Last updated: October 2021
Restructuring a public derelict land into few private vegetable and fruit gardens. The gardeners practice organic gardening making it more sustainable. This provides foods as well as increasing the soil fertility, and reduction of the soil erosion. This also creates some extra vegetable and fruit market in the city. 20 % of the food produced is donated to the food bank. The project is a community project which also helps to bring people together. Started in April 2012 (Ref 1,4). The project is one of the initiatives by the Greek municipalities allotting land to local citizens with the purpose of increasing food security for the underprivileged, educating the younger generation, and providing their citizens with a retreat from city life (Ref 3).
Private vegetable and fruit gardening in Marousi
Source: https://www.athenssocialatlas.gr/en/article/city-growers/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
The goal of the project was to create an urban green space in a derelict area of the city. Also to produce local foods at a cheaper price than the conventional market, to create new jobs and market in the area, to increase the soil fertility and reduce erosion, to introduce biodiversity, to practice organic gardening ie. to use less fertilizers and produce more organic and healthy food. Additionally, the project aimed to facilitate socializing, activation, be a creative outlet, offer social care and solidarity for the city residents (Ref 1,3,4).
Implementation activities
Before the intervention was implemented, the land was a waste disposal site. The local community and the Government took an initiative to make the full use of the land in an environmentally healthy way. The land was divided into 40 slots each of 25 sq. m. and distributed among the locals/farmers. The farmers then cultivated different vegetables and fruits on their own piece of land. They also created a composting site to help increase the soil fertility and a water tank for watering the plants (Ref 1,3). Only organic farming is allowed in the garden. Initially, there were 35 plots distributed among the locals and the aim was to make it 40 which they achieved after a year (Ref 1).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore valued species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Elderly people, Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed), People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen science
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The local community and the Government took an initiative to make the full use of the land in an environmentally healthy way. The Government provided the land and the local community built the small farms. The project was a joint initiative of them both (Ref 1,2,3,4).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(Food Directive. 20% of the food being produced is donated to the food bank (Ref 1,4).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Crowdfunding
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Other
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved mental health
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Anthopoulou Theodosia and Nikolaidou Sofia (2015) City growers: The Municipal urban vegetable garden of Maroussi. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th July, 2020.
2. Touliatos Dennis (2015) Urban Agriculture. The Lancaster University Blog. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th July, 2020.
3. The garden movement grows in Greece (2013) The Greek Reporter News Article. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th July, 2020.
4. Anthopoulou Theodosia (2016) Edited by Simon Bell, Runrid Fox-Kämper, Nazila Keshavarz, Mary Benson, Silvio Caputo, Susan Noori, Annette Voigt. Chapter 4. Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe.
2. Touliatos Dennis (2015) Urban Agriculture. The Lancaster University Blog. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th July, 2020.
3. The garden movement grows in Greece (2013) The Greek Reporter News Article. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th July, 2020.
4. Anthopoulou Theodosia (2016) Edited by Simon Bell, Runrid Fox-Kämper, Nazila Keshavarz, Mary Benson, Silvio Caputo, Susan Noori, Annette Voigt. Chapter 4. Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe.
Private vegetable and fruit gardening in Marousi
Source: https://www.athenssocialatlas.gr/en/article/city-growers/