{"id":6980,"date":"2026-05-16T19:31:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T17:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/varosikertek.iwebs.hu\/?page_id=6980"},"modified":"2026-06-18T14:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T12:10:40","slug":"tortenet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.varosikertek.hu\/en\/tortenet\/","title":{"rendered":"Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\r\n <\/i> <\/div>\r\n V\u00e1rosi Kertek KFT. <\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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About us\u00a0<\/h2>

The Urban Gardens Association was founded in 2011 with the aim of establishing the culture and practice of urban community gardens in Hungary, particularly in Budapest. Our mission is to create community gardens on underutilised municipal land, promoting self-sufficiency, community cooperation, and an environmentally conscious approach.\u00a0<\/p>

Over the past decade or more, we have become a key player in the Hungarian community garden movement. To date, we have established nine community gardens and have provided professional support to help launch numerous other initiatives.<\/p>

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Community Garden Establishment in Collaboration with Local Governments<\/strong><\/h4>

Our community gardens are established exclusively in collaboration with local governments, on land owned by local governments, and as part of local government-funded projects. This model represents a unique, community-based approach to green space management.<\/p>

Over the years, we have developed a well-established system of cooperation with local governments covering the entire process of garden establishment, community building, and operation and management. The experiences of our nine successfully operating gardens demonstrate that we have succeeded in creating a community and operational model that is sustainable in the long term.<\/p>

Establishing a community garden is a complex process that goes far beyond the physical construction of the garden. We handle municipal consultations and ensure the necessary legal framework, coordinate garden design, recruit members, organize external and internal communications, and provide 12\u201318 months of community-building and gardening mentorship, as well as garden management tasks. In our experience, conscious and practice-oriented garden management is a fundamental prerequisite for long-term success, especially during the first season.<\/p>

The result of this process is a functioning urban community garden and a sustainable, collaborative community capable of maintaining and developing the garden over the long term.<\/p>

The Role and Social Benefits of Community Gardens<\/strong><\/h4>

The primary goal of urban community gardens is to strengthen community life and local connections; they also contribute to small-scale self-sufficiency, greening the urban environment, and fostering an ecological mindset. These gardens create genuine community and environmental value while serving as oases in densely built-up urban environments.<\/p>

Community gardening has a significant impact on improving quality of life. It offers numerous social, mental health, educational, and urban development benefits, while also serving as a powerful tool for communication and raising awareness. The long waiting lists clearly demonstrate the significant public interest in these gardens.<\/p>

For garden members, the most important benefits are often not directly measurable in monetary terms: quality of life and health improve, the sense of belonging to a community is strengthened, new relationships are formed, and a sense of accomplishment, responsibility, and the joy of creation emerge.<\/p>

Community gardens also play an important role in shaping attitudes: they encourage sustainability, frugality, and an environmentally conscious lifestyle. They have a positive impact not only on the lives of garden members but also on the surrounding urban environment.<\/p>

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Food Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability<\/strong><\/h4>

Community gardens also offer the opportunity to take the first steps toward food self-sufficiency. Although complete self-sufficiency is not a realistic goal in an urban environment, locally grown fruits and vegetables offer a healthier, more sustainable alternative to food transported over long distances.<\/p>

Even a small garden bed measuring 7\u20138 square meters can yield a significant amount of produce, which is particularly valuable during periods of rising food prices. Growing and using one\u2019s own produce also fosters a more conscious approach to consumption and environmental issues.<\/p>

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The Significance of Community Development and the Importance of the Planned First Season<\/strong><\/h4>

One of the most important functions of community gardens is the development of neighborhood communities. Through working together, garden meetings, community programs, and everyday interactions, norms of cooperation and neighborly relationships develop naturally.<\/p>

In our experience, it is particularly important that garden members come from the garden\u2019s immediate vicinity, as proximity strengthens participation and long-term commitment.<\/p>

Duties of the Garden Coordinator:<\/strong><\/p>

When launching community gardens, the garden coordinator plays a key role during the first season by organizing and coordinating the community\u2019s operations. Their duties include, among other things:<\/p>