Berlin, Berlin (FUA), Germany
City population: 4186143
Duration: 2012 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 1400 m2
Type of area: Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: September 2024

The himmelbeet is an intercultural, inclusive community garden in Berlin that has been inviting people to garden and harvest their own produce since 2013. The garden offers around 200 raised beds that are communal and can be rented by neighbors, individuals and institutions (Ref. 1; Ref. 3). The project aims to familiarize children and adults with ecology, sustainability and healthy eating and to offer space for social exchange and education, while being inclusive to people with different (dis)abilities and backgrounds (Ref. 2; Ref. 6). The design and implementation of environmental education workshops are a vital part of the work. (Ref. 1; Ref. 6) With its own café and vegetable production, himmelbeet is strongly oriented towards the principles of the economy for the common good. The garden team also looks after other gardens in the city - on behalf of educational institutions, social institutions, housing associations and neighborhoods. (Ref. 1; Ref. 6) Originally located in Ruheplatzstrasse, the garden moved in 2021 to Gartenstrasse, because of land disputes with the providing land owners and the demand of the space for other social projects. (Ref. 8; Ref. 11)

himmelbeet
himmelbeet
https://lifeandsoulmagazine.wordpress.com/2018/01/09/himmelbeet-a-community-garden-in-the-heart-of-berlin/

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Community gardens

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social cohesion
  • Social justice and equity
  • Social interaction
  • Environmental education
  • Sense of community and community engagement
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable production

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Environmental Degradation
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Land use and Socio-economic change
  • Agriculture/ crop production
  • Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
  • Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
  • Social fragmentation and isolation

Key priorities

Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Citizen science and monitoring initiatives (e.g. species observations, habitat assessments, and data collection efforts)

Project objectives

1. To increase biodiversity and positive environmental contributions in urban green spaces (Ref., 2; Ref. 7) by providing plants and ecosystems for a diverse set of insects to counteract biodiversity loss (Ref. 2) 2. To familiarise children and adults with ecology, sustainability, and healthy nutrition by providing (mostly) free, inclusive, food-related education and workshops in different languages (Refs. 1, 6, 7). 3. To create an inclusive space for engagement and gardening while providing accessibility for all (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 6; Ref. 7) - 4. To build strong community ties through gardening (Ref. 2; Ref. 3) and support community feeling and public engagement, fostering social networks (Ref. 7; Ref. 8) 5. To act as a real-life laboratory in a research project for monitoring and assessing natural and material processes. The research is conducted in cooperation with research organisations, companies, and the Senate Administration Berlin. (Ref.17)

Implementation activities

In 2012 an architecture firm, RaumstarArchitekten designed the spatial conception of the garden, selecting a plot of 1,700 sqm which was transformed into around 200 raised beds growing several varieties of vegetables (old varieties and organic cultivation and renouncing use of pesticides or artificial fertilizer to contribute to biodiversity (Ref. 5) The basic unit of the garden (standardized euro-pallet, 80 x 120 cm) was based on testing different constructions of raised vegetable patches. In 2015 a garden café – made from sustainable materials including wood pallets, mud and clay – was opened. In 2021/22 the garden moved to a new location and changed its size from 1,700 sqm to 1,400 sqm. The garden is providing non-formal education for people with disabilities and socially excluded groups. (Refs. 1, 6, 7, 8). The space offers free environment-themed workshops and cultural events about gardening and environmental topics, while supporting other groups in establishing community gardens. About 30 people are maintaining the community garden center.

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , People with functional diversities, People with invisible disabilities, Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed), Disadvantaged ethnic or racial groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Non-government organisation/civil society

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling)
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Co-management/Joint management

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Himmelbeet is a non-profit organization (Ref. 10). It takes care of organisational tasks and deals with important issues such as payment, work structures and the project's orientation. The community garden is run by volunteers (Ref. 5). The municipality was involved in allocating the location for the project and provided a new space for the project. (Ref. 11). The Senate Department for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection financed the move (Ref. 11). Decision-making in garden design was done by participating neighbours and community to foster equal participation (Ref. 7)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget
  • Public regional budget
  • Other funding sources are unclear

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Other funding types are unknown

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of land
  • Provision of labour
  • Provision of expertise
  • Exchange of services
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
  • Private sector (businesses, financial institution)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Achieved increased green space area
  • Increased number of species present
  • Achieved increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
  • Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
  • Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
  • Achieved increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved social cohesion
  • Expected improved social cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Expected improved access to urban green space
  • Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Expected increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Achieved increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
  • Achieved increased sustainability of agriculture practices
  • Education
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Social justice and conflicts, Lack of social acceptance

References

1.
himmelbeet (n.d.). himmelbeet. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Ambrose, L. & Derks, S. (n.d.). The urban gardeners of Berlin. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Medea, R. (2018). himmelbeet: A community garden in the heart of Berlin. Life & Soul Magazine, Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Vicenzi, A., Calzolari, F. & Hasterok, R. (eds.) (2022). Inclusive approaches to community gardening & green learning spaces. Comparative Research Network e.V. Berlin, Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
5.
GartenLeistungen (n.d.). Das Himmelbeet – ein Gemeinschaftsgarten im Herzen Berlins. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Hirschfeld, J., Kliem, L. & Welling, M. (2024). Gemeinschaftsgärten sind Gold wert – ein Forschungsprojekt belegt das empirisch. transcript Verlag, p. 277-285 Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
7.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Unsere Vision: Das Gute Leben für Alle. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Karge, T. (2015). Neue Urbane Landwirtschaft: Eine theoretische Verortung und Akteursanalyse der Initiative Himmelbeet im Berliner Wedding . Universitätsverlag TU Berlin, p. 98-153 Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
9.
District office Berlin-Mitte (n.d.). Demografische und sozioökonomische Daten. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
10.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Struktur und Aktionsfelder. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
11.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Zeitstrahl: Das himmelbeet zieht um! . Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
12.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Green Urban Labs. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
13.
GoFundMe (2022). Rettet den himmelbeet Gemeinschaftsgarten!. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
14.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Gartenleistungen II. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
15.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Kinderaktivitäten. Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
16.
himmelbeet (n.d.). Workshops. Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
himmelbeet-urban-garden
himmelbeet-urban-garden
https://lifeandsoulmagazine.wordpress.com/2018/01/09/himmelbeet-a-community-garden-in-the-heart-of-berlin/
Vegetable patches and greenhouses
Vegetable patches at himmelbeet
himmelbeet
The café at himmelbeet
himmelbeet Café
himmelbeet
naturescapes bannerInformation about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.