Urban gardening is enjoying a new wave of popularity in Budapest. Several communal gardens have opened recently, and District VI, Terézváros, is now joining in. A common plot on Rózsa utca will have 30 flatbeds available for local gardeners to exercise their green fingers.
Urban gardening offers a host of benefits for everyone – not only in providing a great outdoor activity for residents, but also supplying locals with fresh, homegrown fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Communal projects such as these also help alleviate the loneliness of big cities, and develop an approach which focuses on environmental awareness and sustainability.
These are all the driving factors behind this new eco-friendly initiative by the District VI council. The gardens will be freely accessible to community members and will provide residents with a green space they can enjoy whether they are actually gardening or just taking in the scenery.
The district is waiting for applications from local residents who would like to take part in the project, cultivating and maintaining the beds, and taking care of the plants on a daily basis. There will be monthly events to create a vibrant community space and, if there is demand, the municipality will also develop beds that can be cultivated from a wheelchair.
The
operation of the community garden is also expected to require financial
contribution from gardeners, probably no more than 12,000 forints a year. Some of this fee may be claimed back based on
a variety of factors, such as those closer to the garden, those with disabilities, parents with
small children and single parents, and pensioners.
Applications will be
accepted by the municipality until 31 March, and the gardens are expected to
open in April-May, taking into account the pandemic situation. This particular community
garden may be used for up to two years but should encourage more to open around the district in the future.
