Last updated: November 2024
The "Urban Farms in Gdańsk" project, launched in 2018, is an innovative educational initiative spearheaded by the Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni, Fundacja Gdańska, and dedicated volunteers. This project aims to inspire Gdańsk residents to cultivate herbs in their home gardens and balconies while emphasizing the importance of preserving urban greenery. The initiative not only promotes sustainable living but also fosters a deeper connection between the community and its natural surroundings. As part of the project, two locations in Gdańsk—Grobla IV and Za Murami streets—feature 27 carefully designed planter boxes. Each box contains a thoughtfully curated selection of herbs, including culinary basil, lovage, olive herb, and dill, among others. These fragrant plants not only serve a practical purpose but also delight the senses and enhance the urban landscape. In total, 27 pots measuring 60x80 cm and 50 cm high were set up, with each labeled to describe its specific composition and plant varieties. Approximately 500 plants were cultivated as part of this effort, showcasing a harmonious blend of practicality, education, and aesthetics. The herb gardens thrive from spring through late autumn, offering an ongoing visual and sensory experience. They serve as a testament to the potential of urban spaces to support greenery, community engagement, and ecological awareness. This initiative also underscores the importance of individual contributions to urban green spaces. By growing herbs, residents not only enhance their own surroundings but also play an active role in maintaining the city's ecological balance. The "Urban Farms in Gdańsk" project demonstrates how urban agriculture can merge utility and beauty, creating vibrant spaces that benefit both people and the environment. (1-3)
Urban farm on Grobla IV street
Ref. 3
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
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- 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)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Agriculture/ crop production
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Poor community engagement
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
Project objectives
To encourage urban agriculture by inspiring residents of Gdańsk to grow herbs in their home gardens and on balconies.
To promote environmental awareness by highlighting the importance of preserving and maintaining urban green spaces.
To enhance urban aesthetics through the creation of decorative herb gardens that beautify the city from spring to late autumn.
To provide education by labeling planters and curating herb compositions, helping residents learn about different types of herbs and their uses.
To support biodiversity by introducing and nurturing diverse herb species in urban environments.
To foster community engagement and interactions by involving residents, local organizations, and volunteers in sustainability initiatives. (1-3)
Implementation activities
The project began by setting up urban farms in designated green areas on Za Murami Street and Grobla IV Street. This involved placing 27 large pots (measuring 60x80 cm and 50 cm high) filled with various herb sets. Approximately 500 plants were planted in the urban farms, grouped into three specific sets culinary, medicinal and aromatherapy. The urban farms are maintained by Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni who monitor the plants' exposure to sunlight and adjust watering accordingly. The herbs are watered 1-2 times a week during dry periods and not watered during rainy periods. The project plans to expand in future editions by planting additional useful plants such as cherry tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and pumpkins. In the boxes set in two locations, three sets of plants grow: culinary, medicinal and aromatherapy. The first composition includes culinary basil, lovage, mint, olive herb, oregano, rosemary, thyme, marjoram and dill, and strawberries. In the medicinal set, basil, sage, calaminta, mint in various varieties, hyssop, rockrose and Brazilian raisin grow, among others. The third composition contains a collection of plants that work great in aromatherapy, i.e. varieties of sage and oregano, lemon balm, varieties of lavender and thyme. In winter, during heavier frosts, the herbs will be covered with a coniferous twig. (1-3)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Private foundation/trust
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project is implemented by the Gdańsk Road and Greenery Authority, the Gdańsk Foundation and volunteers. The Gdańsk Foundation was established in 1998. The founders of the Foundation were the city authorities and economic circles, the budget consisted of contributions for statutory purposes. The project was initiated as an educational one supported by the Gdańsk Road and Greenery Authority, the land was provided by the municipality, and the community was invited to participate. The urban farms are maintained by Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni who monitor the plants' exposure to sunlight and adjust watering accordingly. (1-3)
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 was implemented under an educational program "The City Farms in Gdańsk" developed by the municipality of Gdansk, which is part of the Gdansk Green Policy that serves as a guide for enhancing the city's greenery and making it more accessible to its residents. (4))
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
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)
- Expected generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- 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
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
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.
Portal Miasta Gdańska (n.d.). Mięta, szałwia, truskawki. Uszczknij (delikatnie!) ziół z miejskiej farmy w Gdańsku. Gdańsk: Portal Miasta Gdańska, Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni (n.d.). Miejskie Farmy w Gdańsku. Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni, Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni (2020). Miłość do miasta, do ludzi i do zieleni w 8 donicach z ziołami. Gdański Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni, Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Gdansk city portal History of the district. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
Urban farm on Grobla IV street
Ref. 3
Urban farm on Grobla IV street
Ref. 1
City Farms in Gdansk
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714374796066208&set=pcb.714374092732945
City Farms in Gdansk
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714374796066208&set=pcb.714374092732945
City Farms in Gdansk
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714374796066208&set=pcb.714374092732945
City Farms in Gdansk
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714374796066208&set=pcb.714374092732945
City Farms in Gdansk
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714374796066208&set=pcb.714374092732945
City Farms in Gdansk
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714374796066208&set=pcb.714374092732945
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.