GaaS
Basic information
Project Title
GaaS
Full project title
Garden as a service
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Garden as a service is an innovative concept with the aim of reconnecting people from urban area with nature.
Geographical Scope
Regional
Project Region
North-Eastern region of Romania, Romania
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Garden as a Service: A novel approach to connect people with nature involves immersing them in the care of a mini-garden teeming with vegetables and providing access to diverse crops like corn and orchards laden with various fruits. Customers are invited to rent a garden for a day, a week, a month, or even an entire year. They receive comprehensive instructions on garden care, tailored to the season. This guidance covers everything from the appropriate tools to use, how to harvest ripe vegetables and fruits, to cooking and preservation techniques.
The project’s overarching goal is to reconnect people with nature through a slow-living approach, making them an integral part of the natural cycle.
Target Groups:
1.Medium-high income individuals, couples, or families from the closest major cities such as Botosani, Suceava, and Iasi and extends to other large cities across the country.
2.Kindergartens and schools in the vicinity, providing group activities and workshops.
3.Foreign tourists seeking an authentic nature experience.
Specific Objectives:
1.Garden Preparation by dividing the 3-hectare area into mini-gardens available for rent, along with dedicated crop parcels. Create pathways for water circulation, walking, and resting. 2.Cooking and Gathering Area built as a communal space using natural materials and modular furniture. This area offers flexibility for various activities, including workshops. 3.Strategic Marketing to effectively reach the target groups. 4.Accommodation Benefits through glamping options and cater to camper vans. 5.Enriching Long-Stays for guests, integrating them into the countryside lifestyle. Activities may include visits to local producers, carriage rides, sheep pen experiences, flour milling, cooking workshops, foraging wild plants and mushrooms in the forest, and running or biking adventures. The primary outcomes of this project are to cultivate a community of individuals eager to connect with nature while simultaneously enhancing
The project’s overarching goal is to reconnect people with nature through a slow-living approach, making them an integral part of the natural cycle.
Target Groups:
1.Medium-high income individuals, couples, or families from the closest major cities such as Botosani, Suceava, and Iasi and extends to other large cities across the country.
2.Kindergartens and schools in the vicinity, providing group activities and workshops.
3.Foreign tourists seeking an authentic nature experience.
Specific Objectives:
1.Garden Preparation by dividing the 3-hectare area into mini-gardens available for rent, along with dedicated crop parcels. Create pathways for water circulation, walking, and resting. 2.Cooking and Gathering Area built as a communal space using natural materials and modular furniture. This area offers flexibility for various activities, including workshops. 3.Strategic Marketing to effectively reach the target groups. 4.Accommodation Benefits through glamping options and cater to camper vans. 5.Enriching Long-Stays for guests, integrating them into the countryside lifestyle. Activities may include visits to local producers, carriage rides, sheep pen experiences, flour milling, cooking workshops, foraging wild plants and mushrooms in the forest, and running or biking adventures. The primary outcomes of this project are to cultivate a community of individuals eager to connect with nature while simultaneously enhancing
Key objectives for sustainability
The key objectives of this project in terms of sustainability are:
1. Promoting sustainable agriculture: By providing customers with access to mini-gardens full of vegetables and orchards with different fruits, the project promotes sustainable agriculture practices. Customers will be instructed on how to take care of the garden depending on the season, what type of instruments to use, how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits, how to cook and to preserve them.
2. Reducing food waste: By providing customers with access to fresh produce, the project can help reduce food waste. Customers will be instructed on how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits and how to preserve them.
3. Promoting eco-tourism: By targeting foreign tourists from western countries, the project can promote eco-tourism and encourage visitors to explore the natural beauty of Romania. This can help promote sustainable tourism practices and support local communities.
4. Creating a sense of community: By providing customers with access to mini-gardens and orchards, the project can create a sense of community and encourage social interaction. Customers can share their experiences and learn from each other and from the locals, which can help build a strong community of like-minded individuals.
5. Promoting environmental education: By providing customers with access to ateliers and workshops, the project can promote environmental education and encourage customers to adopt eco-friendly practices. Customers can learn about sustainable agriculture practices, natural gardening, and vegetable preservation, which can help promote environmental sustainability.
The Garden as a Service project can be exemplary in the context of sustainability by promoting sustainable agriculture practices, reducing food waste, promoting eco-tourism, creating a sense of community, and promoting environmental education.
1. Promoting sustainable agriculture: By providing customers with access to mini-gardens full of vegetables and orchards with different fruits, the project promotes sustainable agriculture practices. Customers will be instructed on how to take care of the garden depending on the season, what type of instruments to use, how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits, how to cook and to preserve them.
2. Reducing food waste: By providing customers with access to fresh produce, the project can help reduce food waste. Customers will be instructed on how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits and how to preserve them.
3. Promoting eco-tourism: By targeting foreign tourists from western countries, the project can promote eco-tourism and encourage visitors to explore the natural beauty of Romania. This can help promote sustainable tourism practices and support local communities.
4. Creating a sense of community: By providing customers with access to mini-gardens and orchards, the project can create a sense of community and encourage social interaction. Customers can share their experiences and learn from each other and from the locals, which can help build a strong community of like-minded individuals.
5. Promoting environmental education: By providing customers with access to ateliers and workshops, the project can promote environmental education and encourage customers to adopt eco-friendly practices. Customers can learn about sustainable agriculture practices, natural gardening, and vegetable preservation, which can help promote environmental sustainability.
The Garden as a Service project can be exemplary in the context of sustainability by promoting sustainable agriculture practices, reducing food waste, promoting eco-tourism, creating a sense of community, and promoting environmental education.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Key objectives of the project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people:
1. Garden design: The garden design should be aesthetically pleasing and functional. The garden should be divided into mini-gardens and dedicated crop parcels, with circuits for waters, walking, and resting areas. The garden should be designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers.
2. Cooking area and gathering area: The cooking area and gathering area should be designed with natural materials and modular furniture to offer enough flexibility for other types of activities like workshops. The area should be designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers.
3. Cultural benefits: The gardens are on an old manor from 1860 with a lot of cultural potential. The project should leverage this cultural heritage to provide a unique and engaging experience to customers. The project can offer visits to local producers, carriage rides, a day at the sheep pen, visits to the mill to make flour, cooking ateliers, picking wild plants and mushrooms in the forest, running and biking in the forest, and other cultural activities.
4. Accommodation: The project should offer accommodation through glamping and for camper vans. The accommodation should be designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers.
5. Helping the local community: The project should develop a strategy to give the chance to the tourists to help the community by sharing skills and experience in areas that are lacking in the Nord-East of Romania (e.g., English courses, Entrepreneurship, Digital skills, Communication).
By meeting these objectives, the Garden as a Service project can provide a unique and engaging experience to customers. The project can be exemplary in this context by providing a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers, leveraging the cultural heritage of the old manor, and offering a unique and engaging experience to customers.
1. Garden design: The garden design should be aesthetically pleasing and functional. The garden should be divided into mini-gardens and dedicated crop parcels, with circuits for waters, walking, and resting areas. The garden should be designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers.
2. Cooking area and gathering area: The cooking area and gathering area should be designed with natural materials and modular furniture to offer enough flexibility for other types of activities like workshops. The area should be designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers.
3. Cultural benefits: The gardens are on an old manor from 1860 with a lot of cultural potential. The project should leverage this cultural heritage to provide a unique and engaging experience to customers. The project can offer visits to local producers, carriage rides, a day at the sheep pen, visits to the mill to make flour, cooking ateliers, picking wild plants and mushrooms in the forest, running and biking in the forest, and other cultural activities.
4. Accommodation: The project should offer accommodation through glamping and for camper vans. The accommodation should be designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers.
5. Helping the local community: The project should develop a strategy to give the chance to the tourists to help the community by sharing skills and experience in areas that are lacking in the Nord-East of Romania (e.g., English courses, Entrepreneurship, Digital skills, Communication).
By meeting these objectives, the Garden as a Service project can provide a unique and engaging experience to customers. The project can be exemplary in this context by providing a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers, leveraging the cultural heritage of the old manor, and offering a unique and engaging experience to customers.
Key objectives for inclusion
The project aims to be inclusive, and these are the key objectives of the project in terms of inclusion:
1. Accessibility: The project should be accessible to all customers, regardless of their physical abilities. The garden should be designed to be wheelchair accessible, and the instructions on how to take care of the garden should be available in multiple formats, such as audio and braille.
2. Inclusive governing systems: The project should have inclusive governing systems that involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process. The project can establish a customer advisory board that provides feedback and suggestions on how to improve the project.
3. Design for all principles: The garden design should be based on the design for all principles, which means that it should be designed to be accessible and usable by all customers, regardless of their physical abilities.
4. New societal models: The project can provide an example of how sustainable agriculture practices can be integrated close to urban areas and how communities can be built around shared values.
5. Volunteering for growing the skills of the community: Parts of the profits will be invested in growing the skills of kids and young adults in the community by providing access to foreign languages courses and to digital ateliers for increasing their competitivity. Also, for the customers willing to hold ateliers or courses the subscription to GaaS will be diminished or even eliminated depending on their involvement.
By meeting these objectives, the Garden as a Service project can be exemplary in terms of inclusion. The project can provide an accessible experience to the customers, involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process, promote design for all principles, and promote new societal models that are based on sustainability, inclusivity and growing the skills of the local community.
1. Accessibility: The project should be accessible to all customers, regardless of their physical abilities. The garden should be designed to be wheelchair accessible, and the instructions on how to take care of the garden should be available in multiple formats, such as audio and braille.
2. Inclusive governing systems: The project should have inclusive governing systems that involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process. The project can establish a customer advisory board that provides feedback and suggestions on how to improve the project.
3. Design for all principles: The garden design should be based on the design for all principles, which means that it should be designed to be accessible and usable by all customers, regardless of their physical abilities.
4. New societal models: The project can provide an example of how sustainable agriculture practices can be integrated close to urban areas and how communities can be built around shared values.
5. Volunteering for growing the skills of the community: Parts of the profits will be invested in growing the skills of kids and young adults in the community by providing access to foreign languages courses and to digital ateliers for increasing their competitivity. Also, for the customers willing to hold ateliers or courses the subscription to GaaS will be diminished or even eliminated depending on their involvement.
By meeting these objectives, the Garden as a Service project can be exemplary in terms of inclusion. The project can provide an accessible experience to the customers, involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process, promote design for all principles, and promote new societal models that are based on sustainability, inclusivity and growing the skills of the local community.
How Citizens benefit
Involving citizens and civil society in the project will have a positive impact on the community. Citizens will benefit from the project by having access to fresh produce, learning about gardening, and connecting with nature. Civil society will benefit from the project by having a space to connect with the community and promote environmental justice. Citizens and civil society will be involved in the project by volunteering to help maintain the gardens, organizing events, produce and sell final products from the garden, and promoting the project to others. Their involvement will help build a sense of community and promote environmental awareness.
They can bring physical and mental health benefits, social capital, and healthy places to urban neighbourhoods. The project will provide a space for kindergartens and schools to organize group activities and ateliers. This will help children learn about gardening, nutrition, and environmental awareness. The project will also provide a space for foreign tourists to connect with nature and learn about local agriculture.
They can bring physical and mental health benefits, social capital, and healthy places to urban neighbourhoods. The project will provide a space for kindergartens and schools to organize group activities and ateliers. This will help children learn about gardening, nutrition, and environmental awareness. The project will also provide a space for foreign tourists to connect with nature and learn about local agriculture.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The innovative character of the project lies in its unique approach to promoting sustainability, nature, well-being, healthy living, and waste management. By providing customers with the opportunity to rent a garden and learn how to take care of it, the project encourages people to connect with nature and learn about sustainable living practices. The project also promotes healthy living by providing access to fresh produce and encouraging customers to cook and preserve their own food. In addition, the project targets kindergartens and schools, providing children with the opportunity to learn about gardening and sustainable living practices. The project also targets foreign tourists, providing them with a unique experience of connecting with nature and learning about local agriculture. Overall, Garden as a Service project is an innovative way of promoting sustainability, nature, well-being, healthy living, and waste management, and has the potential to have a positive impact on the environment and the community.
To help the local community, the project will develop a strategy to give tourists the chance to share skills and experience in areas that are lacking in the Nord-East of Romania, such as English courses, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and communication. The project will also offer extra-packages for integrating tourists into the countryside lifestyles, such as visits to local producers, carriage rides, a day at the sheep pen, visits to mills to make flour, cooking ateliers, and picking wild plants and mushrooms in the forest. This will help tourists connect with the community and promote environmental awareness.
To help the local community, the project will develop a strategy to give tourists the chance to share skills and experience in areas that are lacking in the Nord-East of Romania, such as English courses, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and communication. The project will also offer extra-packages for integrating tourists into the countryside lifestyles, such as visits to local producers, carriage rides, a day at the sheep pen, visits to mills to make flour, cooking ateliers, and picking wild plants and mushrooms in the forest. This will help tourists connect with the community and promote environmental awareness.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Architects and landscapers will be involved in designing the garden and the cooking and gathering area. They will provide expertise on how to create a space that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable. Agricultural engineers will be involved in designing the irrigation system and providing expertise on how to maintain the garden. They will also provide advice on what type of instruments to use and how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits. Local producers, agricultural associations, and farms will be involved in providing fresh produce for the project. They will also provide advice on what type of crops to grow and how to maintain them. Local craftsmen will be involved in creating furniture and other items for the garden. Marketing experts will be involved in developing the marketing strategy for the project.
Representatives of these different fields will interact with each other by sharing their expertise and knowledge. For example, architects and landscapers will work with agricultural engineers to design a garden that is both functional and sustainable. Local producers, agricultural associations, and farms will work with the project team to provide fresh produce for the project. Local craftsmen will work with the project team to create furniture and other items for the garden. Marketing experts will work with the project team to develop the marketing strategy for the project. The added value of this process is that it will help ensure that the project is sustainable, meets the needs of the community, and has a positive impact on the environment and the community.
Representatives of these different fields will interact with each other by sharing their expertise and knowledge. For example, architects and landscapers will work with agricultural engineers to design a garden that is both functional and sustainable. Local producers, agricultural associations, and farms will work with the project team to provide fresh produce for the project. Local craftsmen will work with the project team to create furniture and other items for the garden. Marketing experts will work with the project team to develop the marketing strategy for the project. The added value of this process is that it will help ensure that the project is sustainable, meets the needs of the community, and has a positive impact on the environment and the community.
Methodology used
The steps for the methodology and approach for the Garden as a Service project:
1. Identify the stakeholders: Identify the stakeholders involved in the project, including the target groups, local communities, and other relevant parties.
2. Assess the landscape: Conduct a landscape assessment to understand the current state of the land, including its ecological, social, and economic characteristics. This will help identify opportunities and constraints for the project.
3. Develop a vision: Develop a vision for the project that is aligned with the Landscape Approach. The vision should be based on the needs and aspirations of the stakeholders and should aim to achieve sustainable land use while improving the well-being of the local communities.
4. Develop a strategy: Develop a strategy for the project that outlines the specific objectives, activities, and outcomes. The strategy should be based on the vision and should be developed in consultation with the stakeholders.
5. Implement the strategy: Implement the strategy by carrying out the activities outlined in the strategy. This may involve developing the mini-gardens, dedicated crop parcels, circuits for waters, walking and resting areas, cooking area and gathering area, marketing strategy, and extra-packages.
6. Monitor and evaluate: Monitor and evaluate the project to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. This will help ensure that the project is achieving its objectives and is aligned with the Landscape Approach. Monitoring and evaluation will be a continuous activity to provide great customer experience as well as the integration within the local community.
1. Identify the stakeholders: Identify the stakeholders involved in the project, including the target groups, local communities, and other relevant parties.
2. Assess the landscape: Conduct a landscape assessment to understand the current state of the land, including its ecological, social, and economic characteristics. This will help identify opportunities and constraints for the project.
3. Develop a vision: Develop a vision for the project that is aligned with the Landscape Approach. The vision should be based on the needs and aspirations of the stakeholders and should aim to achieve sustainable land use while improving the well-being of the local communities.
4. Develop a strategy: Develop a strategy for the project that outlines the specific objectives, activities, and outcomes. The strategy should be based on the vision and should be developed in consultation with the stakeholders.
5. Implement the strategy: Implement the strategy by carrying out the activities outlined in the strategy. This may involve developing the mini-gardens, dedicated crop parcels, circuits for waters, walking and resting areas, cooking area and gathering area, marketing strategy, and extra-packages.
6. Monitor and evaluate: Monitor and evaluate the project to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. This will help ensure that the project is achieving its objectives and is aligned with the Landscape Approach. Monitoring and evaluation will be a continuous activity to provide great customer experience as well as the integration within the local community.
How stakeholders are engaged
Architects and landscapers will be involved in designing the garden and the cooking and gathering area. They will provide expertise on how to create a space that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable. They will also help create circuits for waters, walking, and resting areas.
Agricultural engineers will be involved in designing the irrigation system and providing expertise on what to plant, how to maintain the garden. They will also provide advice on what type of instruments to use and how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits. They will be involved in the preparation of easy-to-use guides written and visuals for the customers.
Local producers, agricultural associations, and farms will be involved in providing fresh produce for the project. They will also provide advice on what type of crops to grow and how to maintain them, as well as on how the crops rotation should look like.
Authorities will be involved in providing permits for the project and ensuring that the project meets local, regional, national, and European regulations. They will also provide funding for the project and help promote it to the community.
Using an extended marketing strategy and getting the sense of the community within the customers, the project will be promoted regional, national, and even European and help collaborate with stakeholders and partners to promote the project and help in the implementation of a national network of gardens as a service.
Agricultural engineers will be involved in designing the irrigation system and providing expertise on what to plant, how to maintain the garden. They will also provide advice on what type of instruments to use and how to harvest the ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits. They will be involved in the preparation of easy-to-use guides written and visuals for the customers.
Local producers, agricultural associations, and farms will be involved in providing fresh produce for the project. They will also provide advice on what type of crops to grow and how to maintain them, as well as on how the crops rotation should look like.
Authorities will be involved in providing permits for the project and ensuring that the project meets local, regional, national, and European regulations. They will also provide funding for the project and help promote it to the community.
Using an extended marketing strategy and getting the sense of the community within the customers, the project will be promoted regional, national, and even European and help collaborate with stakeholders and partners to promote the project and help in the implementation of a national network of gardens as a service.
Global challenges
The Garden as a Service project addresses several global challenges by providing local solutions. Here are some of the challenges that the project addresses:
1. Environmental sustainability: The project aims to improve environmental stability by promoting sustainable land use practices, reducing waste, and conserving natural resources. By creating a community of people who are connected to nature, the project can help raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable lifestyles.
2. Food security: The project promotes food security by providing access to fresh, locally grown produce. By teaching people how to grow their own food, the project can help reduce dependence on imported food and increase local food production.
3. Health and well-being: The project promotes health and well-being by encouraging people to spend time outdoors and engage in physical activity. By providing access to fresh air, sunlight, and exercise, the project can help improve mental and physical health.
4. Community building: The project aims to create a community of people who are connected to nature and share a common interest in sustainable living. By bringing people together, the project can help build social capital and promote community resilience.
5. Tourism: The project targets foreign tourists from western countries, which can help promote tourism and economic development in the region. By providing unique and authentic experiences, the project can help attract visitors and generate revenue for the local economy.
Overall, the Garden as a Service project provides a local solution to several global challenges. By promoting sustainable land use practices, reducing waste, and conserving natural resources, the project can help create a more sustainable and resilient future.
1. Environmental sustainability: The project aims to improve environmental stability by promoting sustainable land use practices, reducing waste, and conserving natural resources. By creating a community of people who are connected to nature, the project can help raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable lifestyles.
2. Food security: The project promotes food security by providing access to fresh, locally grown produce. By teaching people how to grow their own food, the project can help reduce dependence on imported food and increase local food production.
3. Health and well-being: The project promotes health and well-being by encouraging people to spend time outdoors and engage in physical activity. By providing access to fresh air, sunlight, and exercise, the project can help improve mental and physical health.
4. Community building: The project aims to create a community of people who are connected to nature and share a common interest in sustainable living. By bringing people together, the project can help build social capital and promote community resilience.
5. Tourism: The project targets foreign tourists from western countries, which can help promote tourism and economic development in the region. By providing unique and authentic experiences, the project can help attract visitors and generate revenue for the local economy.
Overall, the Garden as a Service project provides a local solution to several global challenges. By promoting sustainable land use practices, reducing waste, and conserving natural resources, the project can help create a more sustainable and resilient future.
Learning transferred to other parties
The elements of the GaaS project that could be replicated or transferred:
1.Target groups: The project targets three distinct groups of people: medium-high income individuals, couples or families with kids from urban areas in Romania, kindergartens and schools for group activities and ateliers also from closest big cities, and foreign tourists from western countries. This approach can be replicated in other regions and countries with similar demographics and interests.
2.Specific objectives: The project has five specific objectives that can be adapted to different contexts and locations. These objectives include dividing the land into mini-gardens to be rented, dedicated crop parcels, circuits for waters, walking and resting areas, a cooking area and gathering area with natural materials and modular furniture to offer enough flexibility for other types of activities like workshops, a marketing strategy to reach the target groups, benefit of accommodation through glamping and for camper vans, and extra-packages for integrating them in the countryside lifestyles.
3.Community building: The project aims to create a community of people willing to connect with nature, improve environmental stability, and better manage waste. This approach can be replicated in other contexts where community building is a priority.
4.Environmental sustainability: The project aims to improve environmental stability and better manage waste. This approach can be replicated in other contexts where environmental sustainability is a priority.
5.Integration of local culture: The project offers extra-packages for integrating visitors in the countryside lifestyles, such as visits to local producers, carriage rides, a day at the sheep pen, visit to the mill to make flour, cooking ateliers, picking wild plants and mushrooms in the forest, running and biking in the forest, etc. This approach can be replicated in other contexts where the integration of local culture is a priority.
1.Target groups: The project targets three distinct groups of people: medium-high income individuals, couples or families with kids from urban areas in Romania, kindergartens and schools for group activities and ateliers also from closest big cities, and foreign tourists from western countries. This approach can be replicated in other regions and countries with similar demographics and interests.
2.Specific objectives: The project has five specific objectives that can be adapted to different contexts and locations. These objectives include dividing the land into mini-gardens to be rented, dedicated crop parcels, circuits for waters, walking and resting areas, a cooking area and gathering area with natural materials and modular furniture to offer enough flexibility for other types of activities like workshops, a marketing strategy to reach the target groups, benefit of accommodation through glamping and for camper vans, and extra-packages for integrating them in the countryside lifestyles.
3.Community building: The project aims to create a community of people willing to connect with nature, improve environmental stability, and better manage waste. This approach can be replicated in other contexts where community building is a priority.
4.Environmental sustainability: The project aims to improve environmental stability and better manage waste. This approach can be replicated in other contexts where environmental sustainability is a priority.
5.Integration of local culture: The project offers extra-packages for integrating visitors in the countryside lifestyles, such as visits to local producers, carriage rides, a day at the sheep pen, visit to the mill to make flour, cooking ateliers, picking wild plants and mushrooms in the forest, running and biking in the forest, etc. This approach can be replicated in other contexts where the integration of local culture is a priority.
Keywords
Sustainability
Nature
Well-being
Healthy
Waste-management
