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In town, urban agriculture is developing. But since the 21st century, shared gardens have made cities greener… and allowed its people to discover gardening. DO you have shared gardens in your city?
Scattered in large urban centres as well as small cities, shared gardens are not done spreading. Zoom on this gardening and conviviality oasis.
From family gardens to shared gardens
In occidental Europe, the appearance of family garden in the 21st century – first called “worker gardens” in France – is linked to the industrial revolution and the rural exodus. It was about allowing urban and industrial base workers to grow vegetables for their consumption on individual plots. In the 1970s, while the idea was spreading through Europe, it was re-invented on the other side of the Atlantic, more precisely in New York where abandoned urban spaces were transformed into « community gardens ». It is in this community shape that shared garden came back to the Old Continent in the 1990s in the midst of the economic and social crisis and the rise of environmental concerns.
What is a shared garden?
A garden managed and moderated by the inhabitants of a same neighbourhood generally regrouped into an association. They gather to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits or flowers, even to make honey at times thanks to beehives. Located on wastelands, rooftops and even at the bottom of buildings, the fields can be public or private. The environment is a central preoccupation: gardeners are encouraged to adopt practices respectful of the environment, preserve biodiversity, save rain water... Finally, in shared gardens, activities are not limited to gardening: cultural, social or educational events create social links.
How to participate to a shared garden?
Many networks allow to find a shared garden in your city or neighbourhood: you just need to register but beware you might end up on a waiting list! Other possibility, create your own garden with other people looking to join the adventure. You then must find a free plot by contacting city hall, a landowner or even a social lender. Once the organisation set up, the space must be converted, and the ground prepared for crops by relying on the knowledge of more experimented gardeners. The plots can be individually or collectively exploited or even both with family and common spaces. Up to you to find what you like best!