Barcelona's urban allotments join forces to face common challenges
Espai Agròpolis and Mans al Verd organised a meeting point for people and organisations involved in urban allotments around the city, with a view to identifying shared needs and to opening up collaborative spaces.
The idea of organising a meeting place where those involved with different urban allotments in Barcelona might learn from each other, sharing concerns and resources and starting to work together emerged from the 2nd edition of the Agrohackató. This aspiration became a reality on 24 January at the Guinardó Civic Centre, where there was a great turnout: around fifty people linked to the various collectives and organisations met and showed their willingness and enthusiasm for setting up different working groups on training, infrastructures and networking.
The day event promoted by the Espai Agròpolis and Mans al Verd not only served to identify common needs, but also to explore proposals for collaborative working, and to respond to them through inter-cooperation. Through different participatory dynamics, agreement was reached on the creation of five working groups focusing on water, energy, local and city-wide community networking, biodiversity and seed banks.
These spaces will be up and running shortly, and are open to extending participation beyond those attending the meeting.
Biodiversity, sustainability and participation
How to ensure that city gardens contribute to biodiversity? How can we integrate wild and adventitious grasses in such a way that they are able to coexist with domesticated ones? These are some of the challenges that were discussed during the day.
The need for supplies of water and energy to operate machinery is another aspect to be addressed, with a view to establishing sustainable and environmentally friendly criteria, and taking into account the current drought and the energy crisis.
Organisational models for community management were also discussed. The aim is to encourage interaction between neighbours getting them involved with the project, and also to promote intergenerationality and cultural diversity, thus strengthening the social impact of urban allotments. Furthermore, the link to local needs – through community kitchens, food distribution etc. – was also advocated in order to help to make sure that maximum advantage is taken of the food available, and that it reaches those who need it.
