In recent years, a silent movement has transformed sidewalks, vacant lots, backyards, and even rooftops in large cities: urban gardens. More than a trend, they represent a way to rethink urban space, promote sustainability, strengthen communities, and improve nutrition. Amidst the concrete, vegetables, herbs, spices, and a new way of socializing among residents emerge. Besides the environmental benefits, urban gardens stimulate a sense of belonging, favor local biodiversity, and help with environmental education. For those wanting to engage in this practice, understanding the concept, methods of implementation, and legal requirements is essential.
What are urban gardens?
Urban gardens are spaces within cities dedicated to the cultivation of edible plants, such as greens, vegetables, herbs, and fruits. They can be public or private, community or individual, located in schools, parks, idle public lands, backyards, balconies, and even in small pots in apartments. The concept is directly linked to urban agriculture, a practice that seeks to produce food in urban environments with sustainable and low-impact methods. In addition to reducing dependency on food from distant areas, urban gardens help recycle organic waste, reduce carbon emissions, and promote food security. These spaces also have an important social function: by bringing neighbors and residents together around caring for the land, they promote community integration and equitable access to fresh and healthy food.
Urban gardens and the right to the city
Creating and maintaining an urban garden goes beyond food production — it is also an exercise of the right to the city, a concept advocating for all people's democratic access to urban spaces, with active participation in the construction, use, and management of these places. By transforming idle public or private lands into productive and community areas, residents claim a greener, fairer, and more inclusive city. The urban garden, in this context, becomes a symbol of resistance and appropriation of the urban space by those who live there daily. In addition to improving the landscape, these gardens promote well-being, food security, environmental education, and social ties. They materialize citizens' rights to shape their cities in more sustainable, humane, and collaborative ways. A good example of a supportive tool for this process is the urban gardens manual developed by Instituto Pólis, in partnership with the Foundation Banco do Brasil, within the Urban Housing with Social Technology project. The pamphlet was created with the objective of improving people's nutrition, benefiting the urban projects, and strengthening community ties with their neighborhoods through the ecological cultivation of food and medicinal herbs. This content is aimed at different local realities and presents various cultivation methods, such as traditional gardens, gardens, raised beds, and alternative systems adaptable to small spaces. The manual is divided into three parts:
- Preparation of the garden - guidelines on site selection, types of beds, tools, and composting;
- Growing vegetables - planting techniques, irrigation, natural pest control, and cultivation calendar;
- Preparing vegetables - suggestions for simple and nutritious recipes with harvested foods.
This type of initiative strengthens the right to the city by providing accessible knowledge and encouraging sustainable practices that unite health, education, culture, and projects.
How to create an urban garden?
Creating an urban garden can be simpler than it seems. The first step is to identify the available space, which could range from a common area in a condominium to a vacant lot with potential for collective use. Next, it is crucial to plan:
Site selection: should receive direct sunlight for at least 4 to 6 hours a day. It is also necessary to check the ease of access to water.
Type of garden: it can be vertical (great for small spaces), in beds, in pots, or suspended.
Soil and fertilization: the soil needs to be fertile and free from contaminants. The use of organic compost, which can be produced from food scraps (composting), is recommended.
Plant selection: choose species that adapt well to the local climate and available space. Lettuce, chives, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and basil are good options for beginners.
Maintenance: watering, pruning, periodic fertilization, and pest control are simple but essential tasks for the garden's healthy development.
Regulations and permissions
For those who want to grow an urban garden in public or collective spaces — such as plazas, wide sidewalks, central beds, or vacant lots — understanding the legal and bureaucratic side of the process is crucial. Even though it seems straightforward, using public areas requires formal authorization from the city hall or the agency responsible for managing that space.
Where can urban gardens be created?
Gardens can be established in various locations, such as:
- Idle or abandoned public lands;
- Municipal green areas (like squares and parks);
- Central bed areas of avenues and wide sidewalks;
- Schools, health units, and cultural centers;
- Rooftops of public or community buildings.
In all cases, it is essential to check the legal designation of the space: not every public land can be used for cultivation. Therefore, the first step is to identify who manages the location (e.g., Secretariat of Green, Environment, Subprefecture, or Municipal Heritage, for example).
How to request authorization to use a city hall’s land?
- Identify the land and gather information: exact location, condition, current use, and potential of the area.
- Consult the city hall: it is necessary to go to the subprefecture or the responsible agency for the territory where the land is located and request information about its designation, registration, and usage possibilities.
- Present a basic project: many municipalities require a simple plan with:
- Objective of the garden (community, educational, therapeutic);
- People responsible for maintenance;
- Type of cultivation intended;
- Implementation schedule;
- Expected social or environmental impact.
- Sign a permission or cooperation term: if the project is approved, a Term of Permission for Use or a Cooperation Agreement can be established with the city hall. This provides legal backing for the use of the land for a determined period and defines the duties and responsibilities of both parties.
Examples of existing public policies
Cities like São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, and Recife already have municipal programs that encourage urban agriculture and provide guidelines on the regularization of gardens in public spaces. In São Paulo, for example, the "Connect the Points" project and the Urban Gardens Network connect citizens to municipal lands and offer technical support. Additionally, the City Statute (Federal Law No. 10.257/2001) and the Master Plan of each municipality are documents that guide the use of urban land and may contain guidelines about urban agriculture. To avoid problems, never start planting in public areas without prior authorization. Irregular occupation can result in the removal of the garden or legal sanctions. If the land is private, it is possible to negotiate directly with the owner a permission term — in some cases, with exemptions from municipal taxes as a counterpoint.
Points to be noted when creating an urban garden
Even though cultivation seems simple, some care is crucial for the garden’s success:
- Soil contamination: many urban lands, especially abandoned ones, may contain toxic residues. Conduct a soil analysis or choose elevated beds with new soil.
- Clean water: irrigation should be done with potable water or treated reuse water to avoid contamination.
- Shared maintenance: in community gardens, it's essential to organize cleanup events and care schedules to ensure the continuity of the project.
- Protection against vandalism: fencing or signaling the garden can help protect it and raise public awareness of its value.
Examples of urban gardens
Some Brazilian urban gardens have become references not only for their cultivation but also for the social and environmental transformation they provided. Here are a few examples:
- Horta das Corujas (SP): Located in Vila Beatriz, São Paulo, it is one of the best-known in the country. Managed by residents and volunteers, it offers workshops and educational events.
- Horta Comunitária da Glória (RJ): Situated in a public square in the Glória neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, it brings neighbors together and promotes cultural events.
- Horta do Ciclista (Campinas, SP): Set up in a highway median, it is an example of creative occupation of public spaces with food cultivation.
- Horta Comunitária da Vila União (Fortaleza, CE): Urban agriculture project aimed at families in food vulnerability.
- Hortas nas Escolas (various cities): Educational programs have encouraged the use of school gardens as a pedagogical and healthy eating tool.
These projects show that it is possible to cultivate not only food but also values, social ties, and a new relationship with urban space. The urban garden is, therefore, a simple gesture that carries the potential to change entire cities — one bed at a time.
