Creating NEBourhoods Together

Through the project “Tasty Neuperlach” eight garden communities developed. In institutions, public places and schools raised beds have been created to raise awareness of sustainable cultivation and strengthen community spirit. Together with the residents of Neuperlach, we designed green oases that not only provide fresh vegetables and herbs, but also promote places for exchange and wellbeing.

Map of Neuperlach showing the community gardens set up so far.

Spring and summer bring the beds to life: fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers that can be harvested and shared. There are currently eight locations in Neuperlach that not only offer healthy food but also space for neighbours to gather. Come by, plant, harvest, and share!

Discussions revealed that social organizations are often understaffed and do not have much time to devote to gardening, let alone setting up a garden in the first place. However, many institutions would like to have a green meeting place, and there is also great interest from the neighborhood. That's why building a community garden has to be as easy as possible. Fort hat reason we brought together a lot of interdisciplinary expertise to work on this challenge: artist Janine Mackenroth, architect and artist Richard Schleich, and zero waste product designer Anna Diermeier developed a modular, hexagonal raised bed in a co-creative process with Neuperlach initiatives, neighbours and Green City.

Raised beds offer many advantages in the city: They improve soil drainage, reduce bending and kneeling so they can give acces to gardening for older or handicapped people. They make gardening easier, and can be installed in various urban spaces such as schools, community centers, and residential areas. Raised beds also control soil quality and minimize weed growth, which promotes more efficient gardening.

The hexagonal raised beds were built in several locations in Neuperlach together with the neighbourhood. The result was innovative garden landscapes for planting, meeting, and enjoying.

Network events and workshops helped strengthen the exchange between the newly formed garden initiatives. Partners from outside the neighborhood also joined in, bringing new knowledge and ideas for implementation.

Toolbox

Creating NEBourhoods Together made it possible to create a toolbox with practical instructions for building raised beds – from proper filling and construction to a plant catalogue. You can find all the information you need here:

Modular, hexagonal raised bed system
Rectangular raised bed

The project was implemented by the Green City e.V. in collaboration with the Munich Sustainability Initiative (MIN) and the Munich Food Council (MER) with the aim of strengthening the community and promoting an edible city.

More Information about the NEB Action "Growing a Tasty Neuperlach on the Website Green City

Authors: Magdalena Engel, Lea Wieser / Green City e.v.
Picture credits: NEBourhoods