SR 
The Ekonaut Association from Belgrade has published a new publication entitled "Introduction to Urban Garden Communities", which aims to inform the general public about the possibilities of organizing joint gardens, their benefits and challenges and possible solutions for their sustainable development. This is just one in a series of activities carried out by Ekonaut within the project"Initiative for Garden Communities", which systematically works on the development of this concept.
In its first section, the publication "Introduction to Urban Garden Communities" deals with the types of fruit and vegetables growing in cities, and in the following sections it will describe in detail garden communities, their ways of organizing, benefits and challenges they face. The publication also looks at the state and potential of such communities in Belgrade, and the last chapters are dedicated to their importance for biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem. The publication is also available in electronic edition and can be downloaded free of charge here:
„Uvod u gradske baštenske zajednice“
Urban garden communities are open areas where individuals or groups grow plants of their choice. The formation of such communities is recognized in many cities around the world as one of the tools for the development and sustainable management of urban spaces, but also as a means to provide food sources at the local level and achieve micro-climate, social and economic benefits. At a time when Belgrade is threatened by constant pollution, uncontrolled construction and the upcoming climate crisis, garden communities are emerging as one of the solutions that would improve the quality of life and improve the process of adapting to climate change.
The project "Initiative for Garden Communities" focuses on specific public policies and through cooperation with experts and citizens finds ways to more concretely implement systemic solutions for management of areas that are not intended, but can have many benefits for local communities and the city as a whole. Through education and information about the concept of garden communities, citizens are directly involved in project activities. One of such activities was the mapping of potential spaces for garden communities in the territory of Belgrade, when citizens entered sites that have the potential to be used in this way through the ekonaut.org website. In order to strengthen the local community, it was organized through educational activities related to the cultivation of ornamental plants and food in urban conditions, as well as ways to form and organize garden communities. The Online Conference "Let's plan garden communities together" held in December 2021, organized by the association Ekonaut and CEUS, and in cooperation with the service of the Chief City Urbanist, was extremely important. The conference discussed opportunities to encourage urban agriculture and garden communities in Belgrade. Through the presentation of examples of good practices in the Netherlands, Sweden and Croatia, possible types and models of garden communities were considered, as well as the challenges they bring. During the event, the representatives of the city administration discussed the existing strategic documents that provide the basis for planning city garden communities, but also about the necessary changes in the regulatory framework in order to implement this concept operationally.
The Ekonaut Association will continue to carry out activities aimed at advocating, promoting and developing garden communities in the coming period.
The project "Initiative for Urban Garden Communities" is implemented within the project of the Belgrade Open School "Green Incubator", with the financial support of the European Union and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The project is also supported by the Open Society Foundation.
