming tasks and those who already have some infrastructure, As stated at the beginning, their space or perhaps animals and do not want activities exceed municipal borders, to or cannot manage to farm. since they operate on an area of three municipalities. In the Municipality of The stakeholders from the municipality Medvode, where the garden in situated, do not have any intention of cooperating the open calls for funding such projects with them in the future. They think that only apply to organisations registered their work is good and do not want to in Medvode. This is also the reason why disturb their activities. they were glad to find synergy with L’Arche Slovenia on the location of GUIDANCE FOR garden and their house, which they use as their community facility for other BEGINNERS activities. A beginner with the passion and wish to Consequently, their members did not create a place like this is already half way face any obstacles when taking care of there. They must insist on it, stick to the the garden. On the other hand, the first idea and try to find as many people garden is not a priority for L’Arche to collaborate as possible. It is easier to Slovenia, which could apply for funding work in a group where everyone has their with the Municipality of Medvode, as own skills and knowledge, so that the they are registered in the municipality. whole process can run faster. It is also It has not used this opportunity, despite important not to focus only on one the fact that the municipality has activity (only gardening), but on many supported some other gardening different activities that will keep projects. engaging new people all the time. Naturally, the activities must be The representatives of L’Arche Slovenia somehow connected to the main do not have their own plans for the objective, from which everything had future; they have entrusted the entire started, but having many people to work process to the Sora Field Association, on it and expand the activities is also since they already demonstrated their important. By engaging new people and organizational skills in the past. organising different activities, you will 149 also achieve a better promotion and more people will learn about you, so it will be easier to get help when needed (e.g. sponsors, volunteers). When working with persons with mental or any other disabilities, it is also especially important to be aware of their limitations. Choosing the participatory method should depend on their abilities After working on a garden, members of Association and readiness to cooperate. Sorško polje now say they can perform other activities in a community house (image credit: Matjaž Jerala) ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The motive of the president of the Sora Field Association for starting such a project was the same as for other activities in their association: they just want to work on activities that will help all the inhabitants to get closer to nature again and to encourage them to work in favour of sustainable local development. They realised at some point that intense farming and industrialisation has robbed their local environment and the Sora Field of its essentials, which raised the alarm to establish such an association. The L’Arche Slovenia persons in care and their caretakers wanted to implement their work into the local environment, to show the locals what they were doing and to socialize with them more. Their motivation is simply to help their persons in care with any method and, according to their current experience, setting up the garden was a good idea. 150 Vrtnica / Rose VRTNICA (Slovenian word for rose) is a social Bertoki rehabilitation programme for people with alcohol SLOVENIA addiction problems that aims to regulate their lives, empower them to persist in their abstinence and reintegrate them into the social environment. The Target groups: emphasis is on strengthening the user’s willpower and - decision makers: Karitas helping to alleviate psychosocial distress. In addition to Institute Samarijan professionally managed activities in the therapeutic - vulnerable groups: People housing community, working activities and leisure with alcohol addiction activities are of great relevance to raising the quality of problems life in the community. The work and care for the - other stakeholders: The community garden and the field fall into the scope of housing community of these activities. The 700 m2 of cultivated land allows Truške (Program Vrtnica / users to learn how to grow vegetables of different types, Rose) how to take basic care of the garden and the field and use the crops in everyday cooking. Contact: written by: Karitas Institute Samarijan Mario Benkoč, PiNA - Association for Culture and Education photo above: Community garden Vrtnica (image credit: Archive Karitas Institute Samarijan) 151 TAKING THE FIRST EVERY SINGLE PERSON STEPS MATTERS The agricultural programme dates back The Samarijan Karitas Institute acts as to the beginning of the VRTNICA the decision-maker and stakeholder in programme in 2007: it deals with the the VRTNICA programme. When social rehabilitation of people with establishing a social rehabilitation alcohol addiction problems, where programme, the agricultural programme agricultural activities are among the was established simultaneously, since the priority work activities. This is because of principle of working with a selected their positive effects that produce vulnerable target group is based on the relaxation and calmness and contribute belief that work as an activity and contact to the conditions for individual growth of with nature are an important factors in the users. maintaining mental health and abstinence. There are two groups of users. When searching for the location of the therapeutic house, special attention was The first group are persons with paid to the property, which had to have addiction problems (alcohol and other enough land and space for agricultural substances) who want to overcome activities. At first, only a small garden for addiction through social rehabilitation planting basic vegetables and herbs was and inclusion in the programme. They established. Since gardeining is a part of often experience complex psychosocial the contents of the social rehabilitation distress, face problems with addiction, do programme, which is as such, a part of the not have a proper social status or a good official programme rules and obligations, social network, they are homeless etc. The a top-down approach was used. second group are already treated alcoholics (having completed hospital The agricultural space was defined, the treatment), who need prolonged basic working tools and equipment rehabilitation, since they had previously provided and the seeds selected. With completed hospital treatment several time, the agricultural activities were times but, did not manage to maintain expanded and bottom-up initiatives and abstinence. suggestions were included into the everyday practices. Today, potatoes, The therapeutic housing community courgettes, pumpkins and beans are includes up to 8 users, currently only grown. If there is a surplus of these crops, men. One of the users said he got involved they are used to feed the animals: two in gardening after entering the VRTNICA pigs, goats, rabbits, hens, ducks and programme: “Since I got into the winter ponies, which are part of the agricultural programme, I joined the works in the activities. The animals provide a stable spring. In the winter, we cleaned the source of manure that is used as fertilizer. surroundings of the garden.” The users, who are the selected vulnerable group, 152 like to participate in this form of variety of suggestions on what they would preoccupation therapy, as they feel like to plant and grow, what they would useful, they receive confirmation, and like to do in regards to this community find contact with nature soothing: “I can garden (this year, it was the desire for relax here, because I work outside. I also constructing a greenhouse). Some of the enjoy being in contact with nature. I can users have also various practical skills for easily handle my problems through the the implementation (for example, how to day if I get physically tired. In that way, fashion a fence or a protective net, how to I do not think about the need for raise seedlings, how to nurture olive trees alcohol.” . .). If possible, all of their suggestions are taken into account, since the entire crop The selected land of the Samarijan will be used by their housing unit. Karitas Institute is rented, which reduces the role of the local decision- The employees of the programme use both makers and the community. However, the method of group work and the method the latter is of great relevance, since of individual work. The project leader also only an interested community enables offers education in the field of plant the successful integration of users into preservation and protection. All the the social environment in which they achievements of the users (crops, live and support activities, such as the knowledge . .) in the group and the maintenance of the local environment individual level are published on the and surrounding areas. institute’s website and other media (articles about various contributions of the institute programmes). This gives the SECRET users additional drive to excel in their INGREDIENTS work. The Vrtnica programme is financed by The users of the agricultural programme the government (MDDSZ, FIHO), consider it their own: “Everyone in the tenders of local communities covering programme in Truške is part of the group. the area and by Samarijan Karitas Our garden and field are a part of us. We Institute’s own funds. As the gardening try to maintain the garden, so that we can activities are part of the programme, pick our crops. I look forward to doing they are categorized as costs of the that.” For the coordinators, the activities’ programme. As the users change on greatest contribution is that the users yearly basis, the Samarijan Karitas involved in the agriculture programme Institute announces the purpose of the gain the knowledge, skills and gardening at the beginning of every empowerment to be later successfully season along with the work methods, reintegrated into the social environment. the timetable, tools, protective equipment, materials for work, types of The activities could be strengthened with plants that the users can cultivate further improvements, such as (vegetables, berries, fruits, olives . .). In the increase of agricultural land the meantime, the users can make a 153 (more room for other types of The Samarijan Karitas Institute did not vegetables), the installation of a face any barriers, as the users are greenhouse and better gardening tools involved in their programme freely and and equipment. they very much appreciate activities that come along, especially gardening, as it PARTICIPATORY redirects their thoughts and helps them ASPECTS overcome their addiction. The institute faces some obstacles that are primarily of a financial nature, as they lack the When integrating users into the funds to invest in the expansion of the programme, the Samarijan Karitas project. For example, they want to Institute makes sure the users are arrange an orchard and an olive grove, involved from the very beginning. At but they do not have the means first, the users participate in creating an necessary for the initial investment. individualized social rehabilitation plan, in which the user’s priority goals in the BRIGHTER FUTURE programme are jointly developed. During this time, the user can express their willingness to work and participate Since the duration of the stay in the in the garden as part of their therapeutic community varies from nine rehabilitation. After that, the institute months to a year for users, it would be prepares a plan for achieving the pertinent to think about establishing a rehabilitation plan goals (there are also system that enables some kind of other activities besides the community continuity, for example, arranging and garden). During the programme cycle, maintaining a herb garden, crop rotation the institute uses the questionnaire etc. method to record the user’s satisfaction, suggestions and remarks (at the time of In the future, the Samarijan Karitas entry, during the stay and on exit). Institute wishes to continue with this According to the policy, the users have practice, strengthen it further and take a the ability to write comments, more planned approach to its suggestions and complaints about the implementation. They would like to programme and each user has the option include these activities into the contents to express their own wishes, share their of their other programmes for the social knowledge and realize their individual inclusion of vulnerable people, because needs. these activities allow users to acquire various practical knowledge, social Usually, the users find the Samarijan experience and are able to activate Karitas Institute themselves and apply themselves from a socially passive as candidates to be included into the position into an active state. They Vrtnica social welfare programme and gradually acquire the social and labour consequently, the garden management competences necessary to be included as part of the rehabilitation. into the labour market. The institute projects that such a project could 154 upgrade its social programmes, thus Since the main reason for joining this gaining the possibility applying for programme is social rehabilitation and financing through various EU tenders. overcoming addiction, involvement in the community garden is not the GUIDANCE FOR primary motivation for the users to be part of this programme, but they have BEGINNERS recognized it as a good way to help them cope with their crisis and healing The Samarijan Karitas Institute stresses process. the importance of suitable conditions for starting a gardening project in social programmes (land near the residential community), as well as financial resources for purchasing the equipment and materials, a project leader with the necessary knowledge and practice. The project must be perceived as part of the social inclusion of vulnerable groups and horticulture must be regarded as an opportunity to promote healthy eating, movement activities and personal user satisfaction. It is also very important to involve the target group in the planning phases and the implementation of the practice. ONE PERSON CAN Fruits of nature (image credit: Archive Karitas Institute Samarijan) CHANGE THE WORLD The main purpose of the Samarijan Karitas Institute’s work is maintenance of abstinence and the social rehabilitation of their users. One way to achieve these goals is working therapy. The Vrtnica programme has done just that, it has included the community garden into their social welfare programme, which enables the users to work in the garden, fields and olive groves as part of their abstinence and social rehabilitation. 155 SOCIAL GARDENS 156 LivadaLAB LivadaLAB vegetable gardens started operating in Ljubljana 2014. They are located in the south-east of the SLOVENIA densely populated area of the city of Ljubljana. The main initiators of the creation of the gardens in its Target groups: present form were researchers from the Biotechnical - decision makers: City of Faculty of the University of Ljubljana. The basic Ljubljana purpose of the gardens is the cultivation of healthy - vulnerable groups: young food in an urban environment and socializing. The people who have ceased gardens are intended primarily for young people their secondary education who, through their involvement in the group, acquire and unemployed young new knowledge and skills for employment and self- people employment. - other stakeholders: NGO Zavod BOB, Biotechnical written by: Faculty of the University of Peter Repolusk, Research Centre of the Slovenian Ljubljana, Department of Academy of Sciences and Arts Agronomy City of Ljubljana Contact: http://www.zavod-bob.si/livada/ photo above: Way of cultivating tree seedlings (image credit: Gaja Repolusk) 157 the land is the Municipality of TAKING THE FIRST Ljubljana. STEPS The initiative for arranging the green The gardens were established in the areas at the site began in August 2014. framework of the LivadaLAB project, which The first initiator was the Biotechnical promotes organic food production and Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, urban horticulture. The main objectives of Department of Agronomy. After the project are the development of urban analysing the needs and wishes of the green infrastructure, the development of urban population and based on the social entrepreneurship, young people City Urban Development Plan, they actively spending their free time, healthy decided that the most suitable form lifestyles and developing skills on would be gardens for food production. producing food in vegetable gardens. An analysis of the typology of gardening in Ljubljana has shown that LivadaLAB is one of the activities of the young people are rarely involved in Zavod BOB NGO, an institution for this activity. This has resulted in the education and cultural activities based in cooperation with Zavod BOB, which Ljubljana in Slovenia. The institutions’ actively performs youth street work. basic activities are the project learning of From the very beginning, the project young adults, the development of was part of the international GREEN autonomous employment skills, the SURGE project (EU Consortium for organization of youth work, the Connecting People and Nature for development of cultural activities for the Sustainable Cities). integration of the younger population, non-formal education and the The Municipality of Ljubljana, development of a strategic partnership for University and Zavod BOB were not promoting the employment and self- the only partners to participate in the employment of young people. The most design of the project. The ideas of the important vulnerable group with which the future users—young people—were Zavod BOB is involved is young people who also included. In early 2014, the have ceased their secondary education. Learning Alliance LivadaLAB brought together thirty young professionals, The LivadaLAB project follows these students and unemployed young contents in the field of urban gardening. people (18–30 years) to develop, test The core of the operation are the gardens and demonstrate an alternative citizen in the south-eastern part of the compact involvement approach to managing urban area of the Municipality of urban green areas in Ljubljana. In a Ljubljana, in the Rudnik city quarter. The two-year participatory planning gardens belong to the type of allotment process and using a project-based and educational gardens, the owner of learning approach, the participants managed to substantially increase the 158 range of the ecosystem services on a test In addition to young people and Zavod area of 6,000 m2. On the professional BOB, the project includes many side, the arranging of the gardens was set stakeholders who help in the up in an interdisciplinary manner. development of knowledge, Various experts made up the expert team: organization and promotion of the agronomists, landscape architects, project. The most intensively involved psychologists, sociologists, architects, stakeholders in the LivadaLAB are the foresters, biologists etc. Municipality of Ljubljana and its Department of Environmental The LivadaLAB area is a multi-purpose Protection as the owner of the land and area. In the early phases, small projects the Department of Agronomy at the were carried out that were needed to Biotechnical Faculty, University of establish the gardens: various types of Ljubljana, which provides assistance high gardening beds, urban sports, pallet from the mentors and students. The furniture, an adult playground and a work also includes mentors and biodiversity corner (a wetland meadow students in the fields of forestry, with the protected local flora). The landscape architecture and architecture. gardens are an urban learning laboratory, where socializing and learning takes Professional and technical assistance is place. One of the development visions of provided by stakeholders from small the project is to create an outdoor centre and medium-sized enterprises in the for the youth. fields of forestry, urban greenery, construction and trade. The wider social aspect of the garden operations is EVERY SINGLE supported by professional associations and institutes, such as the Slovenian PERSON MATTERS Permaculture Society, institutions involved in fields of spatial policies and The LivadaLAB project is based on the job creation, experts in the field of participatory approach. The methods and sustainable agriculture development tools used are project learning, exploring, and others. The LivadaLAB project also experimenting/testing and assessment. works with the Slovenian Philanthropy The experts’ role is limited to providing Association, which occasionally helps know-how (including scientific the young people with practical work in knowledge) where and when needed in the gardens. order to instil new knowledge. The vision of LivadaLAB is to create a base for a youth centre that is completely co- SECRET managed by young adults. Through this, INGREDIENTS an active platform for learning, dedication and engagement can be created in The LivadaLAB gardens are intended building an interdisciplinary working primarily for young people aged 15–30 network. who joined the group on their own initiative. The focus group consists out 159 of individuals who are looking for networks (Facebook and Instagram). employment, and in some cases, also From the beginning, the young users of young people having difficulties in social the garden wanted to have various integration. Working in the gardens parallel and leisure activities in strengthens their self-esteem, self- addition to the gardening. Future employment, enables learning about the projects that are desired include the cultivation of healthy food in urban construction of a nomadic house, the environments and connects the young cultivation of plants for useful people with the wider community. materials and the sale of crops and Socializing is also an important aspect, products on public places. The young since the participants meet regularly at people want to attract as many new weekly meetings. The central part of the members as possible to work in the gardens is dedicated to social and sports gardens or volunteers to organize activities. In recent years, the work in the events and activities. gardens has included many workshops, Other residents of Ljubljana, especially where young people learned about children and their parents, also had composting, cheese making, preparing a suggestions for the enrichment of fireplace, making wooden furniture, events on the green surface. In the beekeeping, and so on. The development future, educational and training and operation of the gardens also plays an workshops for children will be important role in the development of the organised. city’s urban green infrastructure and urban policy. PARTICIPATORY The functioning of the gardens is not ASPECTS closed in a narrow and constant circle of participants; information about the Participation of different stakeholders content and the purpose of the operation is crucial in the development of is ongoing. Special information campaigns gardens. It is important to balance were held for the general public in May between the management activities, 2015 and May 2017. Information about the professionalism, self-initiatives of LivadaLAB gardens was also organized in a participants, especially young people, few city quarters of the Municipality of and participation of the economy. Ljubljana. They were also presented in the Here, the role of young people’s self- framework of local action groups that are initiative is particularly expressed. engaged in the promotion of agriculture and rural areas in Slovenia. In order to attract the attention of young people and invite them to A systematic campaign for spreading cooperate with their proposals, an information on the gardens took place invitation was published on social between April and November 2017, with a networks and information boards in strong emphasis on the role of social LivadaLAB. The invitation was a short questionnaire, in which the target group expressed their knowledge on 160 gardens in Livada were considered as one of the five European case studies – Urban Learning Labs. In this way, LivadaLAB was also promoted internationally, including publishing information in scientific publications. GUIDANCE FOR BEGINNERS Invitation to one of the activities (image credit: Gaja Repolusk) In order to establish similar projects, the project and issues, their preferences stressing the role of the municipality or for preferred activities and their attitude other landowners is very important, to green urban areas and urban since they can ensure the accessibility gardening. Good practices from Slovenia and infrastructure of the land and help and the world were presented to young develop urban green infrastructure in people through social networks about the city. Apart from the production of public areas, sustainable practices, food, the project is also important environmentally friendly food production because of the diversity and and other activities related to urban multifunctionality. A focus group of gardening. users must be included in formulating proposals about the content and forms BRIGHTER FUTURE of the gardens, from the very beginning. Setting precise rules for activities and The green area is not just a garden for the behaviour is also needed. Experts and cultivation of food, but it has a wider businesses should also be among the concept as well. It helps the participants stakeholders, so that the quality can be gain new knowledge and exchange maintained and new skills created. experience amongst themelves. It is actively included in the development of the city’s green areas. On the other hand, ONE PERSON CAN the project of integrating young people CHANGE THE WORLD into society and strengthening their capacity for employment and self- Zavod BOB initiated the project with a employment is continually ongoing. One desire to establish an outdoor of the key ambitions of LivadaLAB is to classroom for young people who did become an outdoor youth centre. An not manage to finish school and to additional dimension of the gardens in integrate them back into the school or Livada was integrating it into the work system. European international GREEN SURGE, a research project in which experts from The municipality administration joined the Agronomy Department of the the project due to the original idea of Biotechnical Faculty participated from functionally using the green area the Slovenian side. Within the project, the network in the agglomeration of the 161 city. An important moment was also the effective cooperation with the institution that deals with the problems of integrating young people in the city and with a research institution that has a very clear concept of work for the project. As a focus group, young people joined because of the socializing, their affection for activities related to nature and the opportunity to acquire new skills and skills that can help them find a job. Way of cultivating tree seedlings (image credit: Gaja Repolusk) 162 Roma gardens / Romski vrtovi The Roma gardens in Trebnje are an example of the Trebnje Roma ethnic group inclusion. Roma are still one of the SLOVENIA most vulnerable groups in Slovenia. Initially, one hectare of arable land was planted with potatoes and harvested by the Roma. Today, Roma people rent the Target groups: gardens where they produce a variety of vegetables. All - decision makers: the members of a few Roma families, including the Municipality of Trebnje youngest, are included in the work. One of the gardens - vulnerable groups: Roma is tended by children from the “Kher šu beši” day care ethnic group (the centre, run by the Trebnje Center for Social Work. inhabitants of the Vejar Educational assistance and other programs for children Settlement) and adolescents from the settlement are provided in - other stakeholders: Centre that garden. Seeds and gardening tools are provided by for social work Trebnje - the “Preporod” Association for the Development of the Day care center Kher šu beši Roma Minority and the municipality has built a fence around the land. Contact: Municipality of Trebnje written by: Mario Benkoč, PiNA - Association for Culture and Education photo above: Roma kids engaged in gardening (image credit: Nataša Smolič) 163 community, who is also a municipal counsellor. The result was potatoes for every family in the Vejar settlement. In the second year, the municipality put up a fence surrounding the field, divided it into smaller gardens (8 x 13 meters) and the interested families or individuals started to cultivate their own gardens. At first, the rules for maintaining the Children are weeding the weeds (image credit: Nataša Smolič) practice were laid down by the mayor of the municipality, who is a regular visitor TAKING THE FIRST of the settlement and a good acquaintance of the inhabitants. Later, STEPS the coordination was taken over by the For many years, the Municipality of Kher Šu Beši day Centre, a social Trebnje and the Trebnje Centre for Social security program of the Trebnje Centre Work have cooperated very closely and for Social Work, which helps to successfully regarding the development maintain the practice through of new participatory approaches to educating, advising and connecting the socialize and include the Romani ethnic Roma ethnic group with other group. In the face of these efforts in 2014, stakeholders and with each other. With the municipality adopted a Strategy with the exception of the main rules, which the propositions for solutions to the were set at the beginning of the project, Romani question for the 2014–2020 Kher Šu Beši always makes an effort to period. The gardens and creating self- involve the Roma ethnic group in supply was part of the strategy. Pursuing creating the rules, often even letting these goals, the mayor of the municipality them establish the rules by themselves. initiated establishing the gardens for the Roma ethnic group with the intention of Establishing the Roma gardens is a good teaching them to grow their own food and example of both the bottom-up and top- be self-sufficient, which would prevent down approach. Since the municipality the theft of field crops from other local is aware of the financial problems of the farmers. Roma and the problems regarding food supply and was in possession of a lot in In the first season in 2015, the the direct vicinity of the Vejar municipality (i.e. the Trebnje Public settlement, it came as a logical solution Communal Company) ploughed the field to turn it into a cultivated field. On the and planted the potatoes, so the Romani other hand, some of the inhabitants people saw the effects of this simple showed their interest in owning and action. The action was coordinated cultivating their own gardens and together with the leader of the Romani communicated their wishes to the Municipal Roma Councillor Matija 164 Hočevar. As a result, everyone agreed and divided into 24 gardens, each measuring participated in the establishing the a little over 100 square meters. garden near the Vejar settlement. Currently, the role of Kher Šu Beši is to help the inhabitants with practical tips EVERY SINGLE on working in the garden through practical demonstrations on when and PERSON MATTERS how to sow, plant, prepare the soil The municipality and the mayor were the (milling, ploughing, filling . .). They initiators of this project. Since the encourage the inhabitants to cultivate beginning, the municipality has the garden and also present the functioned as the coordinator of the financial aspect of gardening (for activities carried out by the inhabitants of example, sowing 100 salads costs 1 euro, Vejar: the Roma ethnic group, the Kher Šu buying one salad in the store costs 1 Beši day care centre, the Trebnje euro). They present them with a healthy Communal Company and the Preporod way of life, they have cooking Romani Society. Their main target group workshops for children and parents are all the inhabitants of the Vejar with vegetables from the gardens where settlement. They want to teach the they cook healthy, vegetable dishes with parents how to provide food for their them (soups, rice, sauces . .). families and instil work habits in children. The municipality is the owner of They also help to redistribute the the lot, it finances all the necessary uncultivated gardens to those families equipment and activities so that the who do not have a garden yet and are garden stays alive (the Communal interested in one. There have been 7 so Company tills the field, Kher Šu Beši far in 2018, so they are visiting families works with the participants, etc.) and around the settlement to ask them if coordinates the work of all the involved they intend on gardening this year, and stakeholders. if not, allocate the garden to another interested family. By doing this, they After the first season, when the “big inform them that certain rules have potato field” was meant to be divided into been established to maintain the smaller gardens for the Romani ethnic practice. It is also the practice to assign group, the municipality invited Kher Šu the gardens to those who took and Beši to coordinate the establishment of cultivated them in the past and the allotment gardens. Kher Šu Beši went gardeners can be assured that such a through the settlement to every family garden will remain in their lease. An and invited them to apply for their own unwritten rule is therefore that the garden within the Roma garden. 23 garden plots are assigned to those who families decided on a garden and one was cultivate it. If some gardens plots are reserved for Kher Šu Beši for educational too large, the initiators encourage them assistance and other programs for to connect with other families and children and adolescents from their day perhaps tend to one garden together to care centre. Thus, a large field was 165 make it more manageable, so some groups municipality thinks there is still room also share the garden plots. In some cases, for improvement, especially concerning they may not want their garden anymore, the rest of the inhabitants of the so they pass it on to someone who wants municipality, who could be more it; Kher Šu Beši lets them make the involved in order to better understand arrangement by themselves. the Romani culture and the people themselves. This could be a task for the The inhabitants of the settlement are very near future. happy that the municipality has heard their wishes for establishing the garden Representatives of the Kher Šu Beši and that it is helping them maintain it. centre believe the gardens are very well They feel that they are part of a group and accepted among the inhabitants. They they like community gardening. One say that the Roma people are people of participant said that he joined the nature and they just need a little push gardens immediately when they invited to start certain good practices (for him. He had had a smaller garden before, example preparing fields, tools, seeds, but now has more space and therefore encouragement, information . .). After more vegetables in the garden. Some of the initial aid with the purchase of basic the gardeners are happy to share the vegetables and tools, the inhabitants crops with others, especially salads. really started to regard the gardens as Others are just happy to have their own their own and they try hard to grow crops; one Roma person said: “I hope I will their own vegetables and to care of the have onions for the winter.” Some arrangement of their gardens as well. interested elderly people wait until it is later in the day and go to the garden when They buy seeds, seedlings and tools there are not as many people there (one themselves or they rent and exchange person is ill and is disturbed by noise). amongst each other. If they have a They are also satisfied with the social surplus of vegetables, they give it to interactions in the group and have others. The garden has had a positive pleasant conversations in the garden. As influence on their lives: for example, they say: “We hang out.” working in the garden allows them to relax (they have a lot of problems with nervous diseases, anxiety, headaches . .). SECRET It also encourages a more healthy diet INGREDIENTS (less meat, more vegetables, a variety of The municipality sees the gardens as vegetables). The gardens in the beneficial for the social integration of the settlement also provide a spot for a very Romani group, because they learn about strong social life, since they are a and see the benefits of gardening. The contact place where they socialize, learn municipality thinks it is very encouraging from each other, exchange seeds and that the inhabitants of Vejar took tothe seedlings. Kher Šu Beši is very satisfied idea of having and cultivating their own with the project, as they witness all its gardens. On the other hand, the 166 directly positive aspects. They see a lot of PARTICIPATORY mutual encouragement, socializing and setting a positive example (when someone ASPECTS cultivates the garden, others immediately Since the municipality and other follow and tend to their gardens). stakeholders are committed to using new participatory approaches for the The inhabitants of the settlement feel that socialization and inclusion of the the garden is good for everyone. They are Romani ethnic group, they have glad that they can eat their own salad, adopted a gardening method precisely cucumbers and other vegetables. They for this purpose. They initiated and recognize them as healthier than those were supported by the leader of the from the store that have been sprayed with Romani community in executing a pesticides. It is also cheaper for them and simple action: planting potatoes in the is always at hand. They like to be in the new field near the Vejar settlement. fresh air. They are also good observers: they discovered the lower gardens have After the positive response of the more compact soil, as the water flows there Romani inhabitants, the municipality, when it rains. That soil then becomes supported by the Kher Šu Beši day care harder to cultivate. centre, the Preporod Romani Society and the inhabitants, decided to They also pointed out some difficulties or continue with their vision and divided challenges they face and Kher Šu Beši the field into smaller gardening plots helps them by advising how to solve them. and the interested families or For example, they expressed their desire individuals started to cultivate their for a tilling machine, so Kher Šu Beši own gardens. The general rules were directed them to a local farmer who is also laid down by the mayor of the tilling his field in the vicinity, so that they municipality and later, when the could discuss renting it from him and they coordination was passed on to Kher Šu were very grateful for the centre’s help. Beši, they involved the inhabitants in the matter as well. They also said that some crops were being destroyed by small animals, so Kher Šu The Roma were glad the municipality Beši directed them to a town store where had invited them to cooperate and were they consulted the shopkeeper on how to immediately in favour of it. Today, they solve this with various preparations or are proud that the municipality has poisons. One resident pointed out that he enabled them to cultivate the garden. would like to have a tool shed in the The municipality did face some barriers. garden, so she was encouraged to make her One of the problems encountered was own. The garden has thus become quite a the prejudice of the other inhabitants of considerable part of their lives and the municipality, which dispersed quite impacts them very positively. quickly after they started working together. 167 The other problem are the thefts of the year, otherwise the plots will be passed crop among the inhabitants of the on to others. There are no hard feelings settlement; the situation is better if they do not want the plots, but if they nowadays, but some thefts still occur do, they must promise to cultivate every now and then. The Kher Šu Beši Day them this year. Kher Šu Beši also Centre works a lot with the socially received information about an issue vulnerable and excluded group of the observed by the garden owners: Roma. They have been in daily contact somebody is stealing their crops at with the inhabitants for several years now night. All in all, there are still some (since April 2009) and have been accepted challenges they need to face, but there there; the inhabitants even contact them if are more positive experiences and they have any difficulties or need goodwill, which counts the most. information. While establishing the garden, all the settlement residents were BRIGHTER FUTURE personally invited to decide whether they want to have their own garden. In cases The future of the Roma garden is bright. where Kher Šu Beši observed, for example, Everyone involved is predicting that the a fear of the unknown, they provided garden has a great future. Kher Šu Beši information, help and encouraged people predicts that all the inhabitants will to share the garden with others so that have their own garden for cultivation, they would not feel “alone”. some on the common field and some in their yards. They see the gardens as an The obstacles that Kher Šu Beši example of really good practice. The encountered in gardens are, in particular, municipality agrees with the Trebnje that some families in the settlement chose Centre for Social Work and counts on not to have their own garden plot because their support for the project and of conflicts and misunderstandings with cooperation. The municipality envisions other inhabitants. Although the gardens that the Roma community will get used have not been the subject of (larger) to self-sufficiency and that this will disputes so far, the centre is taking become second nature to future preventive measures by explaining the generations. In addition, the inhabitants rules and conditions to the inhabitants. In welcome the idea and will be using the one case, they helped a family by creating gardens as long as they can. One a garden in their backyard and provided inhabitant said: “As long as I’m healthy, them with information and I’ll work in the garden. But if I am not encouragement. The other obstacle is the able, my daughter will do the work.” untreated gardens; for example, 7 of the 24 gardens were not cultivated last year and GUIDANCE FOR were overgrown by grass; this year, the centre representative have already visited BEGINNERS the owners of these gardens to talk about Kher Šu Beši believes that a positive whether they planned on gardening this attitude and trust in the project is crucial and that a good project also 168 needs to nurture respect, trust and good working together, growing their own contact with the Roma people. They are food, teaching children, enabling them very resourceful, but they only need some to experience gardening, picking fruits. initial stimulus and “material” and can then continue on their own. It is also Kher Šu Beši sees growing vegetables in advisable to be constantly available for the garden and self-sufficiency as questions. Because of some “abandoned” cheaper and healthier, both very garden plots each year, they suggest that important factors for the Roma, who are somebody (municipality or other facing poverty and illness because of stakeholders, organizer) oversees the unhealthy and poor quality food. gardens, has control of the situation and Working in the garden also relaxes them regularly regulates, controls or and given their problems with redistributes them among the other headaches and nervous diseases, riots, inhabitants; it is expected that some and conflicts, this form of relaxation is decline in gardening can happen. really beneficial to them. The main goal is that all (most) the inhabitants get The municipality as a representative and their own garden, which is slowly, but decision-maker agrees with the statement steadily being realized. of Kher Šu Beši. They believe there is a need for mutual understanding, good A lot of effort, time and money have cooperation and coordination of all the been invested in the gardens, not only local actors who can each perform their by the municipality and other tasks to develop good practices, such as stakeholders such as Kher Šu Beši, but the gardens for the Roma population. also by the Roma: this shows they have Patience is key, because the practices are already “adopted” the garden as their not going to be accepted overnight: but we own. This is an example of all the must be patient, persistent and try relations, connections, cooperation and different approaches. positivity that can come to life in a garden. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The personal motivation of the mayor of Trebnje is the gradual but certain integration of the Roma group into the wider society. The Roma ethnic group members’ personal motivations are very different, but in the end, the message is the same: it is good for the body and soul and increases the quality of life. For example, Planting seeds of peppers and tomatoes they love spending time in the garden, (image credit: Nataša Smolič) 169 International Gardens in Göttingen / Internationale The International Gardens in Göttingen are the Gärten e.V. pioneer example in Germany for intercultural and Göttingen inclusive garden projects. Originating from an initiative for Balkan war refugees in Göttingen, the initiative today coordinates five gardens across Göttingen Göttingen with a specific focus on the inclusion of GERMANY residents of various nationalities and background. Self-empowerment is an important feature of the Target groups: gardening project, putting its members in the - decision makers: position to acquire new skills and competences municipality through gardening work and associated activities. - vulnerable groups: While struggling with administrative and municipality coordination tasks, the International Gardens are - other stakeholders: overall a well-established initiative with numerous Advisory Center for benefits including for its neighbourhoods and the Refugees; Internationale city of Göttingen as a whole. Gärten Göttingen e.V.; other interested groups such as written by: kindergardens Florian Lintzmeyer, ifuplan Contact: photo above: refugees and other members doing garden work together in info@internationale-gaerten.de Geismar (image credit: Internationale Gärten Göttingen e.V.170 start. In order to be able to serve as a TAKING THE FIRST sponsoring organisation, the above- STEPS mentioned members of the initiative The idea to establish a garden started in formed a registered association 1995 in the Advisory Center for Refugees (Internationale Gärten Göttingen e.V.) (Beratungsstelle für Flüchtlinge ), a quickly after the establishment of the publicly supported organisation that first garden. Later, more gardens were provides legal advice to refugees. At that established throughout the city. time, many refugees from the Balkan and Iran/Iraq wars arrived in Göttingen, The initiative did not come from an among them women who used to have individual; it was a joint and bottom-up residential gardens they missed in the effort from an entire group of activists, new environment. In their eyes, the the rest developed over time. At the existing women’s’ café was not sufficient, beginning, the self-empowerment people wanted to be active and creative. aspect was very strong and the garden So the gardening idea stemmed from the association organized literacy courses strong feeling of “We miss our gardens”. for Kurds when they found out they Consequently, a self-organised initiative were not able to read and write. was formed under the leadership of Mr. Recently, the association adopted a Tassew Shimeles, comprising of refugees, more resource-oriented approach, migrants and German families. guided by the consideration: What competences and skills are vested in After having searched for a suitable plot their members that can be activated to for three years and putting an pass them on to others? Through its announcement in the newspaper that diverse members, the garden initiative refugees are looking for a place to garden, is able to offer translation services in all the owner of a vacant plot approached the kinds of languages to local public initiative. She was not planning on institutions such as schools. In turn, this developing the plot for at least 5 years, so outreach also strengthens the group she decided to grant the gardening group itself. access to the plot. At the beginning, there was an extensive one-year planning The rules were developed in the course process and debate among the members of everyday experiences. At the of the initiative on how the garden should beginning, the association tried not to look. There was a strong desire that the set up too many rules. The dominant garden should be open to everybody, rule of the gardens, however, is that irrespective of origin. The initiators did they are supposed to be politically not want to establish a conventional neutral. This is highly relevant to residential garden and the inclusion avoiding conflicts, because many aspect was at the centre from the very refugees are politically conscious and engaged. The gardens, however, should be a place to start over, to leave war 171 experiences, trauma and conflicts behind. According to the garden initiative, it is With regard to the initial motivation, each important to keep in mind that initiator had and has their own motivation refugees are not all alike, they are new and interests and everybody draws their in Germany, but they are also new to own benefit from the garden. For some, each other. The fact that more than 20 the garden is a meeting place to escape countries are represented in the their isolation. For others, gardening and International Gardens makes working with the land is an important communication quite difficult, not only aspect, as well as the idea of self- in terms of language, but also in a sufficiency and the connection between cultural sense. Therefore, the initiative their origin and Germany and to cook and takes care that all of their garden eat together. groups are composed of people representing various countries of At the beginning, the only stakeholders origin. This mixture is considered involved were the initiators and residents crucial for promoting reciprocal living next to the garden plots. In the communication and fostering meantime, the gardens have opened understanding. themselves up and everyone who becomes a member can actively collaborate: In the beginning, the garden initiative children, schools, transition town groups, was very family-oriented, as family ties other neighbourhood initiatives, the play a huge role in the specific cultural municipality, churches and kindergartens contexts. More recently, the initiative is can join or organize activities. Besides trying to respond to the fact that many these “obvious” stakeholders, there are refugees are left to their own devices. less obvious, but nonetheless relevant Also, the initial focus on women- ones such as universities, represented oriented activities has recently shifted through various students who completed towards more cultural and art their masters’ thesis on the garden activities. initiative. The role of the municipality is that in the case of some of its recently added EVERY SINGLE gardens, it grants the association and PERSON MATTERS its members access to public property on the basis of a lease agreement. The initial idea was to establish a place for refugees from areas of military It turned out, however, that a conflicts where they can feel welcome grassroots organization such as the and at home. But overall, there is not a International Gärten Göttingen cannot single target group; the gardens are be established and maintained on its open to everybody. The garden own. It needs assistance and an initiative focuses on reciprocal interface, a place or activity where integration, based on the conviction refugees and the host society can that integration can only succeed if it comes from both sides. 172 interact. For facilitating that, it requires together. Other joint activities include local civic society partners such as the biweekly garden meetings in the municipality or local politicians. associations premises, where members come together to cook, eat and discuss According to the concept of the gardening various topics related to gardening. initiative, gardens need to make a These meetings and their discussions are contribution to society: not only to one’s also documented and communicated, so own family, but to society as a whole. The every member feels informed. initiative stresses that the gardens and their members try to give something back SECRET to society, that they are engaged in the INGREDIENTS community, e.g. in the form of translation or mediation services. In the course of the Self-empowerment is very important for recent migration crisis, the association the garden initiative. In the gardens, drafted a concept on how the members learn the German language International Gardens can help refugees. much faster than through language courses. This puts them in a better Now, its members are helping at migrant position on the labour market, which is a facilities as translators. At the same time, considerable economic benefit. People the association stresses that not all tasks are becoming qualified through associated with integration can be solely gardening projects, they have a chance placed on voluntary institutions. to look beyond their own peer group and For users, the gardens have become a receive advice with regards to further platform where Germans and foreigners education or neighbourhood activities. come in contact with each other and share their material, skills and know-how. The This way, the International Gardens gardens offer a multitude of contribute to social cohesion and social opportunities to add specific activities peace, provide a place of belonging and such as an apiary. foster neighbourhood relations. Fears articulated by the neighbouring The benefits for the gardeners are residents turned out to be summed up in this statement: “It was an unsubstantiated. The garden members indirect and slow, but effortless process of themselves are fascinated by how casual integration into the German society reciprocal understanding across through gardening, including the national or cultural differences grows by improvement of my knowledge of working together in the gardens. German.” Besides individual plots, the gardens also feature common gardening The initial inhibitions against people projects/plots, initiated by one gardener, from other countries gradually which are open to everybody. The idea is disappear as gardeners realize that even to focus on a different topic each year and if their fellow gardeners might have a to plant, harvest, cook and consume different skin colour, religion or diet, they still have a lot in common. 173 In the eyes of a member, this is the funding. This often restricts the beginning and the basis for international activities and compromises the understanding. In the eyes of the initiator, objectives of the International Gardens. identity and a sense of place is not something that just happens, it needs to PARTICIPATORY be acquired. Children growing up in and ASPECTS around the gardens are proud; they grow up experiencing respect and appreciation. Overall, members of the garden have been satisfied with the participation In 2014, the International Gardens process, which includes the decision- introduced beekeeping; today, their making process with members’ gardens feature 16 bee colonies meetings and the self-activation of each maintained by members of the member and their ideas and association, producing between 100 and competences based on the resource- 200 kg of honey each year. After a oriented approach. mandatory deduction for the operational costs of the association, the beekeepers However, they point to the fact that the are allowed to market the remaining integrative and inclusive element of the share themselves. This constitutes an garden strongly depends on the additional income for the beekeepers and frequency of activities and contacts. the initiators would advise all gardening Given the outlined financial restraints, projects to equally consider these or other it would be desirable to have additional income-generating activities as a funds to cover basic financing and to be diversification strategy. able to offer additional activities for the gardening community members, most Options for improvements are seen in of whom come from socially regard to funding and staff. While the disadvantaged groups. gardens are at their core a voluntary activity, organizers report that a Part of the participatory approach is permanent staff of 1–2 people, e.g. also the need to arrive at consensual financed by the municipality, would be compromises between different highly welcome for the administrative interests of gardeners in the field of and coordination tasks. gardening practices (use of fertilizers, chemicals). These issues are being In order to make the gardens and their discussed among the members and put activities accessible to socially up for a vote among them. disadvantaged locals—migrants and refugees alike, the association needs to The International Gardens reach out to keep costs and expenses to an absolute new members and the public through minimum. The socially compatible various activities, including a close membership fee of EUR 10 annually is not cooperation with the Municipal Council substantial enough to guarantee proper for Integration (Integrationsrat Göttingen), the Network Migration 174 “Taking root – refugees become neighbours” funding project. These projects, however, usually only cover the costs of the project staff and not that of the administrative overhead, which needs to be covered through the volunteers. The representative of the gardening group hopes to see many more Establishment of a new plot intercultural gardening projects in (image credit: Internationale Gärten Göttingen e.V.) many other cities across Germany and (Netzwerk Migration ) and local abroad. Members of the International neighbourhood initiatives in the Gardens are willing to consult other respective urban districts. projects about to their concept and BRIGHTER FUTURE framework and to invite those interested to Göttingen for a first-hand The initiator sees the older generation of experience. gardeners being replaced by a new generation, so the sustainability in the In the long run, the success of the sense of a long-term existence seems like gardening project depends on its ability it is being achieved. If the networking to recruit younger people and families activities continue to grow, the organizers with young children and to take over expect the garden will have a secure responsibilities, e.g. as integrators of future. In the meantime, the International the garden community. In that respect, Gardens comprise of five gardens in the members also see the need to invest different neighbourhoods in Göttingen, more in publicity. which are provided by different land owners (Municipal Department for Schools, Municipal Department of Public GUIDANCE FOR Properties, the Protestant Church) on a BEGINNERS lease basis. The organizers stress that any specific The association is trying to join forces advice depends on what each specific with other small garden projects in initiative wants to achieve. But there Göttingen to establish a local network are some general rules that are helpful: that supports each other, e.g. in - Keep in mind which needs of other administrative tasks (writing proposals, people you are addressing. You might developing concepts). often be supposing something that is not equally shared. A crucial point is whether the association - Make sure your partners understand will manage to allocate a staff position to what you mean. take care of the administrative aspects. - Question stereotypes; they can make Currently, the association carries out the people literally “speechless”. 175 - Do not be quick to judge, let things happen. - People have fears that must not be underestimated and these fears need to be considered and taken seriously. - Consider any asymmetric preconditions for communication between individual groups in order to enable broad Refugees and members plant a plot (image credit: Internationale Gärten Göttingen e.V.) participation. - Create spaces for participation. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The motivation and engagement of one initiator is rooted in his personal experience as a migrant fleeing from an African state in the 1980s. He was welcomed and received full support in Germany, but is aware that not every refugee nowadays is having the same positive experience. Hence, his impulse was to give something back. In a way, his initiative and civic engagement in the association can be seen as a reaction to his experience in his home country, where political engagement was prohibited. 176 EDUCATIONAL GARDENS 177 Mala terasa / Little Terrace At the initiative of the practice, biology teacher Darja Ljubljana Silan, a diverse partnership was established: school SLOVENIA leaders, teachers and students, landscape architects, donor companies and artisans joined to create a Target groups: garden on the terrace of the Jože Plečnik High School, - decision makers: Anton which is located in the city centre of Ljubljana. It took Grosek, former principal, them 6 months from the first idea to when the seeds Darja Silan, initiator and sprouted and the school garden flourished in all its biology teacher diversity. The process of constructing the school - vulnerable groups: garden included several creative working meetings to grammar school students settle on a functional design. First, the common wishes - other stakeholders: Luka were determined, and then the spatial and material Vidic and Sara Čok, conditions were examined. In the implementation landscape architects from phase, the garden was gradually realized through Pazi!Park organization, Uroš workshops where students played the central role. Centa, carpenter, companies Semenarna, Unicommerce written by: and Knauf Insulation Nela Halilović, Municipality of Velenje Contact: darja.silan@gjp.si photo above: Gardening became much more than just planting, harvesting and maintaining its growth. It became the method for socialising, a life-long learning polygon and intergenerational cooperation between all the actors involved (image credit: Luka Vidic) 178 The students can observe and work in the garden the entire year, where they develop many different skills, not only those connected to gardening. On the other side, it is also a nice place for teachers to hold meetings or just relax there during recess. The students were included in every 28 species of vegetables, 27 species of trees, shrubs and flowering stage of the planning and development plants and 17 different herbs, together more than 113 plants, have of the garden; their involvement has been planted on the surface of only 50 square metres (image credit: Luka Vidic) consequently made them very devoted to its maintenance. The mentors TAKING THE FIRST supported them in every phase, providing guidance and advice. Parents STEPS were also informed about the new The small terrace in front of the biology initiative at school. Other participants in classroom was not being used for any developing the garden included the particular activity. It was divided from the school principle, landscape architects classroom by a big window and the view of from the Pazi!Park non-governmental the empty terrace was not very pleasant. A organization and donors who not only few greening initiatives had been proposed offered support in terms of materials, in order to improve the site, but they all but also with their expert advising. In failed due to the sunny position of the the final phase of development and terrace and mainly because of the lack of when the garden started to grow, there watering options during summer holidays. was also a lot of interest from the regional media. The school is a part of the Eco-schools international programme. At one of the conferences that were organised within EVERY SINGLE this programme, the school representatives learned about a Slovenian innovation PERSON MATTERS called Urbanscape green cubes, which was presented by Knauf Insulation. Green Anton Grosek, former principal of the cubes is a mineral material mixed in the high school, immediately approved the soil, making it airy and improving the biology teacher’s idea, especially absorbance of water, so the garden needs because she planned to include the less watering and provides better growing students in the process. They had been conditions for plants. By incorporating this searching for solutions for some new solution into the design, the view from the green space for the students for years, biology classroom is now very different. It since the school is located in the very opens into a small school garden, which is centre of Ljubljana. When budgeting the also used as an outdoor classroom. annual financial plan, he included the estimated costs for a garden and ever 179 since, some money has been put aside beds gradually by height, as well as taking for the maintenance costs; even the new into count other geographical features principal has continued this practice. (seclusion, rainfall etc.). They used their They have also adapted their annual knowledge and experience from other working plan to include activities for similar projects to carry out the garden maintenance. The principal workshops with the students, engaging excluded himself from some phases of them and guiding them through the work. the garden development, but stayed Local carpenter Uroš Centa made and informed on all the following activities. assembled the raised beds together with He trusted the initiator, Miss Darja Silan, the students and Luka Vidic from and the landscape architects to do their Pazi!Park helped them make benches from best to set up the school garden and recycled wooden elements. involve the students in the activities. The students seized the opportunity for a The teacher collaborated with garden with its endless possibilities for representatives from the Pazi!Park work and socialization, gaining knowledge organization to gather knowledge and during the process of arranging a school with a local company, Semenarna garden, from the planning to the Ljubljana, which donated seeds, implementation and maintenance. Above proposed the appropriate plants and all, the garden offered them the provided the directions for further opportunity to form a genuine bond with garden maintenance. The company the teachers in their different roles. The Unicommerce equipped the team with possibility to meet outside the classical gardening tools by the manufacturer concept of school work, roles and Fiskars. classrooms seems to be the most significant benefit of a school garden. Landscape architects prepared the Arranging a garden requires dedication, concept and action plan for constructing work and time from all the participants, the garden and later collaborated in which gives them a much needed sense of supporting role with the educating, usefulness and meaning to the learning physical work etc. They had to rethink process. their plans, since the high school building is protected as a national SECRET INGREDIENT cultural heritage. It was designed by well-known Slovenian architect Jože School is said to be a preparation for life. It Plečnik. For this reason, they had to teaches us about the importance of consider the practical view of designing knowledge, work, respect, and cooperation; and take in account the additional load about the ways of acquiring, developing, on the flat roof and make sure that the sharing and using knowledge. surrounding fence is high enough for Extracurricular learning can be equally or public outdoor activities. By considering even more important than formal learning. these facts, they allocated the garden Developing the ability to discover new things, creating interpersonal relationships and exploring oneself and 180 one’s attitude to the environment are at PARTICIPATORY least as important as earning good grades. A school garden offers ASPECTS opportunities for free and easy learning, The students were satisfied with their be it formal and informal. Learning and involvement, since they were creating a working for school is essential, but other new place for themselves. According to the activities and projects are more Little Terrace brochure, the students and interesting to students. They are a matter mentors worked for more than 500 hours of free choice, an area of informal to set it up. The roof garden has become an learning and significant opportunities. A outdoor classroom, but at the same time, it school roof garden makes it possible to is much more than that; it is the place carry out many activities in different where you can grow your own vegetables subjects and projects, be they strictly or and herbs, it is a place where you can loosely organised. Arranging and socialize and relax and it is a place of maintaining the garden, choosing, intergenerational cooperation. growing and caring for plants in a roof garden: all this stimulates the Landscape architects held workshops and development of practical skills and new educated the students, as the future knowledge, strengthens the student’s garden users, on the most suitable persistence, the ability to cooperate and methods for them. They trusted them to coordinate far beyond the classical make the garden beds, pots, benches, table school curriculum. An arranged garden is etc. The students were actively involved in both a learning and social environment, a all the activities surrounding the garden mirror of knowledge and skills and above such as planting, harvesting and later also all, a picture of a shared life and work co-creating the programme (workshops between students and teachers. The and events on gardening and cooking with informal nature and contents of a garden the harvested vegetables). The mentors make it an ideal educational were surprised about the students’ work environment and we can sincerely say and their care for the garden as their own that each school would benefit from one place they co-created. They did not face nowadays. any obstacle in addressing them at any point. They are convinced that this is the The story of the school garden would not result of the school leaders’ support and have been nearly as successful as it was if involving different participants in the they had not gathered all the knowledge process. and sources from different stakeholders and stressed the importance of including BRIGHTER students in the entire process. The collaboration created an exchange of FUTURE knowledge and skills, so everyone During the winter months, when the school profited in some way. garden is at rest, a group of students under the mentorship of Robert Jamnik and 181 landscape architects from Pazi!Park, so they are keeping their multi- functional role in these kind of projects and will continue to do so in the future. They are planning a cooperation with an urban beekeeper and are doing an in- depth research on urban beekeeping. They will prioritize using honey plant species, which will be more suitable for bees. Students with their teachers are developing an irrigation system GUIDANCE FOR for easier future maintenance of the garden (image credit: Luka Vidic) BEGINNERS Darja Silan plans improvements for the coming seasons. They combine their One should always start with an idea, knowledge in the fields of computer presented to as many stakeholders as science, electronics, biology, and possible who could help with the later physics. They created an automatic implementation. The first step should irrigation system that will ensure the always be supported by decision-makers successful growth of plants in the school (in the case of the rooftop garden at school garden. The students are showing a lot that was a principle who was open and of interest and care about the future of supportive during the entire process). An the garden by collaborating in the action plan made by experts who development and production process of considered all the aspects and opinions the irrigation system. Thanks to their and offered technical and aesthetic ideas, the future of the garden is bright guidance made the implementation and and even though they leave school every maintenance process a lot easier. One of 4 years, they transfer their knowledge to the main measures of sustainable planning younger students, so process will is definitely to involve different experts in continue. order to gain new knowledge and to include future users into the process as The successful project of renewing the soon as possible. small terrace at school also resulted in the motive to renew another, larger As the users, students were automatically terrace on same building. The second involved in the story of the garden, as they terrace has been renewed into a park, a used it as an outdoor classroom. Everyone new green public space in the urban was welcome to co-create garden in all the area of Ljubljana. It hosts different further activities and it happened quite exhibitions and other events. It will also spontaneously. soon be open to the local community for organizing smaller events. The renovation of the second terrace again included the help of architects and 182 ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The personal motives of the stakeholders are different, but pretty much have the same connotation. Everyone was passionate about their work and felt that something as small as this could grow to be very large. The school employees wanted to utilize the empty terrace and implement a somewhat unconventional approach to their school curriculum. Representatives of Pazi!Park wanted to demonstrate their expertise in spatial planning and a few of them had actually been students at the The park sits on the roof of the high school with an school years ago, so they donated a bit of overview on The Republic Square and the parliament (image credit: Luka Vidic) themselves to the school and the students who came years after them. Sponsors wanted to promote their knowledge and materials. Last but not least, the students somehow simply chose to go with the flow of what was happening with the desire to do and learn something new. The think-a-like project team did their best to accomplish the common goal of creating an urban garden on the rooftop, which grew into an outdoor classroom, a new open space for students and a testing project for products that donor companies provided. Gardening as a teaching method became much more than just planting, harvesting and maintaining its growth. It became the method for socialising, life- long learning and intergenerational cooperation between all the actors involved. 183 Kardjali School Garden / Училищна градина в Кърджали The primary school of Kliment Ohridski in the Kardjali town of Kardjali developed an organic garden in BULGARIA an abandoned part of its school yard. The initiative involved children from various ethnic groups: Bulgarian, Turkish and Roma; children in Target groups: a vulnerable position and children with - decision makers: municipal and district government disabilities; elderly people and active neighbours - vulnerable groups: children of and even experts from the local municipality and different ethnic origin other institutions. The project has had a positive - other stakeholders: neighbours; effect on all the participants who continue to care centers for elderly people and maintain and improve the garden and who have children with special needs been developing new joint initiatives ever since. written by: Contact: Simana Markovska, Margarita Todorova, tel. +359 Association of South- 895890589; kliment_kj@abv.bg Western Municipalities photo above: A place for everyone (image credit: Sofia Kalinova) 184 system for drip irrigation that conserves TAKING THE FIRST water. Recycled materials were used to STEPS make tables and benches for the pupils The idea for this practice came from and for neighbours who come to just sit Djaner Sami Emin, an ecology graduate and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. There studying in the Netherlands and are no rules for maintaining the garden, Sweden. According to him, more and but a schedule showing which class is in more people have been moving to the charge of taking care of it. town of Kardjali from the neighbouring villages in recent years and their EVERY SINGLE opportunities to grow fruits and PERSON MATTERS vegetables by themselves, as they had done for many years, have been quite According to the school director, Mrs. limited. At the same time, the city youth Todorova, the garden has always been is losing their connection to the land and intended mainly for the school children, agriculture. Djaner saw the solution to considering the fact that the school both problems in the establishment of includes children from three ethnic an organic garden in the urban centre of groups: Bulgarian, Turkish and Roma. In Kardjali. addition, they welcomed the participation of children with various disabilities from That idea was brought to Margarita the nearby Nadezhda Care Center, who Todorova, the director of Kliment were very enthusiastic in helping with Ohridski School at Djaner’s old irrigation. Old people from the retirement neighbourhood in Kardjali. She home in the neighborhood also come to do embraced the idea and shared it with some small tasks and sometimes to just sit her fellow teachers and some of the and chat with the children. The initiative pupils. The entire enthusiastic team was has gained a steady organizational and formed and they decided to utilize an publicity support from the District abandoned part of the school yard: the Governor’s Office. former land of a closed kindergarten that the municipality (owner of the land) Elif Erhan Hayrula is one of the pupils of could not maintain. The group of Turkish origin at the school and also an enthusiasts cleared the yard, repaired active participant in the development of the fence and planted the first fruit trees the garden. She and her fellow pupils and fruit bushes. Then, the neighbours joined the initiative at the very beginning, from the surrounding houses joined in back in April 2015. They saw this as an and the work accelerated. opportunity to create a new place at the school for relaxation and at the same time Now, there are crates with seedlings, for growing organic fruits, vegetables and beds with spices and composters that herbs. They were all very enthusiastic and can accumulate not only the school’s everybody was willing to take part in the biological waste, but also of the entire creation of their own place, cleaning, neighbourhood. The garden has a planting and bringing seeds and 185 other materials from home every day. It SECRET INGREDIENTS came out even better than expected and now they have a terrific place to play The director of Kliment Ohridski School is outside, to just sit in the shade or taste very decisive about making the school a delicious strawberries. The best part is desirable place for the children. This that it belongs to all of them and they school is part of a European network of continue to maintain it together. schools promoting children’s health. They host many initiatives, e.g. the Non- Anjela Vasileva, an expert from the Technology Room where children can Landscaping Department of the draw and sculpt, get their hands dirty, Municipality of Kardjali, is trying to play Monopoly etc. Margarita Todorova support many civil initiatives in the town, sees the organic garden as yet another though she is frequently limited by the opportunity to keep children in the school lack of funds. She has assisted the process and make their lives interesting. They of establishing the organic garden at organize various events in the garden like Kliment Ohridski School from the very Day of Flowers, Day of Milk and others. beginning; she took part in all The garden cannot be expanded in the organizational work meetings, provided present location, but they intend to hazel trees and cypresses and attended the improve its appearance with more flowers official opening. Now, her role is mostly and other decoration. representative, as the kids and neighbours are doing all the work by themselves. From the point of view of the pupils, Elif Hayrula thinks this project has been good, Vildan Sefer is an expert in “Education, as they learned to take care of the garden, Culture and Youth Activities” at the plants and the environment as a whole. District Governor’s Office and also a They gained a lot of knowledge and it was neighbour of the school who has fun at the same time. She says they are supported the initiative from the very constantly improving the garden by beginning in every way she could, e.g. by planting new trees, re-arranging, enhancing the initial organizational work installing bird-cages and other activities. meetings, making a connection with the Forestry to provide trees for planting or Anjela Vasileva from the municipality securing professional advice from one of thinks this practice is good, as it is her colleagues—expert in agriculture— innovative and can be multiplied easily in who recommended how the children could other schools and other cities. At the same manage with the shortage of light in one of time, Vildan Sefer sees the garden as only the garden’s corners, brought in thuja the beginning, since after its seeds etc. Vildan also helped to secure establishment, both pupils and teachers publicity for the initiative, but she thinks have gained self-confidence; they have the greatest role in this belongs to the made a lot of presentations of this practice Facebook Group of the Kardjali Organic all over the country and have been Garden, which has over 400 members. developing further projects for the school ever since. 186 The same notion is being shared by Vildan Sefer. She was fascinated by the way the children from the school were working together: Bulgarian, Turkish and Roma, children from the town and from the villages, even children deprived of parental care who used to run away from school before the garden’s establishment. All the children were included through their teachers in every step of the process and Work and art alike (image credit:Sofia Kalinova) there was personal attention paid to each of them. At the very beginning there were PARTICIPATORY no rules; all the participants were learning ASPECTS as they went, but it was inspiring that support came from various places. For On behalf of all the pupils involved in example, the municipality brought soil and the practice, Elif Hayrula has expressed fertilizers; the Youth Rotary Club made her satisfaction with the process, benches outside the garden, and so on. The especially with the fact that it is open to only limitation came in the summer, as the everyone; they distributed the land children were on vacation; but then, the internally among the classes, so there is work was carried by the non-teaching staff, room for all the children. The fact that the neighbours and the children and other people came to help, including elderly people from the two care centres. neighbours and experts from the municipality and the district governor’s office, was inspiring for the pupils. BRIGHTER FUTURE The municipal expert, Anjela Vasileva, was happy that the garden could offer The school is already expanding activities something to do to various groups of connected to the garden. Children received people: the school itself with different lessons in organic gardening, composting, ethnic and minority groups, but also to nature protection and other the neighbouring centres for children environmental topics. As a next step, they with disabilities and elderly people. organized a green classroom in the yard When the pupils and teachers started next to the garden, which is used actively work on the abandoned yard, word when the weather allows it. They are quickly spread around the sharing their experience and have plans to neighbourhood and it was good that diversify the ‘assortment’ of the garden. everyone could take some part to the extent of their abilities. Elif Hayrula thinks that the garden can bring joy to the future classes at school as well. She wishes the place will be maintained after she leaves school, so that 187 always searched for something different and new. She believes that taking the teaching process out of the classroom and making it more practical should be a key element of education. She sees the organic garden exactly as such an initiative and she is very happy that now more and more children spend a lot of their time at school. A different schoolyard (image credit: Sofia Kalinova) The children from all ethnic groups were she can come back any time and enjoy it. happy they could do various things Anjela Vasileva hopes the practice also together and that the results of their work inspires other schools and that more were visible and tangible. They say the such gardens will develop around the feeling of being able to go to the garden municipality and the country. The and pick up a strawberry grown by neighbours are proud and happy that yourself is like nothing else in the world. their school has the best yard in town, but also that they can observe how the The municipal expert is trying to support initiative has affected the children and various public initiatives whenever she teachers, so that they are hungry for has the opportunity to do so. The Kliment more work and future success. Ohridski school garden is a model for Kardjali and something to boast about, not GUIDANCE FOR to mention that it is the future for urban environments. BEGINNERS The neighbours are delighted to have such Margarita Todorova’s advice to beginners a nice place in the vicinity, where everyone is to be persistent and dedicated and to can sit, chat and even pick some herbs. remember this is all for the children or Vildan Sefer was so happy to see how the other target groups. Anjela Vasileva work in the garden affected the entire would add that nothing is impossible if school and neighbourhood. She wishes the right people gather together. Vildan everyone could experience that feeling. Sefer agrees and sums up that the people profiting are not just the pupils and teachers, but society as a whole. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD The school director has been a teacher for more than 30 years and she has always searched for ways to make the life of the pupils at the school interesting; she has 188 Na Beránku The Na Beránku school garden is located in Prague 12 on the grounds of the Na Beránku Prague public middle school. The garden is located CZECH REPUBLIC between the school’s playgrounds and a nature reserve and was officially founded by the Montessori cesta (track) NGO, which belongs to Target groups: the Montessori programme at the Na Beránku - decision makers: Prague 12 municipality, Middle school. The garden was created mainly Department of Environment at Prague for the kids from the Montessori programme, Municipality, Public School Na Beránku, who are also the designers, builders and users Montessori programme of it. One of the main purposes of the garden is - vulnerable groups: children from public to provide a “green classroom” for educational middle school Na Beránku, Montessori activities. Teachers from the Montessori programme and the neighbourhood, elderly programme, parents and other volunteers are - other stakeholders: parents of children also involved in the gardening activities. The from the Montessori programme and the garden is funded primarily by occasional grants Public Middle school Na Beránku, teachers, at the municipality level. The initiator of the representatives of NGO Montessori cesta garden was Ms. Jana Neumajerová. and other NGO indirectly connected with the school garden written by: Barbora Kvačková, Contact: Municipality Prague 9 jana.neumajerova@zsmontessori.net photo above: Kids engaged in a carpenters workshop. Supervised by the local carpenter, they were constructing benches using a drawknife, an axe and a chisel (image credit: Jana Neumajerová) 189 beginning of each student project in the garden. The term “project” is used for particular small projects in the garden: building a small shed; digging a water pond; building a wicker-work tunnel; making the garden beds and more. She is also responsible for raising money for each of these projects. She applies for grants of the subsidy programs announced by the capital city town hall or the Raised vegetable gardens, a result of the project Green oasis municipality Prague 12 town hall. funded by Parnerství. In the background is the outdoor thatched classroom (image credit: Jana Neumajerová). The Na Beránku school garden is located In order to gain a better knowledge of the in Prague 12. It lies on the grounds of the field, Ms. Neumajerova as a coordinator Na Beránku public middle school in contacted many initiatives and NGOs Praha 12 – Modřany. The school garden is focused on urban gardening and located between the schools' playgrounds education in nature: and a nature reserve. - Agriculture Supporting Communities – Two educational programmes are Modřany situated within the school: the - The scout association – occasional help Montessori programme and the public at the garden middle school. The teachers and - Nadace proměny – foundation coordinators of the Montessori organizing meetings focused on school programme are trying to establish a gardens collaboration between these two - Chaloupy o.p.s. – NGO focused on using educational schemes; unfortunately, the the garden as an educational tool communication is scarce from the public middle school side. Children of the public Ms. Neumajerova was soon joined by 2 middle school and their parents are parents and 3 teachers who wanted to help invited to the public events at the garden. her, and created the club, which developed This way, the cooperation is more likely into the Montessori cesta (track) NGO. It to be established between both parental was founded as a supporting NGO clubs than through the director’s institution in order to gather people and authorities. finance in the garden. It was a co- organizer of an international “Children in Ms. Jana Neumajerova has been the Permaculture” conference, focused on initiator of the garden from the community gardens, school gardens and beginning. She became a voluntary urban gardening. The conference was coordinator of the project and keeps in organized as a final event of the three-year constant contact with the project and the project Children in Permaculture, funded people involved. She is present at the via Erasmus+. 190 are the direct decision-makers with a direct impact on the development of the garden and intensively communicate with the vulnerable group. The entire garden has been designed and built by the kids from the Montessori programme together with help of the teachers, assistants and parents. One of the general ideas of this garden is to Garden plan designed by 7th and 8th grade kids who were teach the kids while they build and work engaged in graphical workshops. They came up with different symbols for objects in the garden and prepared Czech and in the garden. Almost everything in the English text (image credit: Jana Neumajerová) garden (garden beds, fence, small straw In the past, the Na Beránku school garden building, pond, herb spiral …) is self- has welcomed the participants of this made and most of the material was international conference more than once. donated. The Na Beránku school garden The vulnerable group included in the also serves as a place for workshops and garden activities are kids from the public meetings. Garden parties, Montessori programme, who are also the workshops for constructing the pond, designers, builders and users of this autumn fairs and many more events are garden. The stakeholders of the garden organized through the year. Despite that, also include parents working in the the garden has been suffering from garden, teachers of the Montessori vandalism lately. It is not clear who is programme and a blogger, Tomáš Hajzler, responsible for it and why. The fence who is focused on school gardens and around the garden is not thick and tall alternative education. and can be easily broken. The vandalism might be a sort of envy expressed by the The decision makers’ role is assigned at inhabitants from the block housing multiple levels. Ms. Eva Tylová assumes estates. the role of decision maker. She is a former employee of the Prague 12 municipality; TAKING THE FIRST in the past, she was very intensively involved in particular projects at the STEPS garden. She was the one who supported The implementation of this project the origins of the garden. Another started in 2013. A part of the school land decision maker role is assumed by Ms. with the surface area of 2000 m2 was set Veselíková, Deputy Director at the Na aside. The entire project was divided into Beránku public middle school. This 3 basic stages: the protection and school is the official owner of the land preparation of the area, community where the garden is located; without their planning and constructing the garden support, the garden could not exist. The itself. A member of the Montessori cesta teachers of the Montessori programme (track) NGO, Ms. Jana Neumajerová, took over the planning of the garden without 191 The rules are set on different levels: the general ones by the school (e.g. entry to the garden only accompanied by an adult); special rules are also set for the day, defined during the morning session each day; and some rules are set for different projects in the garden. The main stakeholders involved in this project are mainly the kids, their parents Kids constructing a bridge fence (image credit: Jana Neumajerová) and the teachers. They have worked in the demanding any reward. During the garden from the very beginning. Recently, planning stage, she would come to the they hired a garden assistant. However, the school often and teach the kids about teachers, the parents and the kids change, as planning particular elements within the the kids leave the school and new ones enrol. school garden in order to motivate them Sometimes, other supporters or fans come to for gardening. She also organized many help. Neighbourhood residents come to the topical workshops for the wider public, garden for public events. The school led by professional instructors, mainly management follows what goes on and the for parents and neighbours. children from the public middle school occasionally stop by. The garden was created for several reasons: one was the need for a basic or EVERY SINGLE utility space for the secondary school PERSON MATTERS with the Montessori programme. The kids from this programme wanted to The main target group are the kids from the spend more time outdoors and the Montessori programme from the 1st to the teachers wanted to make that possible; 9th grade. Ms. Neumajerova also considers the other is because the Montessori the parents of kids in the programme programme is partly based on outside together with neighbours to be a target classroom activities. Many particular group. Additionally, kids from nearby block skills that the kids are taught are housing estates belong to the vulnerable connected with the activities in the group. They usually come from lower class garden. The purpose of the garden is thus families and do not have any gardens or to create an environment for kids not weekend houses to go to in their free time. only to create, learn and relax, but also to use the results of their work for cooking The kids’ role is the most important in this and playing. One of the other reasons to garden. Most of the kids participate in this develop this garden was to provide a project, because they want to spend more special kind of education and a different time in nature; they like gardening or find environment for it. the project interesting. Within the garden, smaller projects for groups of kids (e.g. arranging a pond, water circulation, 192 building of straw house, herb spiral . .) SECRET take place. The kids in this programme are motivated by particular projects that INGREDIENTS they are in charge of from the beginning. The garden is a place where kids can The kids participate within their school implement their ideas and creativity. It is programme on all educational levels or a space formed according to their ideas, in their free time. They cooperate in where they have the highest influence and designing, building and maintaining the impact. Kids like to go there because it garden. When they leave the school, they has been built according to their wishes. know how to work in the garden. They Ms. Neumajerova is convinced that the expect many interesting projects to go on garden is a place that bolsters the in the garden; however, some are childrenś creativity. The garden provides disappointed because of their preformed a feeling of belonging, because the ambitious goals. Most of them talk about gardeners share a common goal. It also their leading role in particular projects inspires other schools to implement in the garden (e.g. building an oven, similar projects at their schools and Ms. working on the pond, the herb spiral . .) Neumajerova is gladly sharing the know- and explain their ideas. They feel like how. they are a part of the group, because they have a common task. Kids like the garden because they have built it on their own. They also enjoy the As soon as the garden was established, natural environment and have fun while the teachers and assistants of the working there with friends. They are Montessori programme started to particularly fond of “the idea of using an cooperate. Parents participate in the unused area for something good.” The garden activities and leave when their kids mainly mention new projects among kids finish the programme. Some the possible improvements they have in teachers help manage the project and mind. Some would like to improve the focus on the garden within their lessons. already finished projects. Many of the kids mention the safety of the garden due The municipality of Prague 12 helps to to recent vandalism. Vandals set the first prevent the vandalism or provide a small shed that was built on fire and damaged financial support through the grants in the new one, possibly with an aim to steal the field of nature education. The town the tools. Some kids would like more hall, however, does not show any utility space in the garden. proactivity in supporting the garden. The municipality officers sometimes The participation of the pupils in the derive know-how from this garden for entire process of the designing, building others and recommend it as a good and maintenance of the garden is what practice. decision-makers like the most. Since this garden is dedicated mainly to kids and 193 their parents, decision makers often The decision makers perceive the emphasize that the safety should be children as a vulnerable group of this improved. This school garden is a good practice. Ideally, they would like to success, because it serves as a green involve elderly people to participate in classroom and helps teachers to go the garden as well. The kids can speak up through the curriculum using different through their teachers, who listen to their projects in the garden. The participating needs; the teachers can speak up through parents are invited to organize several the Montessori cesta (track) NGO at the activities and events for kids at the administration level. Ms. Neumajerova is garden. Unlike in the previous case, the the main contact and representative events and activities organized by the person. parents are free time activities. Nevertheless, the garden is not only Coordinators of the Na Beránku garden there for the kids of the Montessori asked the Permakultura NGO to help programme to use: some events in the them. Permakultura focuses on observing garden are public, so the neighbours are and using natural cycles, bonds and invited into the garden. For them, it is a relations to design everything we need for place to meet the community, take part life: effective and healthy food in workshops and learn new gardening production, housing, energy producing tricks. systems and forming human communities. They provide books and PARTICIPATORY workshops on the maintenance and principles of ecosystems. They also have ASPECTS experience in educating the kids. Most of the kids think they are involved as However, some projects have been much as they want, though they would like overwhelming and not well to spend more time in the garden and be communicated to the kids. Sometimes, even more involved. All the pupils attend the children have shown reluctance to an an introductory workshop, where they are activity. The teachers have also noticed tasked to define the priorities of the that a lack of supervision could cause the garden. They participate at joint events in disorganization of work or confusion the garden, co-organise the events and about how to work in the garden. These participate in them as well. They take part issues were mostly successfully solved by in workshops, where everybody has a teachers and parents by respecting the chance to design the garden. Some children’s mood and avoiding assigning weekend workshops are organized for the obligatory work in the garden. kids and parents and are open to the public as well. The aim of the weekend public workshops is also to decrease BRIGHTER FUTURE vandalism. As people get to know the garden and understand what kind of place The two educational programmes (the it is, they might not try to destroy it. Montessori programme and the public middle school) are situated in the same 194 building, which causes a long-term design the garden and be part of the organizational problem. This is why the process. The decision-makers’ advice is to director of the public middle school is gather as much information as possible. thinking about moving the Montessori They recommend interviewing as many programme into a separate building. professionals in the field as possible and The coordinators and stakeholders of setting suitable and clear goals for the the school garden thus expect that one garden. It is also important for everybody day, they will have to move the involved to see the point and purpose of Montessori programme away from the the garden. The work in the garden should garden. Despite the fact that the garden make sense to everybody. cannot be moved, it will be preserved. The current gardeners think that the In this case, the solid base for the financial parents, kids and teachers from the resources comes from grants announced public middle school will take over. by the environmental department of capital city of Prague and from the The kids working in the garden seem to environmental department of positively evaluate the future. Although Municipality Prague 12. Additional they know that they will have to contributions come from the parents. abandon the garden one day, they are Smaller financial resources constitute not worried about the future. They trust money earned by children at school craft the kids from the public middle school fairs, where they sell their products or to take care of it. Most of them agree food. that the garden will continue to develop successfully. At the beginning, the Na Beránku public middle school also contributed a larger The decision makers expect a good and sum. Some private companies did not promising future for the garden, even an contribute money, but their services or extension and improvement through materials. several projects. All the other stakeholders are happy to help in the The stakeholders’ experience proves that garden and are enthusiastic about the if you follow the “gardening future. commandments”, nothing can surprise you. GUIDANCE FOR ONE PERSON CAN BEGINNERS CHANGE THE WORLD Ms. Neumajerova advises beginners who Ms. Neumajerova is an architect, but she wish to create such a garden to start has been interested in the food cycle, with little steps. Start building a small composting and gardening for a long time. community garden with people who will Her own children are pupils in the also use it afterwards. Let people Montessori programme and were the reason why she started this garden. 195 She says that she wants all the children to have a place where they can get important knowledge for life and education. She wanted to build a place where others can learn and have the ability to affect the place they live. Her goal is to inspire the children to garden and consequently convince their parents to try it. Most kids have been curious about the project, it has caught their attention. Some were already familiar with gardening and they wanted to practice it in school and in their free time. Some were motivated by particular ideas that they wanted to implement. The children enjoy the time spent outside and want to learn in this way. They also want to have a place where they can spend time with Raised garden bed with aubergine and zucchini their friends. The fun projects were also (image credit: Jana Neumajerová) one of the things that attracted the kids. Most of the decision makers, i.e. members of the department of environment of the city hall, are willing to support this kind of educational projects. The topic of urban gardening and projects in nature resonate with them. Decision-makers and important stakeholders agree that they have achieved the goal they wanted, i.e. to establish a nice and functioning garden that also serves as a green classroom. The garden is well managed and its longevity is self-evident. 196 The BUGS (Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students Baltimore After School) is an East Baltimore program for pupils Urban from challenging backgrounds. The programme aims to Gardening with equip pupils with knowledge, skills and confidence Students After through gardening, cooking, arts and schooling activities. The program has already been running for 22 School years. The gardening component has proven to be a successful non-traditional method for teaching. Kids Baltimore learn how to read and do math, while they work in the USA garden. The programme coordinators are financed through the Living Classrooms Foundation and need to meet state education standards. Apart from the city Target groups: and private funders, there are other stakeholders - decision makers: Living included in the program. Among them, Ampersea Classrooms Foundation restaurant works closely with kids and gives them a - vulnerable groups: place to grow vegetables and uses their produce in elementary school pupils dishes they prepare for their guests. - other stakeholders: Ampersea restaurant, local written by: schools, Baltimore City Peter Kumer, Research Centre of the Contact: Slovenian Academy of Sciences acampbell@livingclassrooms. and Arts org photo above: Kids playing and learning while gardening (image credit: http://bugsprogram.blogspot.com) 197 the roles of a particular job and learn TAKING THE FIRST what it means to be an employee. They are STEPS able to grow items and sell them to customers. They are able to understand The BUGS (Baltimore Urban Gardening and apply math skills and social skills with Students After School) program (how to handle customers). They must aims to equip pupils residing in have a full understanding of what they are challenging communities of East planting and selling. This is useful for Baltimore in the USA with the their future. knowledge, skills, and confidence they need for their present and future lives. The gardens were created for educational The program’s primary goal is to purposes: the kids learn how to read and empower and inspire children to develop do math while they work in the garden. academically, creatively and socially. They can basically plant everything: BUGS is comprised of 4 components: vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and other gardening, cooking, creative arts and kinds of plants. STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). 4 groups of 12 pupils from They have an outdoor garden with 7 the local elementary school participate raised beds and a greenhouse. The in BUGS. Every two weeks, the groups greenhouse is used in partnership with rotate between components. The the local Ampersea restaurant. The gardening component includes food that greenhouse manager works in is culturally, geographically and conjunction with the gardening educator. seasonally specific. The gardening educator needs to meet The program has already been running Maryland’s common core education for 22 years. Initially, it was called the standards. He is financed through federal Frederick Douglass Program. Initiators and local funding. prompted a call for actions to create more specific missions. Urban There are certain behavioral expectations agriculture appeared to be a successful of the pupils. The garden educators set method for an educational program. It their own rules. Shoes, gloves and meant using non-traditional ways of protective gloves must be worn at all teaching. times. The volunteers who occasionally come to work with pupils in the garden Over time, the urban agriculture aspect have their own rules set by the of the project grew and it now includes a foundation. farmers’ market. At the annual farmers’ market, a lot of produce is sold from the Not all the current stakeholders joined crops that the pupils grew themselves. BUGS at the same time. The current BUGS During the farmers’ market, pupils learn after school program director joined the about costumer service, cost of the program at a later stage. BUGS has been a products, writing receipts. They assume longstanding program of the Living 198 Once a year (in early December), they hold a fundraising event where attendee’s fees help fund their program. The municipality takes part through the Family League of Baltimore (the city is their larger funder), which provides money for BUGS. The Maryland State Department of Education provides federal funding. Funding is also provided by the Family League of Baltimore and the Breonna and Andrea outside picking tomatoes and summer squash Ampersea restaurant. on a hot summer day (image credit: http://bugsprogram.blogspot.com) Living Classrooms' employee Algernon Classrooms Foundation, but it was Campbell provides innovative already in operation when Christine experiential educational programs for Truett became director of Education for youths who are being trained to be BUGS Living Classrooms. The partnership with educators. Initially, there were many the Ampersea restaurant also started at a different schools that included BUGS into later stage. their pupils’ curriculum: Johnston Square Elementary School was one of them. Now, EVERY SINGLE they work only with the Commodore John Rogers Elementary School, which has PERSON MATTERS been part of the programme for the past 6 years. The BUGS target group are kids from 2nd to 5th grade between 7 to 11 years old. The decision-maker, the Living Pupils involved in BUGS have a passion Classrooms Foundation, has been part of for planting and growing vegetables and the BUGS program since 2000. “BUGS has flowers. “I wanted to join BUGS because been a long-standing program of Living all the kids were talking about it and it Classrooms. It was in operation when I sounded cool,” said a 5th grade student. “I became Director of Education,” said wanted to join BUGS because my sister Christine Truett, Director of Education told me it was fun,” was another response for Living Classrooms Foundation. She from a 2nd grade student. Finally, a 3rd supervises the Director of BUGS and grade student told us he joined BUGS helps create the budget, manages the because he likes playing games and programme and writes applications for games are a big part of BUGS. grants. She was not instrumental in helping establish the format for the BUGS The pupils’ expectations were quite programme, but helped ensure that BUGS realistic and say the program is what works as a model for all other Living they thought it would be. One student Classrooms’ experiential education mentioned that he did not expect that programs. pupils could be mean to the educator. 199 Ampersea Restaurant is actively even more time spent outside gardening. engaged in the programme. Ampersea Ms. Christine from the Living Classrooms includes kids to work in their Foundation told us that BUGS is greenhouse and provide produce for exemplary, because it excites and their guests. The pupils grow certain motivates young pupils and truly gives items for the restaurant and it uses them them the tools to succeed in the classroom. in their dishes. However, there is limited She thinks BUGS could benefit from space in the greenhouse, so the amount additional funding that would allow a full- of vegetables that goes to the restaurant time staffing model. is not very large. PARTICIPATORY SECRET ASPECTS INGREDIENTS Kids said that BUGS helps them to become Mr. Algernon mentioned that BUGS better at things. A 2nd grade student said allows pupils to understand where food that being involved in BUGS helps him to comes from, because many kids think it do all his homework. “BUGS helped me to comes from grocery stores. A wide become a better cook and a more sincere range of food comes from the gardens person,” said a 3rd grade student. and positively affects the pupils’ diet. The kids haven’t faced any challenges in “Growing their own food allows pupils BUGS recently. to eat cucumbers as they are,” explained Mr. Algernon. Representatives of Living Classrooms believe that pupils, especially those in Mr. Algernon thinks BUGS could be need of extra guidance, organized in small improved with more money and space. groups in challenging settings, respond to They would like to broaden the scope of real-world applications far more readily the program. He thinks they need more than they do in traditional classrooms. tools and more staff. However, they think the biggest challenge is finding sustainable funding for the The kids are enjoying BUGS and are program. Living Classrooms is constantly satisfied with the program. They are seeking grants, donations and other funds happy to be in BUGS. A 5th grade to support the programme. student told us that he likes BUGS: “I like that the teachers are nice. I like BRIGHTER FUTURE that learning is actually cool in BUGS. I like that they provide lunch.” Other Mr Algernon sees the future of BUGS in its kids said they like the program, expansion. They want to serve middle because it is fun and it includes games. schoolers or high school pupils. There is a The pupils are generally satisfied with greater reach that would also increase the the program, although some mentioned staffing opportunities. that they are missing a baking class or 200 The kids are confident they can tell other One student joined BUGS, because she friends about BUGS and about all the likes garden flowers in particular. good things about it. Hopefully, this will make the program even more popular and more people will join. The Living Classrooms representative hopes that BUGS will continue to serve a wide array of Baltimore City pupils. GUIDANCE FOR BEGINNERS Algernon’s advice to a beginner who wishes to start creating a practice similar to BUGS is to make sure that the pupils remain the priority and to focus on what you are doing. Truett’s advice is to form a strong connection with the school and to have a firm understanding of the school’s academic goals and strategies, to Kids working like professionals understand and connect with the pupils at turning the soil and the compost (image credit: http://bugsprogram.blogspot.com) and their families and find sustainable funding. ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD “My personal motivation to become part of BUGS was having a job. Initially, I needed a job and I believed in what BUGS does. I came in year 8 of BUGS’ existence. I started as a dance educator and stayed there for about 5 years. I was a programme manager for 2 years. 5.5, years ago I was promoted to director,” said Mr. Algernon. A 5th grade student told us BUGS was the first program he was involved in. To him, gardening means helping the environment. He likes BUGS, because he gets to plant things and see the achievements. Gardening is also exciting to other pupils. 201 V. REFERENCES 202 • Airriess, C. 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