Urban Community Garden "Miracle Gardens"

Project owner: Associaton for sustainable living promotion GARDEN BED

Responsible person: Goran Hanžek

2013

3rd Prize

HR

Civil Society / Social Economy

What is it about?

First functional community garden in Croatia which at the same time serves as test field for low tech solutions in energy, water management and building with natural materials. All users are involved in garden management and maintenace. The important part of the project is complete financial self-sustainability achieved through symbolic fees for renting 50m2 plots.

Appreciation of the Jury

This is the first project of its kind in Croatia: healthy and affordable food for all who participate, organic farming, conservation and recovery of species diversity, self-organized work on a communal basis, and self-sustaining cooperation in solidarity with one another. The innovative concept has been written about and talked about. Its impact extends far beyond the people directly involved and it has already become a model for other towns and cities. The project is also about resistance to industrialized food production. ‘Miracle Gardens’ demonstrate that a public space can be used productively, opening up possibilities for imagining other community-based initiatives too.