Community Garden Szárazréti közösségi kert, Székesfehérvár, Hungary

Szárazréti közösségi kert is a community garden located at the edge of the city in a suburban area close to the residential areas. The garden is in the backyard of a primary school and it is a part of a larger community center that contains an event space. This is the place where the gardening association organizes the workshops about gardening. Other social events take place there as well. The gardeners usually come together not just because of the organized events but ad hoc as well.

Running of this community garden also helps vulnerable groups. In this area, there are many elderly people among the gardeners. Moreover, handicapped children from school for children with special needs visit the garden regularly.

Before starting establishing the community garden the organizers made information materials and sent it to all households in the residential quarter. The appliers were involved into the planning of the garden and community space and they also participated in the implementation.

Community Garden Szárazréti közösségi kert is completely eco-friendly for the gardeners do not use artificial fertilizer and other chemicals in the garden and on top of that they collect and use the green waste. In their free time, they can expand their knowledge and participate in workshops organized by the gardening association about environmentally friendly gardening.

Furthermore, members of this and another community gardens situated in Hungary belong to the initiators of an event called Közösségi Kertek Éjszakája (The night of community gardens) which is held in several venues in Budapest and in other towns.

During the event, the community gardens are open for everyone. People could go and see what is going on inside the community garden regularly and they also have the opportunity to participate in different programmes: small competitions, concerts in the gardens, social events.

One of the main purposes of the organizers was to enhance the willingness of the citizens to start new initiatives, show them the collaboration and cooperation what make a community from the gardeners. The organizers wanted to point out the values of the community gardens: environment-conscious thinking, building a community. 

The event was organized in 2016 for the first time, 10 community gardens in Budapest joined. The second event with the participation of 16 community gardens was held in September 2017.

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