Urban vegetable gardens of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The UVG of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is a project aimed at bridging the gap between the scientific and local community while reconnecting people to land and growing food, only with biological methods. It has been on for 8 years with success. There are 450 gardens of 100 m2 which are distributed to civilians every year and they can keep it from 1 year to 3 years. In the beginning of the the growing season the gardeners are able to attend some introductive seminars about gardening. Also, there are students of agriculture school to advise them. The products are strictly for their own use and not for sale. They can cultivate annual vegetables, herbs and flowers.The fee is 120E per year. Watering is free of charge but they have to use it with care. In every garden there is the main grower plus one other person who they have access in the area. It is strongly forbidden to use any chemical fertilizers and any other plant protection substansces. Every grower has the obligation to keep his garden in good condition otherwise he will expelled from the program, giving that way the opportunity to other citizens to attend it.
That makes it a win-win practice as everyone’s awareness about organic food production is raised and Greek local vegetable varieties can be grown and used in an environmentally friendly manner. Production is under strict control to be pest-free and plant residues are humified for further plant fertilization.