Last updated: December 2024
The Avas Tomato Community Garden, located in a formerly neglected area of the Avas hill of Miskolc, has transformed from an overgrown, rat-infested, and litter-strewn space into a thriving community garden. Just a few years ago, this site was a source of concern for local residents, plagued by issues such as homelessness and illegal dumping. Today, however, it stands as a flourishing green space with fresh garden beds, composting boxes, a pavilion offering shade to gardeners, and a renewed sense of community spirit. The seeds of the Avas Tomato Community Garden project were planted in the fall of 2014, led by Zsolt Jakab and Ákos Káli-Nagy. The initiative began with the establishment of the "Panelkertész" club, and by 2016, with the support of a local representative, the garden began to take shape. The gardening community that blossomed in the spring of 2017 was built upon the strong relationships within the established Avas neighborhood. Working together, members constructed the garden beds according to a precise schedule and, through frequent discussions, developed a close-knit community. The garden now consists of 20 large and 6 smaller beds, with 18 families actively growing vegetables, herbs, and spices, alongside raspberry and strawberry plants by the fence. The community has greatly benefited from both the professional support and supply donations provided by the Miskolc Ecological Institute Foundation. Additionally, the Dialóg Association has played a key role in organizing the garden users and fostering collaboration. Initially, Dialóg appointed a coordinator for the garden, but this responsibility has since been handed over to the gardeners themselves. Owned by the Municipality of Miskolc, the Avas Tomato Community Garden continues to thrive as a model of successful urban gardening, uniting people with a shared passion for gardening and a commitment to building a strong, supportive community. (Ref.1,2,3)
Avasi garden
https://tervezzukmiskolcot.hu/cool-miskolc/tudastar/avasi-paradicsom-kozossegi-kert#gallery-6
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Social interaction
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Disconnection from nature
- Poor community engagement
- Insecurity in public spaces
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, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, 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 transform a derelict, neglected area of Avas into a vibrant green space by cleaning up, fencing off, and cultivating the land into a productive garden, thus converting the land into a valuable community asset.
To address unequal access to fresh produce within the panel neighborhood by creating garden beds where local residents can grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits, thereby improving access to fresh, healthy food and enhancing residents' quality of life.
To build a strong, self-sustaining community by involving local families and people of all ages (including elderly residents) in the garden's creation and ongoing maintenance, fostering collaboration, mutual support, and a shared sense of purpose among neighbors.
To promote sustainable gardening practices and environmental stewardship by establishing the garden as a platform for education, hands-on learning experiences and recreational opportunities
To involve the local community in design and decision making processes through several discussions
(Ref.1,2,3,4)
Implementation activities
Before the garden was set up the Dialog Association surveyed who would be interested in gardening. The initial cleanup was carried out by dedicated local community members. Together, they worked to clear trash, address rodent infestations, and remove encroachments. Local families and community members came together to construct 20 large and 6 small garden beds, following a carefully planned schedule. These beds provided spaces for the community to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. To protect and clearly define the garden space, community members, with support from local representatives, erected a fence around the garden. With guidance and materials from the Miskolc Ecological Institute Foundation, community members installed composting boxes. This system promoted sustainable waste management within the garden. Eighteen families within the community actively participate in cultivating a wide variety of plants. They grow vegetables, medicinal herbs, spices, as well as raspberries and strawberries, creating a diverse and productive green space. Initially, the garden was primarily tended by older community members. The members of the garden organized several events, such as the night of the community gardens, and participated in several study trips for self-education, for example, they went to Gömörszőlős and visited the Budapest community gardens.
(Ref.1-5)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , Elderly people, Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Local community members of the Avas neighborhood, participated in gardening activities and community-building efforts. Initially, the garden was primarily tended by older community members.
The Panel Gardeners Community, a local NGO, was instrumental in initiating and coordinating the project from the beginning, guiding it through planning and development phases. The Dialóg Association provided essential support in organizing the community, facilitating meetings, and helping to coordinate the garden. The main – essentially the only – decision-making body of the community garden is a membership meeting, where members can discuss their conflicting issues, make new rules or set new goals.
The Miskolc Ecological Institute offered professional guidance and composting boxes to the project. As the owner of the land, the Municipality of Miskolc supported the project by granting access to the space and facilitating its development.The project also received funding from Tesco. (Ref. 1-7)
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
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Achieved improved waste management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Achieved restoration of derelict areas
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
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- 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 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
- Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Achieved increased perception of safety
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
Social justice and conflicts, Lack of social acceptance
References
1.
kozossegikertek.hu (n.d.). Avasi Paradicsom Közösségi Kert. Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
2.
tervezzukmiskolcot.hu (n.d.). Avasi Paradicsom közösségi kert. Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Szanto, R. (2017). Paradicsomot álmodtak az avasi lakótelepre. Boon, Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Dialóg Egyesület (n.d.). Közösségi kert. Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Selley, A. (2011). Közösségfejlesztés az Avason. Esettanulmány. Közösségi Kapcsolat Alapítvány - Közösségi Adattár, Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Wikipedia (n.d.). Avas. Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Csele, G. (2020). Panelházak tövében közösségi biogazdaság – Így működik az Avasi Paradicsomkert. Accessed on August 28, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Dialóg Egyesület (2017). Dialóg Egyesület 2017. évi munkája. p. 1-2 Accessed on August 29, 2024,;
Avasi garden
https://tervezzukmiskolcot.hu/cool-miskolc/tudastar/avasi-paradicsom-kozossegi-kert#gallery-6
Garden meeting
Ref.1
Vegetable bed
Ref.1
Avasi garden
https://tervezzukmiskolcot.hu/cool-miskolc/tudastar/avasi-paradicsom-kozossegi-kert#gallery-6
Avasi garden
https://tervezzukmiskolcot.hu/cool-miskolc/tudastar/avasi-paradicsom-kozossegi-kert#gallery-6
Avasi garden
https://tervezzukmiskolcot.hu/cool-miskolc/tudastar/avasi-paradicsom-kozossegi-kert#gallery-6
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.