Mary Benson

Simon Bell

Silvio Caputo

Runrid Fox-Kämper

Nazila Keshavarz

Susan Noori

Annette Voigt

Although urban allotment gardening dates back to the nineteenth century, it has recently undergone a renaissance of interest and popularity. This is the result of greater concern over urban greenspace, food security and quality of life. This book presents a comprehensive, research-based overview of the various features, benefits and values associated with urban allotment gardening in Europe. The book is based on a European COST Action project, which brings together researchers and practitioners from all over Europe for the first detailed exploration of the subject on a continent-wide scale. It assesses the policy, planning and design aspects, as well as the social and ecological benefits of urban allotment gardening. Through an examination of the wide range of different traditions and practices across Europe, it brings together the most recent research to discuss the latest evolutions of urban allotment gardening and to help raise awareness and fill knowledge gaps. The book provides a multidisciplinary perspective, including insights from horticulture and soil science, ecology, sociology, urban geography, landscape, planning and design. The themes are underpinned by case studies from a number of European countries which supply a wide range of examples to illustrate different key issues.

Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe

This Monograph focuses on the new approaches that urban agriculture offers to grow food in cities. The author paints a dynamic picture of soil-less and indoor techniques that are currently emerging. A growing number of small scale community-led and entrepreneurial initiatives are using such techniques for diverse objectives: to increase resource efficiency; to strengthen food security; to educate and inform or to exploit new market opportunities. The described studies demonstrate how technologies that are typically used in high-tech food production can also be harnessed in small projects to generate social and economic benefits at a local level. The author puts a focus on three aspects: to outline the context within which small scale soil-less urban agriculture is developing in Europe; to give an overview of the state-of-the-art of projects focusing on this area through case study analysis and to elaborate on emerging questions. Such questions include: is the use of soil-less urban agriculture changing the relationship with, and perception of, what is natural and sustainable for urban farmers and small enterprises working in this sector? What is the perceived potential of these soil-less and indoor forms of urban agriculture to meet environmental, social and economic goals? By answering these and other questions, the volume is a valuable resource for researchers in agriculture and sustainability, as well as urban farmers.

Small Scale Soil-less Urban Agriculture in Europe

In a time of distant memory, there was a small town where legends had walked its cobblestone streets alongside dangers of all sorts. These legends were unafraid of perils lurking around every turn. They passed their time with their heads held high knowing that a mistake in judgement would put them in serious danger. Out of the shadow of these legend stepped three little boys, hearing tales of them and, believing anything was possible, they longed to follow in their footsteps. More legends appeared before them both on the big screen at the movies and in the new additions in their living rooms on television. The temptations were too great to resist. The boys decided they would overcome all obstacles set before them of both man and nature, they thought. Thus began a journey into the unknown world of legend. The boys were warned again and again by those knowing better, that it would lead to no good. But, being young, they would have to learn the lessons of youth for themselves. They set out to overcome all obstacles set before them by man nature, not knowing what to expect and willing to take the risks to achieve their goal.

Silvio Caputo

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