Last updated: September 2024
Giulia's Farm is the first project launched by the Italian NGO Terre Colte in Sardinia, focused on transforming unused agricultural plots into a productive community garden. Initiated in 2014, the project covers approximately 3,000 square meters (out of 18,000 sqm owned by the NGO). The garden leases 50-square-meter plots to local residents, known as "ortisti," who cultivate the land using organic and natural farming methods. This approach not only revitalizes neglected land but also strengthens community bonds and promotes sustainable agriculture (Refs. 1 & 2). The project operates on a cooperative model, ensuring that the land remains accessible and productive while fostering a connection between people and the environment. Participants share resources and knowledge, creating a network of mutual support that enhances both social and environmental resilience. Beyond its agricultural impact, Giulia's Farm aims to preserve Sardinia's agricultural heritage and combat land speculation. By involving the community in farming, the initiative helps protect these plots from being sold for non-agricultural purposes, ensuring they remain dedicated to food production. The project also demonstrates the potential for reclaiming abandoned land, fostering local food production, and building a more sustainable and resilient food system. Giulia's Farm has gained attention as a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges of land abandonment and environmental degradation (Refs. 2, 3 & 4).
Photo of the sign of the community gardens at Giulia's Farm
Mulas, Francesca. 2016. “Migranti, a San Sperate Sardi E Africani Lavorano Assieme Nell’orto Sinergico.” Sardiniapost. June 2, 2016. https://www.sardiniapost.it/cronaca/migranti-a-san-sperate-sardi-e-africani-lavorano-assieme-nellorto-sinergico/.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Soil degradation and loss
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Agriculture/ crop production
- Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Disconnection from nature
- Social fragmentation and isolation
- Poor community engagement
- Resource Scarcity and Competition
- Food insecurity due to disruptions in food production and distribution
- Land rights conflicts
- Over-exploitation of natural resources (water resources, overgrazing, fisheries, mangroves, fore products)
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
To stimulate the reuse of neglected agricultural land and improve the soil
To encourage sustainable consumption and self-production by offering small, 50-square-meter plots where participants can grow crops using eco-friendly practices like crop rotation, organic fertilization, and efficient irrigation .
To provide alternative income opportunities through shared agricultural activities, helping participants gain financial benefits from their involvement
To build community cohesion by engaging participants in relaxation, learning, social interaction and shared agricultural activities, supported by resources like workshops, irrigation, tools, and technical assistance
To strengthen the connection between people and the land, through eco-friendly farming practices and community involvement contributing to environmental stewardship and sustainability (Refs. 2, 3, 4 & 7).
Implementation activities
Giulia's Farm is situated on neglected agricultural land owned by Massimo Planta who in 2012 had the idea of recovering a land of about 3000 square meters that was uncultivated and abandoned in a country residence. In 2014 the land was transformed into a shared vegetable garden with more than half of the 40 lots of 50 square meters being occupied. The project offers community members the opportunity to lease allotments, with a commitment of at least 12 months, encouraging long-term cultivation and sustainable farming practices . To ensure active participation, the program promotes the initiative to attract individuals interested in sustainable agriculture, maintaining a consistent flow of engaged community members. Once participants are enrolled, they are provided with essential resources, including fencing, irrigation systems, and infrastructure to support their farming activities. Additionally, participants benefit from workshops, training sessions and technical support focused on sustainable farming methods. (Refs. 2, 3 & 4)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- 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
Massimo Planta, the founder of Terre Colte and owner of the land where Giulia's Farm is located, initiated the project to restore neglected land for community farming. He also established the association to manage the initiative. The Terre Colte Association is a social and cultural organization created to oversee the project. It manages the land, provides necessary resources, and offers educational programs focused on sustainable farming practices. The project relies on community participants, known as "ortisti" who cultivate the land, maintain the plots and participate in educational activities and workshops. Funding is provided through membership fees ((Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).
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
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Private funding by citizens
Type of funding
- Membership or entrance fees
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Expected strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Expected energy efficiency improvements
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Expected improved waste management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil
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)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Achieved increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Achieved increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Achieved increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Expected enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- 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
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
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Corona, E (2017). Terre Colte, una proposta sarda contro l’abbandono della terra. Altreconomia, Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Nuti, O (2021). La buona pratica degli Orti Condivisi. Mercato Circolare, Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Terre Colte (n.d.). Associazione Terre Colte. Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Terre Colte (n.d.). Fattoria Giulia. Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Fattoria Giulia (n.d.). Fattoria Giulia - Recensioni. Facebook, Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Valfrutta - Cooperative Agricole (n.d.). Coltivare l'integrazione: a San Sperate l'orto è multiculturale. Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Magro, M (2016). Migranti, a San Sperate sardi e africani lavorano assieme nell’orto sinergico. Sardiniapost, Accessed on August 18, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Tuttitalia (2021). Censimento 2021 San Sperate. Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
Photo of the young migrants working on their allotments at Giulia's Farm
Valfrutta - Cooperative Agricole. n.d. “A San Sperate l’Orto è Coltivato Da Sardi E Africani.” Valfrutta, La Natura Di Prima Mano. Valfrutta. Accessed August 18, 2024. https://www.valfrutta.it/it/magazine/coltivare-lintegrazione-a-san-sperate-lorto-e-multiculturale.
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.