Urban Gardens

Background

The growing of plants by humans, called agriculture, started at the beginning of civilisation. After agriculture took hold, the constant movement of cultures necessary for hunting and gathering was no longer needed to obtain food. Therefore, humans settled in villages. The first documented examples of urban gardening (growing food within cities) include Babylon’s hanging gardens and Greek cities’ sacred lands. The benefits of gardening in health and well-being were studied in Chinese gardens more than 2000 years ago. Moreover, Arabic gardens combine beauty with other sensory experiences, such as smells and odours from aromatic plants and flowers for visual attractiveness or sounds by including plants that would attract birds and other fauna. Gardens were often places where people went for their spiritual and mental well-being. In the Middle Ages, kitchen gardens, called Hortus, appeared. In Benedictine monasteries, food was produced and processed by monks. During the Industrial Revolution, factory workers also started gardening. These gardens both made fresh food and provided places for workers to relax and reduce stress. Urban gardens were also promoted during the war to give fresh vegetables. In recent years, urban gardening has been associated with advances in society and technology.

Project description

The project aims to use urban gardening as a tool for intercultural dialogue, community building, healthy lifestyle and social participation and integration of disadvantaged groups such as migrants, seniors, and long-term unemployment. Furthermore, we will focus on the mental fatigue that people face due to the pandemic COVID-19. We will explore the possibilities to make our everyday’s lives more eco-friendly and sustainable by creating and maintaining urban gardens in our houses.

Participating countries

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About Us

VERDE Research Center for Innovation and Sustainable Development is is a leading research center in the field of protection of the environment, climate change, and renewable energy in the area of Western Macedonia, Greece.