Community gardens: sustainability through community

Community gardens: sustainability through community

community gardens are becoming increasingly popular in Germany and everywhere in the world. They represent a unique model that contributes to sustainability and strengthening the communities in a variety of ways. In this article we explore the world of community gardens, their role in sustainable urban development, their advantages and challenges.

definition and history

Community gardens: What are you?

Community gardens are publicly accessible green spaces that are cultivated, maintained and used by communities. They can arise anywhere: on public green spaces, on fallow land, in housing estates and also on the roofs of buildings. The community that looks after such a garden mostly consists of residents of the district, in which the garden is located, but also of people who are simply interested in community gardening and maintaining the urban environment.

The emergence of community gardens

The movement of the community gardens is not new. It has its origin in antiquity, where community gardens were used to eat the population and to improve urban aesthetics. In Great Britain, "Victory Garden" emerged in Great Britain, which served to reduce the pressure on food supply. In the 1970s, urban community gardens were created in the 1970s, which served to improve the quality of life in disadvantaged districts.

role in sustainable urban development

Community gardens play a crucial role in sustainable urban development. They contribute to promoting ecological, social and economic sustainability.

ecological sustainability

Community gardens improve biodiversity in urban areas by offering habitat for a variety of plants and animals. They contribute to improving air quality by absorb CO2 and release oxygen. In addition, they contribute to reducing the urban heat island and help to improve water quality by filtering and saving rainwater.

social sustainability

Community gardens strengthen the sense of community and social integration. They offer opportunities for intercultural and intergenerational exchange and help to reduce isolation and loneliness. They also offer a place for education and learning around topics such as nature, gardening and healthy eating.

economic sustainability

Due to the self -production of food, community gardens can also contribute to economic sustainability. They help people save money and support the local economy by creating and maintaining local jobs.

advantages of community gardens

Health and well -being

Community gardens promote people's physical and mental health. The physical activity that is necessary for gardeners promotes fitness and helps to prevent diseases such as overweight or diabetes. Gardening also has a therapeutic effect and can help reduce stress and improve general well -being.

education and learning

Community gardens offer excellent opportunities for learning and education. They not only offer practical knowledge of gardening, but also on topics such as sustainability, biodiversity and healthy eating. They also promote soft skills such as teamwork, communication and problem -solving skills.

challenges and solutions

Despite the many advantages, community gardens also represent challenges. One of the most common challenges is the long -term securing of the areas and the involvement of all community members in the care and management of the garden.

Long -term securing of the areas

Since community gardens are often housed on public areas or on private property, there is always a risk that they could be used or sold for other purposes. A possible solution could be to convince the municipalities of the advantages of community gardens and to persuade them to conclude long -term lease contracts with the communities.

Integration of community members

Another challenge is to motivate and activate all members of the community in order to take part in the care and management of the garden. A possible solution could be in the creation of a participatory and democratic management, in which all members have the opportunity to make decisions and take responsibility.

FAZIT

Community gardens are important components of sustainable urban development. They contribute to ecological, social and economic sustainability, promote the health and well -being of people and offer opportunities for learning and education. Despite some challenges, they offer enormous potential to improve the quality of life in cities and to promote more sustainable and equal society.