Urban & Sustainable Agriculture's Role In Community Growth

Community gardens have a long history dating back as far 100BC in the UK and the small Celtic fields of Lands End, Cornwall, which are still in use today. During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), the manorial ‘common’ lands were enclosed and ‘commoners’ were compensated with ‘allotments’ of land attached to tenant cottages.
The reasons why people get involved in community gardening initiatives are manifold. However, gardens do share a simple principle in that they provide people without a professional agricultural background the opportunity to undertake gardening and small scale agriculture experiences. Their small size and mix of various actors result in a profoundly different exchange of knowledge and skills, bringing about different patterns than within other agricultural and gardening networks.
Community gardens around the world have been credited with an array of beneficial outcomes for participants. These include local political activism; environmental education where participants learn about sustainable urban agriculture, biodiversity and improved waste management; and opportunities for training, employment and local economic development in the form of markets and food co- operatives
Nevertheless, the most significant and widely reported benefits are associated with individual and community health and well-being. Gardens require physical exertion, provide relief from stress and engender creativity, participation with nature and a sense of stewardship for the land . Individuals reap direct benefits from the physical activity involved in gardening and having access to fresh, cheap produce on a daily basis.

Objectives
- Examine communities organizing and implementing activities and the applied techniques
- Exchange experiences on gardening and sustainable living
- Examine the benefits of community gardens in health and well being
- Develop ideas and tools on how we could use community gardening to promote the inclusion of youth with less opportunities in the society.
- Empower youth workers with tools, knowledge and experience to be more productive and cooperative
- Hands on experience :Create a sustainable community garden
­ Learn and share the experience and knowledge on how to engage community in the conservation of the garden
- Develop a database of good practices and examples
- Create a network under common values for future collaboration.
Important information
 Participants : 3 persons for each partner organization( Youth workers volunteers or members of organizations )

 Costs and Logistics: The seminar will be under Erasmus plus programme. Food and accommodation costs will be covered . Travel costs will be reimbursement depending on distance, using european distance calculator .

 English will be the working language for all the activities.

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Deadline: If you are interested please send us the partner’s form with the DETAILS of your organization/group and the MANDATE at hellasforus@gmail.com until until 10/09

****We will select partners based on their experience related to community gardens and environmental projects !