Event series: Community garden on Campus
with Fanny Téoule & Jagiellonian University – 24.07.24
Today I’m excited to share the story behind our latest event – a conference on community gardens, co-hosted with Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. This episode is particularly special because I get to be both your host and a guest, as this project is one of my own research initiatives. So let me present to you our second episode of our special series that showcases the events we organize at What’s that green.
The Roots & Knowledge Conference
On May 15th, we hosted a conference titled “Roots and Knowledge: Cultivating Community Gardens on Campus.” Moderated by Jarosław Działek from the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, the event brought together various stakeholders to discuss the potential and implementation of community gardens at the Jagiellonian university. Jarosław has also been a guest on our Campus Living Lab episode.
Building a green campus
Our first speaker, Urszula Janiec from the Campus Manager Team at Jagiellonian University, presented the goals and achievements of their newly formed team. Urszula emphasized the importance of fostering inter-departmental communication and improving the campus environment for everyone. She highlighted their commitment to sustainable initiatives, inspired by the “Campus full of life” document, created by students and employees.
“We are trying to support our campus administrative team to bring more green to our community, to bring more energy, more life to the campus.”
Addressing biodiversity and climate change
Joanna Kajzer-Bonk from the Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research shared the urgent need for modern solutions to mitigate biodiversity loss and combat climate change. She showcased local initiatives, including the restoration of ponds for amphibians, which have transformed parts of the campus into thriving ecosystems.
“The small actions may change awareness and may impact some politicians and local and also on the high level.”
Defining community gardens:
Community gardens are dynamic, multifunctional spaces that serve as natural laboratories and hubs for community-based initiatives. They offer opportunities for collaboration, education on climate change, and urban food production.
Zbyszek Janukowycz from the Nausika Foundation and Salwator community garden, and part of the Mother flower project, described community gardens as “playgrounds for adults” where people can develop social competencies such as collaboration, negotiation, and leadership. He also highlighted their role in promoting physical and mental health, circular economy, and food self-sufficiency.
“They are places where people can practice social competences like collaboration, division of tasks, creating trust, and negotiation.”
The journey to our community garden
Creating a community garden is a process that involves engaging the community from the very beginning. This past semester, Michal Pałasz and I collaborated to integrate the topic of community gardens into a class at the university where the students enthusiastically chose specifically this topic.
Hands-on learning
We used the community garden space as an outdoor classroom, conducting brainstorming sessions and hands-on activities. The first event involved building willow fences, which was a transformative experience for the students.
“It was one of those initiatives that really made it feel like it was our own.” – Izabella, a student participant
Consulting the community
We held two workshops to gather input from the academic community and local residents. Using mind mapping, we visually captured ideas and preferences for the garden. This process fostered a sense of ownership and collaboration among all stakeholders.
“People who live around here who heard about our initiative were interested and, you know, I remember a couple of people saying that this is really a way for them to feel like they’re getting involved in something and getting outside and doing something useful and productive.” – Izabella
Bringing the garden to life
After collecting and analyzing the ideas, right after the conference, we launched the grand opening of the community garden with a series of events, including a music concert and workshops for kids. The opening event was a celebration of our collective efforts and a testament to the power of community engagement.
It wasn’t just about learning in class; it was about creating something meaningful together.” – Michał
Reflections and advice
Looking back on our journey, here are some key takeaways for anyone looking to start a community garden:
- Engage the community early: Involve potential users and stakeholders from the very beginning.
- Use participatory methods: Techniques like mind mapping can help visualize ideas and foster collaboration.
- Create hands-on experiences: Physical involvement in the garden helps build a sense of ownership and connection.
- Celebrate Achievements: Host events to mark milestones and celebrate the community’s efforts.
- Emphasize sustainability: Focus on initiatives that promote biodiversity, circular economy, and self-sufficiency.
The journey to creating a community garden at Jagiellonian University has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when passionate individuals come together with a shared vision on how to transform campus and more broadly urban spaces. If you want to learn more about our conference and the community garden project, check out the full recording on our website here.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Until next time, stay green!
- Host and Editor: Fanny Téoule
- Guests: Michal Pałasz, Urszula Janiec, Joanna Kajzer-Bonk, Zbyszek Janukowycz, Izabella Eden and Jarosław Działek
- Music composer: Jenny Nedosekina
- Graphic designer: Julia Micklewright