Last updated: November 2024
The Gnomes Project was launched to breathe new life into the abandoned Dublin City University (DCU) Community Garden, transforming it into a thriving urban micro-farm. Led by three friends—Martin, Jason, and Shane, collectively known as "The Gnomes"—the initiative grows pesticide-free, organic produce for the local community while championing regenerative farming practices. The Gnomes employ bio-intensive agriculture, a sustainable approach designed to maximize yield from small spaces while maintaining biodiversity and enriching soil health. This method supports long-term productivity by promoting crop diversity, improving soil quality, and reducing dependence on external inputs through a closed-loop system. The project’s journey began in 2015 when Jason and Martin enrolled in DCU's horticulture program and saw potential in the overgrown community garden. Shane joined as a volunteer in 2016, and by 2017, the trio had formalized their efforts to revitalize the garden. In 2019, they registered their business and began growing over 30 types of crops, eventually selling their produce through local farmers’ markets and small businesses. Working tirelessly to restore the garden, The Gnomes cleared debris and removed invasive weeds using organic methods, transforming the area into a productive micro-farm. After negotiating with the university, they secured a lease for a 10,900 sq.-ft. plot (approximately 1/4 acre), with access to water. This space became the foundation for their bio-intensive, small-scale farming model, enabling them to grow quick-yield, high-value crops that thrive in limited spaces. Some of their 20+ crops include a variety of leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, green beans, onions, carrots, beetroots, baby turnips, apples, and recently added microgreens. The Gnomes Project demonstrates the potential of urban farming, combining sustainable agriculture with community engagement. (2-5, 7-10)
Gnomes Farm
https://dominiquebernier.medium.com/urban-farming-in-dublin-with-the-gnomes-cef9ce96c1e7
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Horticulture
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- 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
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), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces
Project objectives
To produce high-quality, nutritious food for the local community.
To engage and educate the community about sustainable urban farming practices.
To sell organic produce and micro-greens directly to the local community and businesses.
To provide hands-on skill development opportunities in urban agriculture and sustainability.
To commit to sustainable agricultural practices (bio-intensive agriculture, that supports long-term productivity by promoting crop diversity, improving soil quality, and reducing dependence on external inputs through a closed-loop system) that prioritize environmental health and resilience.
To build a supportive network for shared learning, resources, and community support.
To increase biodiversity and sustain soil fertility through regenerative farming methods. (1, 5, 6, 7)
Implementation activities
The Gnomes transformed the abandoned DCU Community Garden, which was in poor condition due to neglect and vandalism. They removed invasive weeds and debris using organic methods, restoring the soil's health to make it cultivable again. The team grew over 30 different crops using bio-intensive agricultural methods, focusing on maximizing yield from a small area. They engaged in ongoing education about soil biology, crop planning, and organic farming practices by utilizing books and courses, which informed their farming techniques and decision-making processes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they pivoted their business model to include online shopping and home delivery, adapting to public health guidelines and ensuring continued access to their products (1). Gnomes also provide consultancy services to community gardeners and householders about the regenerative farming practices. (10)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase the use of or more efficient agroforestry practices (e.g. soil moisture, reduce evaporation) or drought-resistant species for agriculture
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore native species
- Clear and control invasive alien species
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Social enterprise
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Dublin City University provides land and educational collaboration, while The Gnomes manage the community garden, cultivate crops, and engage in local sales (1, 4, 5).
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
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Expected improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Expected increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Expected increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Expected increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Expected increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
- Expected generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Expected increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Expected increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Expected increased support for education and scientific research
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.
The Gnomes (n.d.). In The Beginning.... The Gnomes, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
2.
The Gnomes (n.d.). The Gallery. The Gnomes, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Dublin Community Growers (2022). The Gnomes. Dublin Community Growers, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
4.
DCU (n.d.). Sustainability at DCU. DCU, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Bernier, D. (2020). Urban Farming in Dublin with The Gnomes. Medium, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
6.
City Population (2023). City Population. City Population, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
7.
The Gnomes (n.d.). The Gnomes, Small Scale Agricultural Innovators. The Gnomes, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Finnan, S. (2019). In Glasnevin, the Garden Gnomes Are Squeezing Tonnes of Veg From a Small Plot. Dublin Inquirer, Accessed on October 1, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Keogh, O. (2020). Urban micro-farm growing vegetables in heart of community. The Irish Times, Accessed on October 1, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Sunday Times (2020). The Gnomes featured in the Sunday Times. Sunday Times, Accessed on October 1, 2024, [Source link];
Gnomes Farm
https://dominiquebernier.medium.com/urban-farming-in-dublin-with-the-gnomes-cef9ce96c1e7
Gnomes Farm
https://dominiquebernier.medium.com/urban-farming-in-dublin-with-the-gnomes-cef9ce96c1e7
Neglected Garden
Ref. 1
Renovated Garden
Ref. 1
Regenerative Market Garden
Ref. 2
Gnomes Farm
https://dominiquebernier.medium.com/urban-farming-in-dublin-with-the-gnomes-cef9ce96c1e7
Gnomes Farm
https://dominiquebernier.medium.com/urban-farming-in-dublin-with-the-gnomes-cef9ce96c1e7
Gnomes Farm
https://dominiquebernier.medium.com/urban-farming-in-dublin-with-the-gnomes-cef9ce96c1e7
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.