Last updated: November 2021
Creation of an additional spot for a vegetable garden, which is a utility of the charitable society for inclusive employment (Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung mbH) in Bremen. With the land provided by the city and with the financial help of Aktion Mensch organization the initiative aimed to establish an additional area for the gardening and horticultural activities that will involve disabled people. The project aims to increase social inclusion of the disadvantaged groups as well as promote urban subsistence and sustainable solutions in food production. The initiative also involves educational activities (Ref. 2, 3).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Horticulture
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Conversion of former industrial areas
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Environmental education
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Employment/job creation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
Goals of the intervention: 1) Providing green space for gardening for people with and without disabilities; 2) Combining urban agriculture and community garden for sustainable food production and social integration; 3) Promoting and providing education on urban subsistence and sustainable solutions in food production (Ref. 2, 3).
Increased social integration of disabled people; Increased sustainability of food production in the city (Ref. 2, 3).
Implementation activities
Building the 2,600 sq m garden area to be developed and planted according to the principles of organic farming with vegetables, herbs, fruit and mushrooms (Ref. 2). Organizing conferences and workshops on urban subsistence and sustainable solutions in food production (Ref. 3). Informing interested parties about the experiences, practices, financing, sustainability strategies and participation concepts of urban community gardens and agricultural cultures (Ref. 3). Engaging disabled people in the creation of the new garden areas (Ref. 2). 'The vegetable wharf realizes environmentally friendly access to urban greenery, is committed to the expansion of urban agriculture on the level of environmental planning, urban development and horticulture, and generates biodiversity in inner-city areas. About 30% of the area is used for wild growth and provides a habitat for urban flora and fauna" (Ref. 6).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- 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
The vegetable garden is a utility of the charitable society for inclusive employment (Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung mbH) and the project was initiated by that society. The initiative is supported by the city (provision of land for an additional garden spot) and resources from the Aktion Mensch organization (Ref. 2, 3).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project falls under the city program "Environmental and nature conservation projects" and is supported by it (Ref. 1).)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Expected 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. Freie Hansestadt Bremen (n.d.). 'Promotion of environmental projects' ('Förderung von Umweltprojekten'). Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
2. Department for Environment, Building and Transport (2016). 'Overview of the work carried out by the Department for Environment, Building and Transport in 2016, projects in the field of environment and environmental protection', ('Übersicht über die vom Senator für Umwelt, Bau und Verkehr im Jahre 2016 geförderten Projekte im Bereich Umwelt- und Naturschutz'). (Document attached).
3. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). 'Social Farmers - implementation of inclusive impact potential of urban community gardens'. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
4. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). "Gemüse…, was?". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
5. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). "Warum Bremen wahrscheinlich Deutschlands größtes Hopfenanbaugebiet nördlich der Hallertau ist". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
6. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). "Gemüsewerft: für eine grüne und inklusive Stadt". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
7. Gemüsewerft (2020). Facebook page. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
2. Department for Environment, Building and Transport (2016). 'Overview of the work carried out by the Department for Environment, Building and Transport in 2016, projects in the field of environment and environmental protection', ('Übersicht über die vom Senator für Umwelt, Bau und Verkehr im Jahre 2016 geförderten Projekte im Bereich Umwelt- und Naturschutz'). (Document attached).
3. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). 'Social Farmers - implementation of inclusive impact potential of urban community gardens'. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
4. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). "Gemüse…, was?". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
5. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). "Warum Bremen wahrscheinlich Deutschlands größtes Hopfenanbaugebiet nördlich der Hallertau ist". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
6. Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung (n.d.). "Gemüsewerft: für eine grüne und inklusive Stadt". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).
7. Gemüsewerft (2020). Facebook page. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 26, 2020).