Title : Urban organic gardening in Croatia
Abstract:
Urban gardening probably exists since the founding of cities, and its revival could be the key to sustainable cities of the future, but also for a sustainable future on Earth. Urban organic gardening is not a relic of the past. It is an integral part of the urban system of the human population. Food production in urban gardens should be in accordance with the principles of organic production. Urban gardening in the Republic of Croatia has existed for decades, and since locally grown food in urban gardens represents an ecological and social step forward for the inhabitants of our cities, their number increases considerably each year with strong support from local government. So far, formal urban gardens have been established in a large number of Croatian cities, in Zagreb, Varaždin, Osijek, Samobor, Rijeka, Velika Gorica, Karlovac, Ozalj, Split, Ivani? Grad, Virovitica, Koprivnica and others. Initiatives for the formation of urban gardens were initiated by citizens allied to different associations and informal groups of citizens. Also, the formation of urban gardens was initiated by the local authorities with the aim of putting into function the untreated and abandoned land, owned by the city where people can grow vegetables, flowers, medicinal herbs, berry fruit etc. In the City of Zagreb there are currently 12 city gardens with more than 2100 garden plots in the area of 22.20 ha. Garden parcels cover the area of 50 m2, and they are provided for use by public and based on certain criteria without a fee. The funds which are needed for the arrangement and establishment of urban gardens, also, their maintenance and communal services, the city ensures through the city budget and thus contributes to their financial sustainability. The main strategic goal of Croatian cities is to improve spatial quality and function of cities. Organic food production, enhancement and preservation of biodiversity as well as educational programs for gardeners, citizens, pre-school and school children were the specific goals of local government and the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture co-operation. During three years of investigation of biodiversity, 258 plant species, 69 pathogens and 201 insect species have been identified in gardens. In total, 528 species of organisms in the gardens have been identified only by visual inspection. The estimated number of organisms in the garden is surely higher. The number of pollinators and natural enemies has increased considerably by implementation of flower strips and the installation of ''hotel for insects''. Also, yields of individual cultures has increased by up to 30%. A total of 45 lectures were held for gardeners and six important topics of ecological gardening were discussed; 70 workshops were held for preschool children, and 22 topics were discussed; 49 workshops were held for schoolchildren, and 16 topics were discussed. During the cooperation, a total of 164 lectures/workshops were held and 44 topics of ecological gardening and biodiversity were covered.
