The amount of green is relatively low in most cities. Often, the cause of this situation is urban policy which favours developers. Far-reaching urbanization results in various environmental and social problems. In those circumstances, a need for the wider revitalization and reorganization of urban space becomes even more important and necessary. Our article is a review. It discusses the significance of community gardens in Poland due to people's limited access to private gardens and the growing development of housing estates in cities. In recent decades, cities have developed rapidly in Poland. However, this development was often uncontrolled because very compact building patterns were applied in new housing estates. As a result, in many places the urban tissue lacked common public space. Urban planners adopted a new approach to public goods, including green spaces, and reconsidered the development of cities. Common space was found to be fundamental for the development of the identity of individual neighbourhood groups and, consequently, for social changes. Community gardens are an example of changes introduced to the urban landscape as a consequence of considering common space significant. As a result, local residents can integrate and change their attitude to public space, which is perceived as part of the community. Users gain a sense of community, solidarity, and shared responsibility. The community garden becomes a reason for neighbourhood residents to integrate despite the fact that they may differ in their political views, background, and age. Community gardens are established in a similar way all over the world. However, there might be local differences in the legal system, people's mentality, and access to land. Community gardens are a new phenomenon in Poland. They are established mainly in big cities, e.g., in Warsaw, Kraków, and Poznań. Community gardens have numerous advantages. Their users are physically active, and they are thus at lower risk of chronic and non-infectious diseases. They grow vegetables and thus change their eating habits. In addition, community gardens reduce stress. Due to gardening, users feel better, broaden their social contacts, participate in cultural events, and enrich their diet. This article shows how the intensive development of housing estates in Poland affects the availability of green areas. The advantages of community gardens in Poland and other countries, methods of plant cultivation and how community gardens functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed. With this short review, we want to broaden the knowledge about community gardens as their development in Poland is different than in other countries and to encourage their establishment due to the decreasing amount of green space and dense urban development.
Keywords: community gardening; urban environments; Poland
Since the mid-20th century, there has been increasingly dynamic development of housing estates in Poland. Currently, the housing needs are greater than the number of empty building plots in cities. Therefore, these are particularly valuable investment areas. Developers are rapidly buying plots and trying to make use of every square meter of their land. These investments and the emergence of new buildings cause a decrease in the area of urban green spaces [[
Our article is a review. It discusses the significance of community gardens in Poland due to people's limited access to private gardens and the growing development of housing estates in cities. With this short review, we want to broaden the knowledge about community gardens as their development in Poland is different than in other countries and to encourage their establishment due to the decreasing amount of green space and dense urban development.
Contemporary cities are spaces undergoing dynamic development and constant changes. Former outskirts with specific structures are now becoming part of cities. They are losing their former nature and gaining the traits of urban areas. These changes cause the spatial, social, and environmental degradation of various parts of cities. Due to the dynamics of changes and the perception of the city as an environment, it is necessary to design specific places in relation to the entire urban structure and take long-term effects into account [[
The modernist model, which was based on pre-war assumptions, is considered the first urban concept. It assumed the division of the city into areas with various functions: industrial, residential, administrative, and commercial. When housing estates were being planned, the environmental conditions were taken into account, and the natural lighting of rooms and ventilation of the entire system were considered. Buildings were designed so as to create comfortable and health-promoting conditions. Residential buildings were located freely among trees or they were geometrically arranged along the north–south axis. In 1923, the model of the so-called neighbourhood unit appeared. It was supposed to improve relations between neighbours and facilitate the division of the city into units with specific functions [[
After World War II it was necessary to rebuild destroyed houses and provide decent living conditions to thousands of people in Poland. In response to these needs, cities were reconstructed according to new patterns, and new housing estates began to appear [[
Between 1949 and 1956, the model of a socialist city was created. It was based on the division of cities, allowing for their residential function. Workplaces were located in neighbouring cities. The residential complex was divided into estates for 1000–3000 inhabitants. It had its own schools, as well as service and sports facilities. In the centre of the complex, there was a square with a palace of culture and monumental, stately buildings for the governing party and unions. City streets looked identical. Only the main thoroughfare with shops was distinct. Blocks of flats were built from prefabricated panels. These buildings usually had five storeys or more and were up to 200 m long. The town of Nowa Huta was built according to this model [[
It was the supplement to the Athens Charter, signed in 1977, that became the determinant for the further development of cities and estates. In the 1980s a postmodernist trend emerged, which was based on the rejection of modernist town planning in favour of the classical understanding of public space. Various urban interiors, streets, and squares began to reappear in spatial development plans. The main objective was to create a resident-friendly space. The separation of car traffic from pedestrians was no longer practised. The model of a modernist, mono-functional housing estate was rejected [[
Contemporary city planning is based on postmodernist assumptions and the rules introduced in the New Athens Charter, which were adopted by the European Council of Spatial Planners in 2003. The main assumption of the Charter is the coherence of all urban elements and spatial synthesis. According to these principles, a housing estate (Figure 2) should constitute a value factor building the urban tissue and its identity [[
The Central Statistical Office defines green space in housing estates as an area of greenery accompanying residential buildings. It can be used for leisure, aesthetic purposes, and insulation. Green space in housing estates consists of lawns, ornamental plants and park arrangements, which are not excluded from public use. Green areas are a very important element of modern cities because they have social, ecological, and aesthetic functions. It is not only the quantity but also the quality of green areas that matters. Plants in good condition as well as revitalised green areas determine the perception of the attractiveness of a place and may become its showpiece. On the other hand, improperly developed areas of low quality, where plants are neglected, are perceived negatively. In extreme cases, pathological phenomena may occur in them [[
Green areas in housing estates are an increasingly important and appreciated element for local communities. Unfortunately, modern cities are densely built-up and have a relatively small number of green areas. For this reason, green space in housing estates is very important because it is the closest available area for leisure and recreation. A properly shaped environment, which responds to social needs, has a positive influence on the inhabitants' quality of life due to the regenerative role of plants, the availability of a place for passive and active leisure, and the possibility of building social bonds. The aspect of neighbourly relations is particularly important in big cities, where there is usually anonymity due to the considerable socio-occupational and sociocultural diversity among the inhabitants. Therefore, the immediate surroundings may positively influence the building or deepening of neighbourly relations, and increase the inhabitants' sense of security [[
City inhabitants assessing the recreational potential of urban green space pay attention to natural and non-natural factors. The main factors affecting their assessment are fresh air, green areas, and availability of areas for walking and recreation. Regardless of the type of terrain, users expect the improvement in the infrastructure and the provision of a programme enabling active and passive recreation [[
Users are of the opinion that appropriate development of green space encourages them to use these areas. Staying in these places improves the residents' well-being and their health [[
Green areas in housing estates are also ecologically important elements of urban space if the natural structure of the city is defined as a system of areas of various bioactive surfaces. They significantly modify the climate in the city, lower the temperature on hot days, prevent the soil from drying out, and regulate surface runoff. Bioactive surfaces in cities minimise the effects of climate change [[
The community garden has been used as a concept in Poland for a relatively short time, and so far it has not been rooted in social awareness. Community gardens can be defined as generally accessible places, where people can spend their free time actively or passively while being surrounded by plants. The objective of an urban community garden is to provide a space for a new form of active recreation. Whether or not city dwellers spend time actively depends on the functional programme of available green space [[
Community gardens are a new phenomenon in Poland. Indeed, across Europe, there are around three million individual allotment gardens. These kinds of initiatives are now spreading not only in Europe but all around the world [[
Urban gardening is also a well-known phenomenon in the United States. The emergence of community gardens dates back to the late 19th century when the first such facilities appeared in Detroit, Michigan [[
In 1894, the mayor of Detroit decided to implement the idea of the community garden as a way to provide food and also to uplift the spirits of unemployed residents. The implemented idea was a great success, and it soon became a model for other cities. Consequently, community gardens were established all over the U.S. [[
In the 1970s, the approach to community gardens changed. People began to notice the need to increase the aesthetics of their neighbourhood, and they became interested in healthy food and interpersonal relations. This triggered grassroots initiatives in local communities. Due to people's involvement, new community gardens began to emerge. They were still financed and technically supported by state institutions, but the citizens were responsible for designing, establishing, and developing gardens. In the 1970s, the main function of urban gardening was to improve the aesthetics of urbanising spaces and build neighbourly relations. Due to the lower interference of external organisations, residents had to rely on each other and cooperate at every stage of setting up the garden. These activities deepened interpersonal relations in small communities. This model of running a community garden has found numerous supporters, and it has become a model for contemporary facilities [[
In the 1990s, community gardens became popular in France, too. They were established because people began to pay attention to environmental aspects closely related to sustainable development. The number of community gardens in Paris increased from 5 in 2002 to 113 in 2016. The French model of community gardens was slightly different from the American model. These facilities were located on private lands or wastelands belonging to the city authorities. Community gardens were grassroots initiatives, which initially did not receive any support from local governments. Later, associations helping to run community gardens and mediating contacts with local government institutions began to operate in Paris. The staff of these associations and volunteers provided legal assistance concerning the use of land in the city and helped people with other formalities. However, they did not actively participate in the physical establishment and management of gardens. Contemporary community gardens in Paris are mainly temporary facilities, but due to the regulation of the land use law, users know how long they can occupy a particular site [[
Community gardens are established in a similar way all over the world, but there might be differences in local legal systems, public mentality, and access to land. However, regardless of the place where a community garden is established, there are several aspects determining the success of this facility. One of them is the right choice of the site and the regulated land use law. Modern cities do not have much undeveloped public land. Due to the heavy land development pressure, community gardens have to compete with other much more profitable land use forms. For this reason, it is very important to choose the site and formally agree with its owner on the right to use the land for a specific purpose. The history of community gardens shows that people are less involved in temporary establishments. On the other hand, residents are more interested in using properly planned gardens, which are not a short-term element of the landscape. It is equally important to choose the leader representing the community and find sponsors or partners who are willing to help to establish and maintain the garden. A good example is the French model, in which relevant associations become such partners [[
When planning a community garden, it is particularly important to choose the right location. The site should be in the immediate vicinity of the community concerned or within a walking distance from it. Community gardens located in highly populated districts with the highest density of buildings but with limited access to green areas have the greatest chance of success. The research conducted in the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, Canada showed that community gardens were the most popular in densely built-up urban areas inhabited mainly by senior citizens [[
The design of a community garden is another important aspect. The designer of a community garden, which is a social initiative, must provide the basis for its further development in response to the local residents' needs. As observed from the observations of community gardens in the U.S., these facilities should be square- or round-shaped, whereas elongated, linear shapes should be avoided. In a compact garden, all elements are located in close proximity to each other and the central point, e.g., a resting place or a toolbox. Due to regular contact with each other, users build mutual relationships, whereas tools placed in the centre of the garden increase the sense of community. A square garden also ensures a greater sense of security because users have constant contact with each other and the surroundings. They can see dangers faster. The compact layout also ensures better visibility from the outside, which prevents vandalism. It is reasonable to create linear gardens only when the longer side of the rectangle adjoins a street or pavement. When designing a community garden, it is necessary to pay attention to the needs of elderly and disabled people. Bearing this fact in mind, the Madison Area Master Gardeners Association (MAMGA) prepared guidelines for the design of individual garden elements [[
- − Paths must be wide enough to enable free passage of wheelchairs, perambulators, as well as people on crutches; it is also necessary to minimise slopes.
- − Paths must be hardened, with stable and non-slip surfaces.
- − Flowerbeds and places where plants are cultivated should be elevated so that people will not have to lean down excessively while working and to allow people in wheelchairs free access to them.
- − Resting places should be located in shaded areas.
- − In larger gardens, apart from the main resting place, there should be other places where users can sit or lean back.
- − There should be free access to all places, without barriers such as stairs or curbs.
Due to the fact that the community garden is a specific type of urban green area, it has elements that are characteristic of both a municipal facility and a backyard garden. One of them is a fence, which is rarely seen in public spaces. The fence surrounding the community garden prevents vandalism and gives its users a sense of ownership and belonging. The fence should clearly separate the garden from the space, but it should not close it completely. Brick or concrete walls are not recommended because instead of protecting the garden, they may discourage its potential users and encourage pathological behaviour. The community garden should have a shed to store garden users' tools. By sharing tools users have a greater sense of responsibility for the garden and its equipment. Information boards are important elements of the community garden. The main board located near the entrance to the garden is used for communication between "gardeners" and potential users as well as other people in the surrounding area. It includes regulations concerning the use of the garden as well as information about meetings and events. Smaller boards can be placed elsewhere in the garden. They may provide information about the crops and people who grow them as well as other information for users. It is recommended that there should be a composter in the garden so that users can produce organic fertiliser for the plants. The community garden could also be a place where users present their passions to others. For example, there could be a special place to display garden users' artworks and craftworks. This enables the development of the garden and the organisation of cultural events [[
In recent decades, cities have developed rapidly in Poland. However, this development was often uncontrolled because very compact building patterns were applied in new housing estates, where developers tried to make the most of every square inch of space and constructed blocks of flats at the minimum permissible distance from each other. As a result, in many places the urban tissue lacked common public space. Urban planners adopted a new approach to public goods, including green spaces, and reconsidered the development of cities. Common space was found to be fundamental for the development of the identity of individual neighbourhood groups and, consequently, for social changes. Community gardens are an example of changes introduced to the urban landscape, where urban planners understood the necessity to create common space. For example, in New York social integration increased considerably due to community gardens. In 2012, there were over 500 community gardens managed by local groups of residents. They mainly integrated immigrants of the same nationality, e.g., Puerto Ricans and African Americans, producing food on urban farms. There were also multinational gardens supported by environmental activists [[
Users' sense of community is the basis of the integrative function of community gardens [[
Nowadays, many young people leave their hometowns and sometimes even their homelands. Changing the place of residence also means leaving one's community. While being away, one's family bonds are weakened, and loneliness may be experienced. Consequently, these people may search for a neighbourhood community. People living in the neighbourhood may also have similar problems. When there is no clear common space, it is difficult to establish relationships and develop a sense of identification with one's place of residence. Community gardens may solve this problem. Even the people who are not interested in gardening can join the community to develop a bond with it. As a result, they can gain a place to meet and integrate with their neighbours by discussing the events taking place in the garden. These relationships often become so strong that they go beyond the area of regular meetings. People of similar age establish closer relationships, which results in the formation of smaller groups within the community. However, this does not disturb the cooperation with other users. The main reason for integration is usually joint work in a community garden, which usually results in positive relations in the neighbourhood. The sense of responsibility for the common space results in the development of community between its users [[
The existence of a community garden in the neighbourhood provides the residents with an opportunity to integrate and changes their view of public space, which they perceive as part of their community. Users develop a sense of community, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Due to the presence of a community garden, local residents have a reason to integrate despite differences in age, political views, and background [[
Community gardens improve the quality of life because they provide opportunities for leisure and recreation [[
Although the tendency to develop community gardens in Poland is increasingly noticeable, so far there has been no official and comprehensive inventory of all existing gardens. It is very difficult to prepare a register of community gardens because only some of them have their own websites. Moreover, only a small number of people know about the existence of some gardens, and the information about them is available on social media [[
Most community gardens in Poland are managed by non-governmental organisations or foundations. In many cases, these are individual projects of these organisations carried out as part of their social or ecological statutory activities. The staff start cooperating with active local residents, prepare a work calendar with various events/workshops, and promote the garden and activity as such. There are also informal groups of residents taking the initiative to establish community gardens. They lease land for a garden and use it together. Community gardens are also established by various institutions, which use them to implement their community-oriented tasks (e.g., health and care institutions—therapeutic goals; cultural institutions—resident activities, outdoor workshops, joint activities, extension of the thematic offer; academic centres—creating a space for horticultural experiments, cultivation, social activities, etc.) or community–oriented city programmes (a community garden can be used a tool to implement health-promoting, ecological, educational, and other initiatives formulated by local governments) [[
The comparison of community gardens in Poland and in the West reveals various differences between them. In the West, there are community gardens and city farms with much larger production than in Poland. Volunteers work in them, and some of the crops grown there are offered for sale. Community gardens in London are connected to green business. They have cafes or restaurants, which serve dishes prepared from the products grown in these gardens. Green boxes with seasonal vegetables are sold in the United States and the United Kingdom. Farms thus earn money for their activities and gain social support. This model has not been implemented in Poland yet, but there is an increasing number of supporters with ideas for similar initiatives. Unfortunately, the plant production is sufficient only for community garden users' own needs, but the quality of products is good, comparable to other countries. The use of natural fertilisers is a deliberate action limiting environmental pollution in community gardens all over the world [[
Community gardens have a specific character. Their appearance differs from highly aesthetic and fully arranged objects. They are in a constant creative process. They must guarantee a lot of free space and must be arranged in such a way that they can be transformed depending on the needs of a given event. There are usually very limited funds to set up and maintain them, and most of the things they contain are self-made. Their value is that they activate, integrate and educate all who attend them. They turn forgotten places into highly biodiverse green spaces [[
Below is the description of several community gardens in Poland.
Collective Kąpielisko Community Garden (Figure 3) was established in 2014 on the premises of the former municipal bathing beach in the Łazarz estate in Poznań. The Collective Kąpielisko Association leased a plot with an area of 1300 m
This community garden was established by the Poznańczycy Foundation on the premises of a concrete infantry shelter built in 1904. This facility was used by Civil Defence teams until the early 1990s. It had been abandoned until revitalisation works started in 2014. The community garden was created in response to the needs of the inhabitants of nearby estates. Users can grow crops, rest among plants, and take part in numerous educational workshops [[
Szeląg Garden (Figure 4) was established in Ugory Street in 2018 by the Winogrady Estate Council and local activists. There is a wooden pavilion in the centre of the garden. Due to the sloping terrain, the pavilion was mounted on concrete poles, due to which the entrance is flat and people on wheelchairs can access it. The pavilion is used as a viewpoint. A different view can be seen from each window in the pavilion. However, the architectural design of the structure is styled like gazebos, which used to be common in that area. Apart from the pavilion and the community garden, the plot also has a catering zone, children's zone, leisure zone with wooden terraces, and a marina for river boats (Figure 5) [[
This garden was established from the funds of the Civic Budget of the City of Kraków in 2015. The initiative was undertaken by local residents and designers in cooperation with the City Green Space Board. The garden occupies an area of about 1100 m
This garden was established by local residents in 2015 in the location of an abandoned orchard. It is the largest garden in Warsaw (4500 m
This garden was established in 2015. It is located in the centre of Warsaw. It occupies an area of about 700 m
Scientist and practitioners have recognized the multiple benefits that community gardens produce including access to nutritious food, creating opportunities for recreation and education, enhancing community health, and developing social cohesion within communities [[
In community gardens, the selection of species and the methods of their subsequent care depend on the financial possibilities and specifics of the place and the needs, as well as the skills of their users. Ornamental and fruit trees and shrubs, ornamental plants, herbs, and vegetables are grown in these gardens. Vegetables and herbs are often grown in raised beds in the form of wooden boxes (Figure 6) upholstered with agrotissue, supplemented with compost and garden soil [[
At the beginning of the pandemic, the government decided to significantly limit the use of public green spaces in Poland. Entrance to forests and parks was forbidden. There were limits on the number of people at meetings, including those held in open spaces [[
A new approach to public goods, including green spaces, resulted in reconsideration of urban development. Common space was found to be fundamental for the development of the identity of individual neighbourhood groups and, consequently, for social changes. Community gardens are an example of changes introduced to the urban landscape as a consequence of considering common space as significant. As a result, local residents can integrate and change their attitude to public space, which is perceived as part of the community. Users gain a sense of community, solidarity, and shared responsibility. The community garden becomes a reason for neighbourhood residents to integrate despite the fact that they may differ in their political views, background, and age. Community gardens are established in a similar way all over the world. However, there might be local differences in the legal system, people's mentality, and access to land. Community gardens are a new phenomenon in Poland. They are established mainly in big cities, e.g., in Warsaw, Kraków, and Poznań. They operate on the basis of social trust. Community gardens in cities are most often cultivated by members of the community living in a common neighbourhood or one housing estate—located near the garden. The rules of their use are regulated by special by-laws, contracts or membership declarations. Community gardens are created on the initiative of informal groups (neighbours), formal groups (housing cooperatives), institutions (e.g., senior citizens' clubs, cultural centres, museums) or NGOs. They are usually created on urban land—often wasteland, degraded, neglected and undeveloped areas. The financing of a community garden depends on its initiators—funds for the maintenance of a green corner may come from contributions of members, public collections, the budget of organisations, local programmes or competitions. Community gardens have numerous advantages. Their users are physically active; thus, they are at lower risk of chronic and non-infectious diseases. They grow vegetables and thus change their eating habits. In addition, community gardens reduce stress. Due to gardening, users feel better, broaden their social contacts, participate in cultural events and enrich their diet. Promoting and enhancing a coherent, systematic and interdisciplinary impact assessment approach in community gardens in Poland will help actors and main stakeholders to design future policy strategies.
Graph: Figure 1 Family allotment garden, Poznań (Piotr Rutkowski 2018).
Graph: Figure 2 Winogrady Estate, Poznań (Roman Andrzejak 2022).
Graph: Figure 3 Collective Kąpielisko Community Garden, Poznań (Agnieszka Antonowicz 2014).
Graph: Figure 4 Szeląg Garden, Poznań (Roman Andrzejak 2022).
Graph: Figure 5 Marina for river boats (Roman Andrzejak 2022).
Graph: Figure 6 Wooden boxes for cultivation of plants in a community garden (Roman Andrzejak 2022).
Conceptualization, J.Ł.; methodology, B.J. and J.Ł.; formal analysis, B.J., J.Ł. and R.A.; writing, B.J., J.Ł. and R.A.; funding acquisition, B.J. and R.A.; writing—original draft, B.J., J.Ł. and R.A.; writing—review and editing, B.J., J.Ł. and R.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Not applicable.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
By Beata Janowska; Jagoda Łój and Roman Andrzejak
Reported by Author; Author; Author