The primary goal was to enhance the role of community gardens in urban climate change adaptation strategies and to turn them into non-formal environmental education centres that actively involve the neighbourhood in such strategies. We wanted to: - Develop training materials to convert community gardens into centers for environmental education. - Equip community gardeners and managers with the necessary learning tools and methodologies to support community engagement. - Strengthen community involvement in local climate change mitigation and adaptation. - Increase awareness of how community gardening can contribute to climate change mitigation. Aligned with the Erasmus+ priorities, EcoGardens aimed to: -Providing inclusive environmental education and training that encourages behavior changes such as reduced energy use, waste reduction, lowered carbon emissions, and sustainable food choices. -Actively engaging neighbors in learning activities within the community gardens, integrating them into the community-based strategy to tackle climate change in their urban areas, and enhancing civic engagement through formal and non-formal learning activities.
In Europe, nearly 73% of the population live in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to over 80% by 2050. Climate change affects nearly all aspects of urban environments — economical, environmental, and social. High urban temperatures negatively impact the health of vulnerable groups including the elderly, and lower socio-economic status individuals. To face climate change related challenges, many cities are developing mitigation and adaptation strategies. As part of these, community gardens can contribute to improved air quality, health, biodiversity, and life, yet they are often overlooked. In some partner countries, community gardening has been a tradition for over 20 years, serving for local food production but also as centers for intercultural environmental education. Moreover, they attract diverse demographics across all ages, cultures, and social backgrounds. Therefore, they have a great potential to be turned into educational centers, supporting grassroots movements towards sustainable urban living. This project sought to harness the underutilized potential of gardens in enhancing urban climate resilience, making them integral to broader climate adaptation frameworks.