Gradski vrtovi — the City of Zagreb's network of citizen garden plots (Croatia)
Zagreb, Croatia · Operator: ザグレブ市（Grad Zagreb）
Overview
Launched by a mayoral decision of 4 April 2013, the scheme develops city-owned arable land and lends plots to residents free of charge for growing vegetables, berries, medicinal herbs and flowers for their own use. It started from three locations in spring 2013, reached 12 by 2017, and now covers 14 gardens, more than 2,152 plots and 23.03 hectares. Growing to ecological principles is required across all sites, with plot inspections and soil analyses.
Citizen participation
Only Zagreb residents who do not own, co-own, lease or otherwise use other arable land in Croatia may apply, and only one person per household. Allocation runs on a points system weighing residency, economic circumstances, veteran and pensioner status and household size, giving priority to low-income households, large families, war veterans and pensioners.
Operating model
The city develops and equips the sites and hands plots over for two years free of charge, renewable if the plot is looked after. Every garden has a shared area with composters, waste and recycling bins, prefabricated sheds for tools and organic fertiliser, water tanks, benches and gazebos.
Impact
It replaced the 'wild gardens' (divlji vrtovi) that residents had informally fenced off — a common pattern in post-Yugoslav cities — with an open call and a points-based, needs-weighted allocation. Studies report the gardens serve not only as a source of home-grown food but as spaces for socialising, recreation, contact with nature and a supplement to small pensions. Plot numbers have grown roughly sevenfold in a decade, making the free-of-charge lease plus priority quotas a useful template for scaling allotments where demand is high.
Land tenure
City-owned land lent free of charge for two years, renewable.
Crops
- 野菜
- ベリー類
- 薬用ハーブ
- 花
Scale
230,300 m² — 市内14か所・2,152区画以上、合計23.03ha。1区画は最大50㎡
Sources（3）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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