Reconnecting with nature
ROOTS - Urban Gardens
ROOTS - Urban Gardens
ROOTS promotes a sustainable life in the neighborhood, by empowering people to reconnect with nature and with the local community and take action when needed.
All the activities involve increasing the impact of positive actions for the environment and for the community, through: creating 2 urban gardens,implementing 2 compost systems, organizing 28 non formal educational activities in the gardens and in schools.
All the activities involve increasing the impact of positive actions for the environment and for the community, through: creating 2 urban gardens,implementing 2 compost systems, organizing 28 non formal educational activities in the gardens and in schools.
EU Member State, Western Balkans or Ukraine
Romania
Local
Bucharest, district 3
No
No
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2023-10-24
No
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
ROOTS–Urban Gardens developed a framework for community involvement in creating green spaces, renewing the urban landscape, places that subsequently serve as knowledge transfer hubs for replicating the model across additional locations in Bucharest and Romania.
The initial phase of the project involved 2 local communities in district 3 of Bucharest, during the fall of 2022 until fall of 2023. ROOTS is an inspiring project that started from the need identified by 2 inhabitants of district 3, never involved in civil society before, that took the opportunity and passionately build ROOTS with us, managing to create:
-2 urban gardens, in 2 building associations with 49 active community members, 55 sessions focused on site preparation, training sessions, planting, cleaning/maintenance activities
-2 composting stations used by around 100 people and ensure the maintenance and supervision of the composting process;
-nature-based learning through 8 nonformal workshops for parent-child pairs and 20 sessions in local schools
-online and offline communication targeting a group of approx. 3000 people
-advocacy activities to gain the support of the local authorities – 11 requests, 11 community workshops and events
Our objectives were:
1.Creating 2 knowledge transfer hubs, in 2 gardens in district 3, with 8 planting and cleaning actions, installing 2 compost systems, maintaining and organizing training for the community, arranging sensory alleys, and vertical walls.
2.Raising awareness of the importance of green space and the community potential of urban gardens among residents, through information activities, 8 educational activities in the 2 gardens and 10 workshops addressed to schools, for at least 500 people.
O3.Proposing the model of urban gardens at an institutional level, through 3 types of advocacy activities-requests, their involvement in the project activities and the creation of a best practices guide for transforming residence gardens.
The initial phase of the project involved 2 local communities in district 3 of Bucharest, during the fall of 2022 until fall of 2023. ROOTS is an inspiring project that started from the need identified by 2 inhabitants of district 3, never involved in civil society before, that took the opportunity and passionately build ROOTS with us, managing to create:
-2 urban gardens, in 2 building associations with 49 active community members, 55 sessions focused on site preparation, training sessions, planting, cleaning/maintenance activities
-2 composting stations used by around 100 people and ensure the maintenance and supervision of the composting process;
-nature-based learning through 8 nonformal workshops for parent-child pairs and 20 sessions in local schools
-online and offline communication targeting a group of approx. 3000 people
-advocacy activities to gain the support of the local authorities – 11 requests, 11 community workshops and events
Our objectives were:
1.Creating 2 knowledge transfer hubs, in 2 gardens in district 3, with 8 planting and cleaning actions, installing 2 compost systems, maintaining and organizing training for the community, arranging sensory alleys, and vertical walls.
2.Raising awareness of the importance of green space and the community potential of urban gardens among residents, through information activities, 8 educational activities in the 2 gardens and 10 workshops addressed to schools, for at least 500 people.
O3.Proposing the model of urban gardens at an institutional level, through 3 types of advocacy activities-requests, their involvement in the project activities and the creation of a best practices guide for transforming residence gardens.
Urban gardens
compost
community
education
biodiversity
The aim of ROOTS is to promote sustainable life in the neighborhood, by empowering people to reconnect with nature and with the local community and take action when needed.
All the activities involve increasing the impact of positive actions for the environment, through: creating 2 urban gardens,implementing 2 compost systems (in Romania, there is no official regulation for community composting, thus tones of vegetable leftovers end up in the landfill each year), organizing 28 non formal education workshops for parents, childrens, in the 2 gardens and in schools. Activities helped them get close to nature, rethink their daily practices and implement more nature friendly habits (compost, reuse materials, planting etc). Also, as our aim is to coagulate the community around this environmental initiative for which there is still little conscious interest/need, we noticed that neighbors are paying more attention to the cleanliness of the gardens.
So far, we managed to reduce the amount of garbage produced by the residence building inhabitants, by saving around 2,5 cubic meters of vegetable leftovers and transforming them into 5 cubic meters of quality compost (optimal moisture and degree of decomposition) that is successfully used as a natural fertilizer in the gardens and for the plants that community members grow at home.
We brought back biodiversity (insects, plants and trees). This is a great benefit for children who are able to observe life with a magnifying glass or a microscope, taste aromatic plants,but also for the adults who now share a common goal,forming a network of residents interested and involved in increasing the quality of life in the neighborhoods.
The 2 gardens are instruments of sustainable development with multiple benefits for nature, individuals, communities: improving soil and air quality,stimulating biodiversity, discouraging the use of chemical fertilizers,reducing the effects of pollution,increasing awareness for responsible consumption.
All the activities involve increasing the impact of positive actions for the environment, through: creating 2 urban gardens,implementing 2 compost systems (in Romania, there is no official regulation for community composting, thus tones of vegetable leftovers end up in the landfill each year), organizing 28 non formal education workshops for parents, childrens, in the 2 gardens and in schools. Activities helped them get close to nature, rethink their daily practices and implement more nature friendly habits (compost, reuse materials, planting etc). Also, as our aim is to coagulate the community around this environmental initiative for which there is still little conscious interest/need, we noticed that neighbors are paying more attention to the cleanliness of the gardens.
So far, we managed to reduce the amount of garbage produced by the residence building inhabitants, by saving around 2,5 cubic meters of vegetable leftovers and transforming them into 5 cubic meters of quality compost (optimal moisture and degree of decomposition) that is successfully used as a natural fertilizer in the gardens and for the plants that community members grow at home.
We brought back biodiversity (insects, plants and trees). This is a great benefit for children who are able to observe life with a magnifying glass or a microscope, taste aromatic plants,but also for the adults who now share a common goal,forming a network of residents interested and involved in increasing the quality of life in the neighborhoods.
The 2 gardens are instruments of sustainable development with multiple benefits for nature, individuals, communities: improving soil and air quality,stimulating biodiversity, discouraging the use of chemical fertilizers,reducing the effects of pollution,increasing awareness for responsible consumption.
Setting up community gardens also had the aim to offer a special place for meeting and relaxation for members in each community.
The process involved evaluation of the 2 spaces, designing 2 urban gardens plans and implementing them, in order to offer a new face to the two areas, both in terms of biodiversity and functional design. For this to happen, we worked with horticulture and landscape specialists that supervised the implementation step by step.
From unutilized spaces, full of waste thrown by neighbors and passers-by, which damaged the soil, living things, plants, but also the mental state of the residents, the gardens were transformed. The results were amazing for the local community and the members are now perceiving the gardens as social places, where they can meet and work together, thinking what they can add to the space to make it even more cozier.
We have visitors from outside of the residence buildings, who consider the gardens to be a special place where they can calm down and spend a relaxing time, also because of the beautiful design.
Design was an important part in the composting systems also, as they were chosen to be functional and have an attractive look and the information materials were shaped and coloured to match the landscape and the specific of the project.
For the design of the irrigation systems, several aspects were took into account, in order for them to fit into the landscape.
The process involved evaluation of the 2 spaces, designing 2 urban gardens plans and implementing them, in order to offer a new face to the two areas, both in terms of biodiversity and functional design. For this to happen, we worked with horticulture and landscape specialists that supervised the implementation step by step.
From unutilized spaces, full of waste thrown by neighbors and passers-by, which damaged the soil, living things, plants, but also the mental state of the residents, the gardens were transformed. The results were amazing for the local community and the members are now perceiving the gardens as social places, where they can meet and work together, thinking what they can add to the space to make it even more cozier.
We have visitors from outside of the residence buildings, who consider the gardens to be a special place where they can calm down and spend a relaxing time, also because of the beautiful design.
Design was an important part in the composting systems also, as they were chosen to be functional and have an attractive look and the information materials were shaped and coloured to match the landscape and the specific of the project.
For the design of the irrigation systems, several aspects were took into account, in order for them to fit into the landscape.
In studies carried out in Europe, it was found that gardens help most people create bonds, share resources and offer more mutual support.
The project aimed to stimulate the civic consciousness of the residents of district 3, using local biodiversity as a tool to involve the community and the authorities, by creating 2 urban gardens in the green spaces belonging to 2 residence buildings. We involved all categories of neighbors, from children to elderly people, as an existing problem in Bucharest is the lack of cohesion between neighbors, the interaction between them being almost non-existent, lacking the framework and reasons to gather around common concerns. We managed to create activities proper for them to work together, from cleaning and planting sessions, educational workshops to community events where everyone contributed with their presence, skills, materials, food.
We benefited from the support of the building presidents/administrators in the implementation of the project, for both locations.
The collaboration and support provided by the neighbors directly involved, from each location, from keeping them clean, contributing to maintenance works, to supervising the space was essential and created an inclusive atmosphere.
Since the project began, one of the association of owners from one location initiated a fund for the care of the garden, neighbors took responsibility for the care of specific objectives/portions of the gardens, representatives of some owners' associations in the neighborhood came into contact with the project representatives to identify ways to collaborate on common areas of interest (exchange of resources, ideas).
Also, we involved the local authorities that helped with toileting trees, installing garbage bins, and advice. Small companies got involved by donating materials (dry material for the compost, plants) and expertise and people from the vicinity are proposing new ways to collaborate and help grow the model.
The project aimed to stimulate the civic consciousness of the residents of district 3, using local biodiversity as a tool to involve the community and the authorities, by creating 2 urban gardens in the green spaces belonging to 2 residence buildings. We involved all categories of neighbors, from children to elderly people, as an existing problem in Bucharest is the lack of cohesion between neighbors, the interaction between them being almost non-existent, lacking the framework and reasons to gather around common concerns. We managed to create activities proper for them to work together, from cleaning and planting sessions, educational workshops to community events where everyone contributed with their presence, skills, materials, food.
We benefited from the support of the building presidents/administrators in the implementation of the project, for both locations.
The collaboration and support provided by the neighbors directly involved, from each location, from keeping them clean, contributing to maintenance works, to supervising the space was essential and created an inclusive atmosphere.
Since the project began, one of the association of owners from one location initiated a fund for the care of the garden, neighbors took responsibility for the care of specific objectives/portions of the gardens, representatives of some owners' associations in the neighborhood came into contact with the project representatives to identify ways to collaborate on common areas of interest (exchange of resources, ideas).
Also, we involved the local authorities that helped with toileting trees, installing garbage bins, and advice. Small companies got involved by donating materials (dry material for the compost, plants) and expertise and people from the vicinity are proposing new ways to collaborate and help grow the model.
From the beginning of the project, we involved neighbors from both locations. If at the start of the project, they were uninterested in taking care of the gardens and had little to none common activities, with no coagulation in the community of the residence buildings, the results after the first year of the project were the following:
- 49 people are actively involved in maintaining the urban gardens and compost stations, over 100 people composting and around 115 participated in planting, cleaning and community events, 60 adults and children benefited from educational workshops in the gardens.
All this was made possible with the help of the neighbors, who offered their skills, construction instruments, participated in approval of plans for the gardens, to periodic discussions, WhatsApp groups, meetings, identification of new active members and expansion of the groups, composting and urban gardens training sessions, promotion of the project, through posters at other residence buildings or online, transportation of materials. They are more aware of the landscaping efforts, which lead to a more civilized behavior. They started to acknowledge the gardens as a community space, as part of their home and began to have a shared goal. Of them stated: Usually we throw away about 3 buckets of waste a week, since I collect for compost I throw a maximum of 1 bucket of garbage every 2 weeks or even less often.
Residents also got involved in advocacy activities, sending over 11 requests for space improvement to the local district authorities, something they wouldn't have done before. They also informed other people about the project.
Local small companies donated materials for use in the gardens and others are bringing ideas on how to collaborate and share the model to other communities.
Around 14 teachers helped us organize 20 workshops for 410 children ages 4 to 12 years old. Some of them took notes to have clear steps to follow at home, when they start composting.
- 49 people are actively involved in maintaining the urban gardens and compost stations, over 100 people composting and around 115 participated in planting, cleaning and community events, 60 adults and children benefited from educational workshops in the gardens.
All this was made possible with the help of the neighbors, who offered their skills, construction instruments, participated in approval of plans for the gardens, to periodic discussions, WhatsApp groups, meetings, identification of new active members and expansion of the groups, composting and urban gardens training sessions, promotion of the project, through posters at other residence buildings or online, transportation of materials. They are more aware of the landscaping efforts, which lead to a more civilized behavior. They started to acknowledge the gardens as a community space, as part of their home and began to have a shared goal. Of them stated: Usually we throw away about 3 buckets of waste a week, since I collect for compost I throw a maximum of 1 bucket of garbage every 2 weeks or even less often.
Residents also got involved in advocacy activities, sending over 11 requests for space improvement to the local district authorities, something they wouldn't have done before. They also informed other people about the project.
Local small companies donated materials for use in the gardens and others are bringing ideas on how to collaborate and share the model to other communities.
Around 14 teachers helped us organize 20 workshops for 410 children ages 4 to 12 years old. Some of them took notes to have clear steps to follow at home, when they start composting.
1.The initiative started from individuals, who wanted a better quality of life and promote the importance of nature for people.
2.The transformation of the 2 urban gardens and the implementation of the compost stations was made possible by convincing and involving neighbors of the individuals, thus by now we have 49 active members that contribute to the maintenance of the gardens and of the existing equipment, participated in landscaping and community involvement classes, to raise their knowledge levels. Other inhabitants (around 47 households) take the leftovers to the compost station and help reduce waste in their homes.
3.Another important stakeholder is the Bucharest Communitary Foundation that offered the grant for the first year of the project and will support the next year of ROOTS.
4.Local initiatives and companies joined the project by offering materials needed and services (transportation, catering for events - SEED, photography services etc).
5. Other NGOs and civic groups (around 10) supported the project and participated in events or promoted our activities and events. Together with 4 of them, we are currently implementing a new project, focused on the legal aspect of local community composting and implementation methods.
5.The local authorities provided help with toileting trees, removal of post-sanitization residues, installing garbage bins and we are also discussing a partnership agreement in order to promote the model at a district/city level and increase the number of educational and composting activities in schools.
6. Local schools allowed us to offer workshops to primary schools and kindergarten children, about composting and biodiversity.
2.The transformation of the 2 urban gardens and the implementation of the compost stations was made possible by convincing and involving neighbors of the individuals, thus by now we have 49 active members that contribute to the maintenance of the gardens and of the existing equipment, participated in landscaping and community involvement classes, to raise their knowledge levels. Other inhabitants (around 47 households) take the leftovers to the compost station and help reduce waste in their homes.
3.Another important stakeholder is the Bucharest Communitary Foundation that offered the grant for the first year of the project and will support the next year of ROOTS.
4.Local initiatives and companies joined the project by offering materials needed and services (transportation, catering for events - SEED, photography services etc).
5. Other NGOs and civic groups (around 10) supported the project and participated in events or promoted our activities and events. Together with 4 of them, we are currently implementing a new project, focused on the legal aspect of local community composting and implementation methods.
5.The local authorities provided help with toileting trees, removal of post-sanitization residues, installing garbage bins and we are also discussing a partnership agreement in order to promote the model at a district/city level and increase the number of educational and composting activities in schools.
6. Local schools allowed us to offer workshops to primary schools and kindergarten children, about composting and biodiversity.
ROOTS involved multiple disciplines, as follows:
Horticulture and landscaping - we worked with 2 specialists that evaluated the spaces of the gardens, created the plans, consulted with the local community to include their needs and desires and worked with us in the implementation of the plans, step by step.
Design - the urban garden and composting station plans were created by using a friendly and attractive design, also with the help of a graphic specialist, who created the visual materials.
Project management - the project had a project manager, 2 volunteers for community organization, 2 location community managers, who all worked together in the planning and implementation, along with the neighbors from the 2 residence buildings.
Community activation - the 2 location managers worked with the local community, through direct meeting, online communication and increased the participation in the implementation of the project and in the educational and community events.
Communication and graphics - we communicated constantly on the social media pages, local whatsapp groups, through offline materials, and 3 media appearances.
Composting - we worked together with a composting specialist that held the first workshops and taught us to properly make the compost and with a local company that produces compost stations that implemented the system in the garden. Both of them were present in the events and activities throughout the project and they are some of the initiators in the above-mentioned consortium that will work on the legal aspects of community composting in Romania.
Advocacy - we maintained communication with local authorities, informing them about the project, the needs we encountered, also encouraging residents to send requests. We are currently working on signing a collaboration agreement with the City Hall of District 3, in order to promote the model further and improve educational and composting activities.
Horticulture and landscaping - we worked with 2 specialists that evaluated the spaces of the gardens, created the plans, consulted with the local community to include their needs and desires and worked with us in the implementation of the plans, step by step.
Design - the urban garden and composting station plans were created by using a friendly and attractive design, also with the help of a graphic specialist, who created the visual materials.
Project management - the project had a project manager, 2 volunteers for community organization, 2 location community managers, who all worked together in the planning and implementation, along with the neighbors from the 2 residence buildings.
Community activation - the 2 location managers worked with the local community, through direct meeting, online communication and increased the participation in the implementation of the project and in the educational and community events.
Communication and graphics - we communicated constantly on the social media pages, local whatsapp groups, through offline materials, and 3 media appearances.
Composting - we worked together with a composting specialist that held the first workshops and taught us to properly make the compost and with a local company that produces compost stations that implemented the system in the garden. Both of them were present in the events and activities throughout the project and they are some of the initiators in the above-mentioned consortium that will work on the legal aspects of community composting in Romania.
Advocacy - we maintained communication with local authorities, informing them about the project, the needs we encountered, also encouraging residents to send requests. We are currently working on signing a collaboration agreement with the City Hall of District 3, in order to promote the model further and improve educational and composting activities.
ROOTS has an innovative character, by its bottom up approach, as the project started from 2 inhabitants of District 3 who were inspired by the biodiversity activities created by Culturalis and decided to get more involved in the community. Together, we created the model of urban gardens with compost stations and educational activities, as we want the spaces to become knowledge transfer hubs for the community in Bucharest and a model for other cities.
Through our project, we increased the ecological value of 2 urban areas, the diversity of plants and insects, created groups of people interested in replicating the project in the green spaces around their homes, exchange experience between neighbors from the 2 residence buildings and offered them a common goal and a social space to interact and also, offered nature-based learning activities for about 500 community members aged 2-99.
The gardens are educational hubs for nature related activities, in a city that is suffocated by traffic, pollution and the lack of green spaces. Because of the large number of inhabitants and the fact that most people rent apartments and change living spaces a lot, and also have an increased workload, with little time and energy for spending quality free time, community coagulation and common activities are at a very low level. Thus, through the project, we created the opportunity for involvement, interacting, exchanging live experiences between people of all ages, while increasing biodiversity, reducing waste from the landfill and encouraging a circular economy.The level of well-being of community members increased, while the new urban gardens regulate the temperature around concrete buildings and created a connection with nature.
One of the teachers in whose class we held a workshop later came with the students to one of the gardens, to learn about biodiversity and visit the compost station.
Through our project, we increased the ecological value of 2 urban areas, the diversity of plants and insects, created groups of people interested in replicating the project in the green spaces around their homes, exchange experience between neighbors from the 2 residence buildings and offered them a common goal and a social space to interact and also, offered nature-based learning activities for about 500 community members aged 2-99.
The gardens are educational hubs for nature related activities, in a city that is suffocated by traffic, pollution and the lack of green spaces. Because of the large number of inhabitants and the fact that most people rent apartments and change living spaces a lot, and also have an increased workload, with little time and energy for spending quality free time, community coagulation and common activities are at a very low level. Thus, through the project, we created the opportunity for involvement, interacting, exchanging live experiences between people of all ages, while increasing biodiversity, reducing waste from the landfill and encouraging a circular economy.The level of well-being of community members increased, while the new urban gardens regulate the temperature around concrete buildings and created a connection with nature.
One of the teachers in whose class we held a workshop later came with the students to one of the gardens, to learn about biodiversity and visit the compost station.
Our team is created from former volunteers and community members passionate about nature and civic involvement, so the structure of the team leaned toward a sociocratic model.
The project had a project manager that overview the activities and evaluation methods and supported the team in all aspects and 2 community managers, for the 2 urban gardens, along with 2 long term volunteers that helped with communication and organizing events and educational workshops. Together we researched and chose the horticulture, landscape specialists, trainers and communication collaborators that we worked with throughout the year and with whom we will continue to work with.
The team was completed by 49 active community members who offered ideas, advice, were involved in practical activities and contributed with skills, materials, time and networking in all aspects of the project.
One of the team members is a certified Agile user, so her experience in this approach was very useful in structuring the activities and building the project step by step. For evaluating the project, we paid attention to:
-increasing personal responsibility regarding the management of personal waste for the neighbors involved - they have become more aware of the importance of reducing the amounts generated at home
-interest in the projects activities and physical presence in the planting, cleaning, community events
-general well-being in the community and the level of positive interaction between members
-level of biodiversity in the 2 urban gardens and the amount of vegetable waste saved and compost obtained.
-reactions of other inhabitants - visitors of the gardens had the opportunity to observe a positive example of community organization and preached the work and the results.
-level of interest of teachers/students - the educational content was created to be practical, interactive and fitted to be replicated at home.
The project had a project manager that overview the activities and evaluation methods and supported the team in all aspects and 2 community managers, for the 2 urban gardens, along with 2 long term volunteers that helped with communication and organizing events and educational workshops. Together we researched and chose the horticulture, landscape specialists, trainers and communication collaborators that we worked with throughout the year and with whom we will continue to work with.
The team was completed by 49 active community members who offered ideas, advice, were involved in practical activities and contributed with skills, materials, time and networking in all aspects of the project.
One of the team members is a certified Agile user, so her experience in this approach was very useful in structuring the activities and building the project step by step. For evaluating the project, we paid attention to:
-increasing personal responsibility regarding the management of personal waste for the neighbors involved - they have become more aware of the importance of reducing the amounts generated at home
-interest in the projects activities and physical presence in the planting, cleaning, community events
-general well-being in the community and the level of positive interaction between members
-level of biodiversity in the 2 urban gardens and the amount of vegetable waste saved and compost obtained.
-reactions of other inhabitants - visitors of the gardens had the opportunity to observe a positive example of community organization and preached the work and the results.
-level of interest of teachers/students - the educational content was created to be practical, interactive and fitted to be replicated at home.
ROOTS has a high potential of replicability in other communities, because of its components: restoring urban gardens, installing and using compost stations and implementing community and educational activities for all age groups.
The easiest elements to replicate are bringing a compost station inside the community or nearby a group of communities and encouraging people to use it, therefore reducing the vegetal waste from their households. The station itself is easy to use, with clear and simple rules.
Also, educational activities can be implemented in the community and in schools in that area, focusing on biodiversity and composting.
We will create a guide for implementing the model, so other communities can use the example and apply it for their needs, adapting it wherever it is more suitable.
The main steps are:
Bring together a small group of neighbors determined to make a change and find local NGOs or initiative groups to work with.
Identify the needs in the community and evaluate the green space you have around the apartment building/s.
Reorganize the urban garden with specialized help (if it is possible, if not clean the space for the use of the community).
Install the compost station, adding placards with clear explanations and an attractive design
Train the neighbors in how to use the compost stations and start the urban compostors group.
Create and implement periodic community and educational activities in order to help more people learn about biodiversity, compost, gardening, and to create contexts to bring community members together.
Promote the activities to other communities and people using social media, offline messages and face to face conversations.
Engage with local authorities and ask for help in the urban gardens/composting spaces.
The easiest elements to replicate are bringing a compost station inside the community or nearby a group of communities and encouraging people to use it, therefore reducing the vegetal waste from their households. The station itself is easy to use, with clear and simple rules.
Also, educational activities can be implemented in the community and in schools in that area, focusing on biodiversity and composting.
We will create a guide for implementing the model, so other communities can use the example and apply it for their needs, adapting it wherever it is more suitable.
The main steps are:
Bring together a small group of neighbors determined to make a change and find local NGOs or initiative groups to work with.
Identify the needs in the community and evaluate the green space you have around the apartment building/s.
Reorganize the urban garden with specialized help (if it is possible, if not clean the space for the use of the community).
Install the compost station, adding placards with clear explanations and an attractive design
Train the neighbors in how to use the compost stations and start the urban compostors group.
Create and implement periodic community and educational activities in order to help more people learn about biodiversity, compost, gardening, and to create contexts to bring community members together.
Promote the activities to other communities and people using social media, offline messages and face to face conversations.
Engage with local authorities and ask for help in the urban gardens/composting spaces.
In large cities in Romania, people have few opportunities to get to know their neighbors because of late working hours, the need to multitask on a daily basis and high stress levels.
ROOTS gardens offered the neighbors the opportunity to practically get involved in restoring the green space around the block, get closer to each other and to the nature of the city. 47 households adopted the practice of local composting, saving 2.5 cubic meters of plant residues from the landfill, which were transformed into fertilizer used in gardens and apartment plants. More than 100 people joined forces, transforming the gardens into places full of life and cheer. This collaboration brings smiles to the faces of all contributors and visitors every day, creates connections and spaces full of joy.
The neighbors learned techniques for composting biodegradable household waste and using the final product. They got involved in promoting positive changes in the community, through the 11 notifications sent to the institutions in district 3 and practiced their cooperation and teamwork skills, which also led to the strengthening of social relations, interactions with other people with similar interests. They used their time, material resources and expertise to improve the well-being of the community and increase their own recognition and personal image.
"Usually we threw out 3 buckets a week, since I collect for compost I throw away 1 bucket of garbage every 2 weeks or even less"//"I can not throw kitchen scraps in the trash anymore”// "Congratulations for the garden, it's like in a fairytale"
Creating educational content helped children and adults develop knowledge and practical skills in gardening, urban nature care and responsible waste management.
We are happy to create spaces for connection and hope to inspire others to act in their communities. For the next step, we plan to develop a special guide and help another community develop a garden with a composting station.
ROOTS gardens offered the neighbors the opportunity to practically get involved in restoring the green space around the block, get closer to each other and to the nature of the city. 47 households adopted the practice of local composting, saving 2.5 cubic meters of plant residues from the landfill, which were transformed into fertilizer used in gardens and apartment plants. More than 100 people joined forces, transforming the gardens into places full of life and cheer. This collaboration brings smiles to the faces of all contributors and visitors every day, creates connections and spaces full of joy.
The neighbors learned techniques for composting biodegradable household waste and using the final product. They got involved in promoting positive changes in the community, through the 11 notifications sent to the institutions in district 3 and practiced their cooperation and teamwork skills, which also led to the strengthening of social relations, interactions with other people with similar interests. They used their time, material resources and expertise to improve the well-being of the community and increase their own recognition and personal image.
"Usually we threw out 3 buckets a week, since I collect for compost I throw away 1 bucket of garbage every 2 weeks or even less"//"I can not throw kitchen scraps in the trash anymore”// "Congratulations for the garden, it's like in a fairytale"
Creating educational content helped children and adults develop knowledge and practical skills in gardening, urban nature care and responsible waste management.
We are happy to create spaces for connection and hope to inspire others to act in their communities. For the next step, we plan to develop a special guide and help another community develop a garden with a composting station.
115 neighbors participated in the project's activities (planning, composting, educational activities, supporting advocacy actions towards local institutions, proposing suggestions/contributing to requests), 49 of them are directly involved in the creation of the gardens and in the composting process.
Approx 410 children from 12 schools participated in workshops on biodiversity, composting, together with 14 teachers and 60 participants, parents and children participated in 8 educational workshops held in urban schools. They learned about urban composting, the benefits of an urban garden and observed the model of civic involvement of the neighbors in the 2 urban gardens. Families of the 410 children were informed by the educators/teachers about the workshops and the project.
Approx 3000 people were informed through social media, posters, visual materials, 1 educational campaign about composting, benefits and good practice suggestions, 11 events promoted online on social media, 3 media appearances.
Biodiversity and nature protection results:
250 square meters of landscaped green space in 2 locations.
Aprox. 70 sessions of arrangement and maintenance of both gardens during the project.
2 training sessions on urban composting and composting rules, held in December 2022 with a number of approximately 37 of participants.
2 composting stations installed in the two gardens, where 47 households contribute to the composting activity.
2.5 m3 of plant residues from the households saved and 5 mc of compost obtained, 4 actions of moving the compost from the vegetable waste bin to the maturing one, ~40 kg of plant residues collected after the educational workshops.
Advocacy results:
1 partnership agreement discussed with the local city hall, 3 meetings to present the project and with the representative of the Directorate of Sustainable Development and Urban Sustainability, 11 specific requests by the neighbors and the tenant association.
Approx 410 children from 12 schools participated in workshops on biodiversity, composting, together with 14 teachers and 60 participants, parents and children participated in 8 educational workshops held in urban schools. They learned about urban composting, the benefits of an urban garden and observed the model of civic involvement of the neighbors in the 2 urban gardens. Families of the 410 children were informed by the educators/teachers about the workshops and the project.
Approx 3000 people were informed through social media, posters, visual materials, 1 educational campaign about composting, benefits and good practice suggestions, 11 events promoted online on social media, 3 media appearances.
Biodiversity and nature protection results:
250 square meters of landscaped green space in 2 locations.
Aprox. 70 sessions of arrangement and maintenance of both gardens during the project.
2 training sessions on urban composting and composting rules, held in December 2022 with a number of approximately 37 of participants.
2 composting stations installed in the two gardens, where 47 households contribute to the composting activity.
2.5 m3 of plant residues from the households saved and 5 mc of compost obtained, 4 actions of moving the compost from the vegetable waste bin to the maturing one, ~40 kg of plant residues collected after the educational workshops.
Advocacy results:
1 partnership agreement discussed with the local city hall, 3 meetings to present the project and with the representative of the Directorate of Sustainable Development and Urban Sustainability, 11 specific requests by the neighbors and the tenant association.
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