Urban gardening – Green up your city!
Urban gardening - Green up your city!
| Keywords | Action-Based Civic Engagement Community Intergenerational Sustainability |
| Target Group | Adult Educators Adults (25-64) Children (6-12) Different Ages Educators/ Multipliers Elder People Migrants Other People With Disabilities Senior Citizens (65+) Teenagers (13-17) Young Adults (18-24) Young Learners |
| Used Methods | Learning By Doing Simulation |
| Categories | Environmental Protection Solidarity |
| Level of Participation | Local Level |
| Approach | Low-Threshold |
| Format of the Method | Analog (Face To Face) |
| Duration of preparation | Long-Term (Over 6 Months) |
| Duration of implementation | Long-Term (Over 6 Months) |
Duration
| From | Until |
Short Description
Urban gardening refers to gardening in the city, usually on small areas such as balconies, roofs, backyards or community gardens. The aim is to grow fruit, vegetables, herbs or flowers yourself and to green urban spaces. This is often done collectively, which strengthens neighbourliness and social interaction. Urban gardening promotes sustainability, environmental awareness and the local supply of fresh food. At the same time, it improves the urban climate, creates habitats for animals and makes cities more liveable. The movement is a creative approach to making cities greener, more social and more sustainable.
Urban Gardening bezeichnet das Gärtnern in der Stadt, meist auf kleinen Flächen wie Balkonen, Dächern, Hinterhöfen oder Gemeinschaftsgärten. Ziel ist es, Obst, Gemüse, Kräuter oder Blumen selbst anzubauen und städtische Räume zu begrünen. Oft geschieht dies gemeinschaftlich, wodurch Nachbarschaft und soziales Miteinander gestärkt werden. Urban Gardening fördert Nachhaltigkeit, Umweltbewusstsein und die lokale Versorgung mit frischen Lebensmitteln. Gleichzeitig verbessert es das Stadtklima, schafft Lebensräume für Tiere und macht Städte lebenswerter. Die Bewegung ist ein kreativer Ansatz, um Städte grüner, sozialer und zukunftsfähiger zu gestalten.
Results
An example for this international activity is the german website https://urbane-gaerten.de/
Goals
Urban gardening has many important goals: It makes cities greener and more pleasant by improving the climate and creating habitats for animals. At the same time, it promotes cohesion in the neighbourhood because people garden together and exchange ideas. Urban gardening also enables fresh food to be grown locally, which reduces long transport routes and protects the environment. It sensitises people to sustainability and a more conscious use of resources.
What is needed
An urban gardening project starts with the search for committed supporters from the neighbourhood or circle of friends. Suitable areas such as backyards, fallow land or rooftops are then identified and their use clarified with the city or owners. Once permission has been obtained, the plants to be grown and the garden design are planned. The necessary materials such as soil, seeds, tools and planters are organised, often with the support of local initiatives or donations. The beds are then laid out and planting begins. The garden is maintained and organised collectively, with regular meetings and exchanges. This creates green oases in the city that strengthen the sense of community and promote sustainability.
Materials
– Raised beds or planter boxes
– Plant soil and compost
– Seeds and seedlings (vegetables, herbs, flowers)
– Garden tools (shovel, rake, rake, watering can, gloves)
– Mulch or straw to cover the soil
– Signage/labels for plant identification
– Trellises, nets or small fences
– Buckets, composters or water barrels
Costs
– Purchase of materials (beds, soil, plants): approx. 200-500 € depending on scope
– Tools and garden accessories: approx. 100-300 €
– Running costs (seeds, water, maintenance): approx. 50-150 € per season
– Optional: training, workshops or fees for carers
– Funding possible via the city, foundations or neighbourhood projects
Spaces
– Public or semi-public spaces (e.g. schoolyards, inner courtyards, fallow land, roof terraces)
– Good sun exposure, accessible to all participants
– Water connection or rain barrels nearby
– Storage space for tools & materials
Technology (kept simple)
– Manual gardening tools are usually sufficient
– Optional:
o Irrigation system (e.g. drip irrigation)
o Composting facility
o Solar pump or timer (for automatic irrigation)
Staff / people involved
– Project management or coordination (organisation, purchasing, communication)
– People interested in gardening (residents, schoolchildren, volunteers)
– Supervision