Sustainable Basic Gardening Programme

Producing sustainable food within communities is much more than accessing healthy food. There are also transformations in the people who cultivate their gardens and in their environments. Large cities worldwide promote and multiply this technology that has been increasing in recent years due to environmental problems.

The Sustainable Basic Gardening Programme is an innovative instrument of urban sustainability since their benefits are multiple and transversal: they improve landscapes, generate new links between neighbours, strengthen identity and bond with the neighbourhood, strengthen values in horticulturists such as responsibility, solidarity, cooperation, perseverance, commitment and respect.

The ALAC Inc team has worked with the Hamilton community in recent years. In a meeting with the community, we surveyed what type of program they would like to develop, and the majority wanted to do workshops related to gardens; this is how we were able to identify leaders to do the Sustainable Basic Gardening program. It helps them with self-empowerment, group identity, effective communication, cooperative agreements, creative strategies and self-expression.

A total of 12 families participated in the program who are committed and wish to continue developing this project, continue delivering new skills to the community in Hamilton, and continue helping the community eat sustainably and ecologically.