Gardens of the Future — a shared community garden in central Nicosia (Cyprus)
Nicosia, Cyprus · Operator: Gardens of the Future（市民グループ）／ニコシア市の支援
Overview
In central Nicosia, a citizens' group turned a derelict plot into a sustainable shared garden. It started from winning the Climathon Nicosia competition in October 2019, and hundreds of volunteers helped build it. Beyond growing, it sets out to build community, practise a circular economy that treats waste as material, and create a dynamic urban food-sharing ecosystem. It runs learning programmes for local youth on open-source technology and sustainability, and supports women refugees in agricultural entrepreneurship. The project was shortlisted for the EU's New European Bauhaus Awards in the 'Regaining a sense of belonging' category.
Citizen participation
Hundreds of volunteers took part in turning the derelict site into a garden. The project runs programmes teaching local young people about open-source technology and environmental sustainability, and supports women refugees in building agricultural entrepreneurship skills. It takes part in city events such as the Nicosia Spring festival.
Operating model
A citizen-led project that began after winning the Climathon Nicosia competition in October 2019. It is backed by Nicosia Municipality and local businesses. It follows a circular-economy approach of building from 'waste', practising the recycle–reuse–reduce loop.
Impact
A case showing the path from an idea competition to an actual garden and on to municipal backing — citizen-initiated urban farming that stuck. By building refugee women's employment support and youth technology education into the garden, it works as a site of learning and livelihood rather than simply green space. The group aims to grow a network of comparable urban spaces across Cyprus.
Land tenure
A derelict central plot used by a citizens' group with municipal support.
Crops
- 野菜
- ハーブ
Scale
中心部の放置されていた土地を転換。整備には数百人のボランティアが関わった
In the media（1）
Web articles and features that cover this case.
Sources（1）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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