{"id":4895,"date":"2013-11-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-10T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/?p=4895"},"modified":"2015-06-01T15:24:33","modified_gmt":"2015-06-01T19:24:33","slug":"people-take-over-nature-in-cities-with-their-own-hands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/2013\/11\/10\/people-take-over-nature-in-cities-with-their-own-hands\/","title":{"rendered":"People Take Over Nature in Cities with their Own Hands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Em\u00a0Portugu\u00eas<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Urban food production is gaining momentum with launching of books, seminars and congresses, websites and social media. Some cities have programs to promote people-nature direct contact through vegetable gardens \u2014 common or in allotment gardens. Urban dwellers are becoming more and more engaged in cultivating and collaborating in common public spaces, transforming many underused lawns into productive landscapes.<\/p>\n

I have been inspired by these issues and have been investigating and visiting many places in search of interesting examples.<\/p>\n

Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paris has been an exciting case not only because it is a large and complex metropolis, but because it also has an important role in people\u2019s imaginations, being one of the most visited cities in the world. Paris attracts visitors from everywhere looking for art, culture, fashion, architecture, and parks and gardens! Yes, Paris has numerous parks and gardens of all sizes, shapes, functionality and vegetative cover. They may be historic, recreational, ecological and are important part of the urban forest, like Bois de Boulogne<\/a> and Bois de Vincennes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I have gone to Paris very often for decades. In the last years I have seen a great transformation in how Parisians are dealing with urban nature and opening space for people, biodiversity and food production. It is happening not only in parks and gardens, but in streets, small lots, roofs, in public and private areas. Along the river Seine, in the summer streets are transformed as urban beaches<\/a>. The city has promoted educational events in all spaces and scales, and my perception is that they are making a silent revolution in the way people value nature and have enhanced the day-to-day interrelation with the river, parks and the urban vegetable gardens.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cParis
\u201cParis Plage\u201d \u2013 Paris Beach: in the summer the border of the Seine river is transformed in a beach. Now some parts are closed to vehicles at all times (July 2009). Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In recent years Gilles Cl\u00e9ment<\/a>, a landscape designer and writer, has done a terrific job in changing minds, both of decision-makers and regular people. He has designed and written about landscape and gardens, as the Tier Paysage <\/i><\/a>(Third Landscape \u2014 the unmanaged derelict areas that abound in cities and house an expressive biodiversity); and the Jardins en Mouvement <\/i><\/a>(Changing Gardens) \u2014 gardens where the designers and the caretakers work with nature so the vegetation can thrive with diversity in surprising ways; among other publications.<\/p>\n

My friends Miguel, Pablo Georgieff and Nicolas Bonnenfant are architects and landscape architects working with communities to build gardens together (see the COLOCO<\/a> website). They explore the urban biodiversity in many ways, sometimes in urban performances with public participation.<\/p>\n

The square in front of the Hotel de Ville<\/i><\/a> (City Hall) hosts different events all year long. In the summer I saw an installation of samples of regional ecosystems to educate people about the nature around them. Many new parks have been designed to recreate those ecosystems. For instance, Jardin d\u2019\u00c9ole<\/i><\/a> has beautiful small wetlands and sandy gardens where once there was a train track maneuver area.<\/p>\n

\""H\u00f4tel
“H\u00f4tel de Ville” – City Hall: the paved area in front converted into a regional ecosystem demonstration and educational project (July 2009). Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\u201cJardin
\u201cJardin d\u00b4\u00c9ole\u201d New park in the Northern side of the city: sandy ecosystem in the right side with a small built wetlands in the extreme right. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But what strikes me the most is the food planting that is being incorporated in parks and other public and private spaces. It is not a new concept, but today they are part of all the neighborhoods<\/span>. <\/i>The public program Jardins Familiaux et Collectifs <\/i><\/a>(Family and Collective Gardens) <\/i>is more than 100 years old<\/a> and gives urbanites a chance to keep contact with soil, planting, digging and picking their own food or flowers. There is a long waiting list for a plot of land to explore your own garden, for food production or flowers.<\/p>\n

\""Jardin
“Jardin Familliaux et Colectifs” Family and Collective Gardens: this is close to the Chemin de l\u00b4\u00cele Park along the Seine, in Nanterre – a city neighboring central Paris. Below the electrical transmission lines there are allotment gardens where city dwellers have direct contact with nature. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The city is developing a former industrial area in the northwestern 17eme<\/sup><\/i> Arondissement<\/i> (17th<\/sup> district), Clichy-Batignolles. The strategy was to start with the new park Martin Luther-King<\/a>. The park has achieved social and ecological goals, with spaces for a variety of activities, a built wetland and a productive garden, as part of the Jardin Partag\u00e9 – Main Verte<\/a> city program (Shared Garden – Green Hand ). This is an amazing way to give school kids the opportunity to cultivate food in public areas nearby. Each class has its own plot. The common vegetable garden has signs that show who is planting what.<\/p>\n

\"Martin
Martin Luther-King Park offers an array of ambiances combining biodiversity, water natural drainage and filtration, recreation and vegetable garden for school students. Photos: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Main Verte<\/i> is not only happening in new parks, it is also in Bercy <\/i>Park, which is now some decades old (see the map with all locations here<\/a>). Every year in September, the city promotes a weekend dedicated to the gardens, with an emphasis in food production: it is the \u201cF\u00eate des Jardins\u201d (Gardens Party).<\/p>\n

\"Bercy
Bercy Park: Vegetable garden during the F\u00eate des Jardins (Gardens\u2019 Party week-end): education, recreation and direct contact with nature. Photos: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Berlin<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a strong bottom-up movement looking \u201cbackwards\u201d to reconnect people with nature in dense urban areas. I was in Berlin last July (2013), and visited two urban gardens that really impressed me: the Prinzessinnengarten<\/a> at the Moritz Platz, and Tempelhof Park<\/a>. Both are examples of active social engagement with ecological issues related to food and biodiversity. They are unique places, and have been developed by residents intending to conserve open areas from real estate development. The first is located in the heart of the city, in a former derelict space. An association named Nomadic Green<\/a> was created and they rented the space from the city and have a restaurant, a caf\u00e9, and a small library. The planting is in portable containers \u2014 that\u2019s the origin of their name. In just few years the transformation of the place and people has been absolutely astonishing .<\/p>\n

\"Portable
Portable vegetable garden in the Prinzessinnengarten in the heart of Berlin. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tempelhof Park<\/a> is a former airport that was converted in a public park in the South of Berlin. It is impressive in its size. People use and love it. Most remarkable to me is the area where the residents created vegetable gardens and \u201cliving rooms\u201d in open air made of recycled material. It is a truly hospitable outdoor place. Even with a strong rain at the end of the day, it was pleasant being in a communal tent, with the sound of the water and wind, and nice conversation with interesting people.<\/p>\n

\"Late
Late afternoon last summer at the Tempelhof Park vegetable garden: beer and nice conversation close to nature. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New York<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talking about large cities and food production, New York City is really impressive. There are numerous community gardens in all boroughs, such as the one in the West Side Community Garden<\/a>. In the area of the New York University there are two examples of engagement with nature. At LaGuardia Corner Gardens<\/a>, located next to the New York University, there are people that care for a community garden, working to keep it beautiful and with rich biodiversity. It is under threat, because the \u201cNYU 2031<\/a>\u201d plan proposes building a new high rise on the site. The university itself has the NYU Urban Farm<\/a>, and when I was there young students were concluding their work in the garden.<\/p>\n

\"La
La Guardia Corner Gardens partial view, with the banners against the future development that Will eliminate the garden. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NYU
NYU Urban Farm. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On a commercial scale, the striking innovation is the transformation of gray roofs to urban farms by the Brooklyn Grange. They have two facilities: the first is located in Brooklyn and the second in Queens. They are opened to guided visits on the market days (check the website<\/a> to see openings that vary according to different seasons. I visited the Queens facility on a beautiful Saturday morning last October (2013). There were a lot of visitors, people buying fresh produce, learning about food planting, appreciating nature on the rooftop of an old building with an astonishing view of Manhattan.<\/p>\n

\"View
View from the Brooklyn Grange roof top farm at the Queens facility, in NYC: last October in a Saturday morning. The Market is on the left and the view of Manhattan in the back. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

S\u00e3o Paulo<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the city where I was born, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, there is a group called Hortel\u00f5es Urbanos<\/a><\/i> (Urban Vegetable Producers \u2014 in a loose translation) that is transforming places, minds and hearts. It a pro-life movement \u2014 in a broad sense \u2014 started after two journalists completed a permaculture course and decided to grow their own food. The initial place was at Pra\u00e7a das Corujas<\/i><\/a> (Owl\u2019s Place), located in a nice neighborhood. They took over a lawn in this small park to plant food and flowers, and decorated with recycled artwork. In a short period of time, they were joined by more and more residents and replicated the intervention in other public and private spaces. They started a group on the Internet, and in a year and a half they have more than 6,000 members! It is like a good virus inoculated in urbanites in search of a better quality of life.<\/p>\n

\"Claudia
Claudia Visoni one of the co-founders of \u201cHortel\u00f5es Urbanos\u201d working in the vegetable garden in the financial district of S\u00e3o Paulo, over a tunnel in a central area between an extremely busy street, Avenida Paulista. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\""Pra\u00e7a
“Pra\u00e7a das Corujas” (Owl’s Place): lawn in a small park transformed in a community productive garden in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Farmer\u2019s Markets go along with those movements. Producers get together to sell their local production to neighbors. Local small urban farmers are gathering to keep productive properties in urban areas in Rio de Janeiro. They have support of local \u201ceco-chefs\u201d that run fancy restaurants. Local is beautiful because it conserve people\u2019s jobs and relationships, incentivizes attachment to the land and nature, and maintains traditions and culture, and most of all promotes people\u2019s values and emotions.<\/p>\n

The benefits are evident: healthy food, people-nature reconnection, better local climate and water quality, more biodiversity and, most important, happier and healthier people. There are many scientific studies that prove the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity and organic food production are essential to maintain life on planet Earth. The recently released book Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services<\/a> led by Thomas Elmqvist is a must read for people interested in learning more about the benefits of nature in the cities. Productive and biodiverse landscapes should replace lawns and cosmetic gardens with few species, which need costly and constant maintenance. Those areas may be of great importance to build more livable, sustainable and resilient cities.<\/p>\n

After years of research, Marco Schmidt (Water Paradigm<\/a>) eloquently states that extensive land-use change from green to gray, and other uses that cause biodiversity eradication and soil depletion, are important drivers of climate change because there is an alteration in the evaporation cycle that is responsible for the hydrologic cycle which influences local and global climate. This is often ignored. Soils and plants capture carbon and release oxygen, which is fundamental to life; drain and filter water; prevent floods and landslides; cool temperatures and regulate local climate. Urbanization is increasing and so is land-cover change<\/a>. If we reverse the process, greening and including water in plans and design in many ways in private and public urban areas, we can contribute to build more sustainable and resilient cities. Many of the most pressing crisis may be mitigated and even adapt urban areas for the unexpected challenges that climate change is already bringing to us all, wherever in this planet we may be.<\/p>\n

And if public and private lawns were transformed in productive landscapes, planted with food and associated flora for a healthy biodynamic interaction among biodiversity? And if impervious surfaces, such as gray rooftops, sidewalks, parking lots and school yards became green with functional, visible, educational and recreational with water features accessible to all: kids and adults and seniors? And if people, local arts and culture, biodiversity, water bodies and mobility were planned and designed to harmonize communities with plenty of amenities for all ages? What a marvelous cities we would have: livable cities.<\/p>\n

These are not dreams. These places exist and people love them, as we have seen above. People have the power to transform the world little-by-little, garden-by-garden, block-by-block, community-by-community.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n

Cecilia Herzog<\/strong>
\nRio de Janeiro<\/p>\n

\n

On The Nature of Cities\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n***\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Pessoas Tomam Conta da Natureza em suas Cidades com suas Pr\u00f3prias M\u00e3os<\/b><\/h1>\n

A produ\u00e7\u00e3o de alimentos nas cidades est\u00e1 ganhando momentum<\/i> com o lan\u00e7amento de livros, semin\u00e1rios e congressos, websites e m\u00eddia social. Algumas cidades t\u00eam promovido programas para que haja um contato direto pessoas e a natureza atrav\u00e9s de hortas \u2013 comuns ou em allotment gardens<\/i> (lotes p\u00fablicos que s\u00e3o disponibilizados por uma quantia simb\u00f3lica anual).<\/p>\n

Fiquei instigada por essas quest\u00f5es. Por isso, tenho pesquisado e visitado muitos lugares em busca de casos interessantes. Paris tem sido um modelo empolgante, n\u00e3o apenas por se tratar de uma cidade grande e uma metr\u00f3pole complexa, mas porque tamb\u00e9m tem um papel importante no imagin\u00e1rio das pessoas sendo uma das cidades mais visitadas do mundo. Paris atrai visitantes de todos os lugares em busca de arte, cultura, moda, arquitetura, e parques e jardins! Sim, Paris tem in\u00fameros parques e jardins de todos os tamanhos, formas, funcionalidades e cobertura vegetais. Eles podem ser hist\u00f3ricos, recreativos, ecol\u00f3gicos e s\u00e3o parte importante da floresta urbana, como Bois de Boulogne<\/a> e Bois de Vincennes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tenho ido a Paris com frequ\u00eancia por d\u00e9cadas. Nos \u00faltimos anos tenho visto uma grande transforma\u00e7\u00e3o em como os parisienses est\u00e3o lidando com a natureza urbana e abrindo espa\u00e7os para pessoas, biodiversidade e produ\u00e7\u00e3o de alimentos. Isso est\u00e1 acontecendo n\u00e3o apenas em parques e jardins, mas nas ruas, pequenos lotes, tetos, em \u00e1reas p\u00fablicas e privadas. Ao longo do rio Sena, as ruas no ver\u00e3o s\u00e3o transformadas em praias urbanas<\/a>. A cidade tem promovido eventos educacionais em todos os espa\u00e7os e escalas, e minha percep\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e9 que est\u00e3o fazendo uma revolu\u00e7\u00e3o silenciosa no modo como as pessoas valoram a natureza e t\u00eam melhorado no dia-a-dia as suas inter-rela\u00e7\u00f5es com o rio, parques e hortas urbanas.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cParis
\u201cParis Plage\u201d \u2013 Paris Praia: no ver\u00e3o as bordas do Sena s\u00e3o transformadas em praias. Atualmente, partes dessas vias j\u00e1 est\u00e3o fechadas ao tr\u00e1fego de ve\u00edculos permanentemente. (julho de 2009). Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nos \u00faltimos anos Gilles Cl\u00e9ment<\/a>, um paisagista e escritor, tem feito um tremendo trabalho mudando a cabe\u00e7a das pessoas, tanto de tomadores de decis\u00f5es como das pessoas comuns. Ele tem projetado e escrito sobre paisagens e jardins, como Tier Paysage <\/i><\/a>(Terceira Paisagem \u2014 \u00e1reas urbanas n\u00e3o manejadas que se espalham pelas cidades e abrigam expressiva biodiversidade); e Jardins en Mouvement <\/i><\/a>(Jardins em Movimento) \u2014 jardins onde o projetista e o jardineiro trabalham com a natureza de forma que a vegeta\u00e7\u00e3o possa resplandecer com diversidade de maneiras surpreendentes; entre outras publica\u00e7\u00f5es.<\/p>\n

Meus amigos Miguel, Pablo Gorgieff e Nicolas Bonnenfant s\u00e3o arquitetos e paisagistas que trabalham com comunidades na constru\u00e7\u00e3o conjunta de jardins (veja o website <\/i>COLOCO<\/a>). Eles exploram a biodiversidade urbana de v\u00e1rias maneiras, algumas vezes em performances<\/i> com a participa\u00e7\u00e3o do p\u00fablico.<\/p>\n

A pra\u00e7a em frente ao Hotel de Ville<\/i><\/a> (Prefeitura) \u00e9 lugar de diferentes eventos ao longo do ano. No ver\u00e3o, estive numa instala\u00e7\u00e3o de amostras de ecossistemas que visavam educar as pessoas sobre a natureza que as rodeia.\u00a0 Muitos parques novos est\u00e3o sendo projetados para recriar esses ecossistemas. Por exemplo, o Jardin d\u2019\u00c9ole<\/i><\/a>\u00a0tem um belo wetland<\/i> (ecossistema de \u00e1rea alagada, no Brasil tamb\u00e9m conhecido como banhado) e um jardim arenoso, no local onde anteriormente abrigou uma \u00e1rea de manobras de trens.<\/p>\n

\""H\u00f4tel
“H\u00f4tel de Ville” – Prefeitura: \u00e1reas pavimentadas em sua frente s\u00e3o convertidas em demonstra\u00e7\u00e3o de ecossistemas regionais com fins educativos july 2009). Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\u201cJardin
\u201cJardin d\u00b4\u00c9ole\u201d \u2013 Novo parque na zona norte da Cidade: ecossistema arenoso no lado direitor, com pequeno alagado constru\u00eddo na extrema direita. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mas, o que mais me impressiona s\u00e3o as planta\u00e7\u00f5es de alimentos que est\u00e3o sendo incorporadas aos parques e outros espa\u00e7os p\u00fablicos e privados. N\u00e3o \u00e9 um conceito novo, mas hoje fazem parte de todos os bairros. O programa Jardins Familiaux et Collectifs<\/i><\/a> <\/i>(Jardins Familiares e Coletivos) <\/i>tem mais de 100 anos<\/a> e d\u00e1 aos \u201curbanoides\u201d a oportunidade de manter o contato com a terra, com o plantio e colheita de sua pr\u00f3pria comida e flores. H\u00e1 uma longa lista de espera para um lote de terra que possiblita explorar seu pr\u00f3prio jardim, para produ\u00e7\u00e3o de alimentos ou flores.<\/p>\n

\""Jardin
“Jardin Familliaux et Colectifs” (Jardim Familiar e Coletivo): esse \u00e9 perto do Parque Chemin de l\u00b4\u00cele Park que fica ao longo do Sena, em Nanterre – uma cidade vizinha de Paris. As hortas ficam sob as linhas de transmiss\u00e3o de energia, com os allotment gardens onde os moradores podem ter contato direto com a natureza . Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A cidade est\u00e1 desenvolvendo uma antiga \u00e1rea industrial na zona noroeste, no 17eme<\/sup><\/i> Arondissement<\/i> (17o.<\/sup> distrito), Clichy-Batignolles. A estrat\u00e9gia foi a de come\u00e7ar com o novo parque Martin Luther-King<\/a>. O parque atingiu objetivos sociais e ecol\u00f3gicos, com espa\u00e7os para umq variedade de atividades, um alagado constru\u00eddo (wetland<\/i>) e jardins produtivos, que fazem parte do programa Jardin Partag\u00e9 \u2013 Main Verte<\/a> (Jardim Compartilhado \u2013 M\u00e3o Verde). Esse \u00e9 um modo inovador de dar oportunidade a alunos \u2013 crian\u00e7as \u2013 de cultivar alimentos em \u00e1reas p\u00fablicas em sua vizinhan\u00e7a. Cada classe (ou sala como se diz no Rio de Janeiro) tem seu pr\u00f3prio lote. O jardim comunit\u00e1rio tem sinaliza\u00e7\u00e3o que mostra quem est\u00e1 plantando o que.<\/p>\n

\"Parque
Parque Martin Luther-King Park: Oferece uma variedade de ambientes que conciliam biodiversidade, drenagem natural e filtragem das \u00e1guas das chuvas, recrea\u00e7\u00e3o e hortas para estudantes. Photos: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

O Main Verte<\/i> n\u00e3o acontece apenas em parque novos, tem tamb\u00e9m em Bercy que j\u00e1 existe h\u00e1 algumas d\u00e9cadas (veja o mapa para localiza\u00e7\u00e3o de todas as hortas na cidade em http:\/\/www.paris.fr\/pratique\/jardinage-vegetation\/jardins-partages\/liste-des-jardins-partages\/rub_9111_stand_24892_port_22123<\/a>). Todo ano no m\u00eas de setembro, a cidade promove um fim de semana dedicado aos jardins, com \u00eanfase na produ\u00e7\u00e3o de alimentos: \u201cF\u00eate des Jardins\u201d (Festa dos Jardins).<\/p>\n

\"Bercy
Bercy Park: Hortas durante a Festa dos Jardins: educa\u00e7\u00e3o, recrea\u00e7\u00e3o e contato direto com a natureza. Photos: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Berlim<\/strong><\/p>\n

H\u00e1 um forte movimento de baixo para cima (vindo dos moradores) olhando \u201cpara tr\u00e1s\u201d, que visa reconectar as pessoas com a natureza em densos centros urbanos. Estive em Berlim em julho passado, e visitei duas hortas urbanas que realmente me impressionaram: o Prinzessinnengarten<\/a> na \u00a0Moritz Platz (Pra\u00e7a Moritz), e no parque Tempelhof<\/a>. Ambos s\u00e3o exemplos de engajamento social ativo em assuntos ecol\u00f3gicos relacionados com comida e biodiversidade. S\u00e3o lugares \u00fanicos, e t\u00eam sido desenvolvidos pelos moradores com a inten\u00e7\u00e3o de conservar espa\u00e7os abertos da especula\u00e7\u00e3o imobili\u00e1ria. O primeiro \u00e9 localizado no cora\u00e7\u00e3o da cidade, em um antigo espa\u00e7o subutilizado. A associa\u00e7\u00e3o chamada Nomadic Green<\/a> (Verde N\u00f4made) foi criada e alugou o espa\u00e7o p\u00fablico da cidade, onde implantou al\u00e9m da horta, um restaurante, um caf\u00e9 e uma pequena biblioteca. O plantio \u00e9 feito em recipientes port\u00e1teis \u2013 da\u00ed a origem do seu nome. Em apenas poucos anos a transforma\u00e7\u00e3o do lugar e das pessoas tem sido absolutamente surpreendente.<\/p>\n

\"Portable
Portable vegetable garden in the Prinzessinnengarten in the heart of Berlin. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

O parque Tempelhof<\/a> se situa em um aeroporto desativado que foi convertido em espa\u00e7o p\u00fablico no sul de Berlim. O seu tamanho \u00e9 impactante. As pessoas usam intensamente e amam o lugar. A \u00e1rea do parque mais marcante para mim foi a parte em que os moradores se apropriaram e criaram hortas e \u201csalas de estar\u201d ao ar livre. \u00c9 um lugar acolhedor. Mesmo em final de dia com forte chuva, foi agrad\u00e1vel ficar em uma tenda comum com o som das \u00e1guas e do vento, conversando com gente interessante e amig\u00e1vel.<\/p>\n

\"Final
Final do dia no ultimo ver\u00e3o na imensa horta comunit\u00e1ria no Parque Tempelhof: cerveja e boa conversa perto da natureza urbana. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nova York<\/strong><\/p>\n

Falando de cidade grande e produ\u00e7\u00e3o de alimentos, Nova York \u00e9 realmente surpreendente. Existem in\u00fameros jardins comunit\u00e1rios<\/a> em todos os bairros, como o West Side Community Garden<\/a> (Jardim Comunit\u00e1rio do Lado Oeste), na rua 89. Na regi\u00e3o da universidade de Nova York (NYU) existem dois exemplos de engajamento com a natureza. No LaGuardia Corner Gardens<\/a> (Jardins da Esquina LaGuardia), moradores cuidam do jardim comunit\u00e1rio, trabalhando para mant\u00ea-lo bonito e com rica biodiversidade. Est\u00e1 amea\u00e7ado pelo plano NYU 2031<\/a> que prev\u00ea a expans\u00e3o da \u00e1rea para a constru\u00e7\u00e3o de mais um edif\u00edcio no local. Alunos da universidade mant\u00eam a Fazenda Urbana<\/a> NYU. Quando estive l\u00e1 os alunos estavam terminando o trabalho do dia.<\/p>\n

\"Vista
Vista parcial do LaGuardia Corner Gardens, com os cartazes contra o futuro desenvolvimento que ir\u00e1 eliminar o jardim. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fazenda
Fazenda Urbana NYU: estudantes encerrando o dia de trabalho. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Em uma escala comercial, a inova\u00e7\u00e3o espetacular \u00e9 a transforma\u00e7\u00e3o de tetos do cinza para o verde nas fazendas do Brooklyn Grange<\/a>. Ela possui duas sedes: a primeira \u00e9 a do bairro do Brooklyn e a segunda foi instalada no bairro do Queens. Ambas s\u00e3o abertas \u00e0 visita\u00e7\u00e3o nos dias em que a feira funciona (a programa\u00e7\u00e3o est\u00e1 dispon\u00edvel no site<\/a>, pois varia segundo as esta\u00e7\u00f5es do ano). Visitei a fazenda no Queens em uma bela manh\u00e3 de outono em outubro passado. Havia muitos visitantes, gente comprando alimentos frescos e org\u00e2nicos, aprendendo sobre como plantar, apreciando a natureza do alto do teto de um pr\u00e9dio antigo com uma vista de Manhattan.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 15 \u2013 Vista da fazenda Brooklyn Grange em um teto no bairro do Queens, em Nova York: outubro passado emum s\u00e1bado de manh\u00e3. A feira est\u00e1 no lado esquerdo e a vista de Manhattan ao fundo. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

S\u00e3o Paulo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Na cidade em que nasci, S\u00e3o Paulo, h\u00e1 um grupo chamado <\/i>Hortel\u00f5es Urbanos<\/i><\/a> que est\u00e1 transformando lugares, mentes e cora\u00e7\u00f5es. \u00c9 um movimento a favor da vida \u2013 num sentido amplo \u2013 come\u00e7ou com duas jornalistas que completaram um curso de permacultura e decidiram cultivar seu pr\u00f3prio alimento. O local inicial foi a Pra\u00e7a das Corujas<\/a>, na Vila Madalena, um bairro cheio de vida que re\u00fane artistas e muitos jovens. Tomaram conta do que era um gramado (\u201cum deserto verde\u201d) plantando comida e flores, decoraram com arte feita de material reciclado. Em curto espa\u00e7o de tempo, houve uma ades\u00e3o significativa de mais moradores. Come\u00e7aram um grupo na Internet, e em um ano e meio possuem mais de 6,000 membros! \u00c9 como um v\u00edrus do bem que est\u00e1 sendo inoculado nos \u201curbanoides\u201d que buscam uma qualidade de vida melhor.<\/p>\n

\"Claudia
Claudia Visoni uma das cofundadoras do \u201cHortel\u00f5es Urbanos\u201d trabalhando na horta no distrito financeiro da Avenida Paulista, sobre um t\u00fanel central entre vias extremamente movimentadas por carros. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\""Pra\u00e7a
“Pra\u00e7a das Corujas”: gramado transformado em jardim comunit\u00e1rio produtivo na Vila Madalena em S\u00e3o Paulo, Brasil. Photo: Cecilia Herzog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Feiras org\u00e2nicas acompanham esses movimentos. Pequenos produtores se re\u00fanem para vender a produ\u00e7\u00e3o local nos bairros das cidades. Um exemplo de resist\u00eancia \u00e0s investidas de urbaniza\u00e7\u00e3o desenfreada \u00e9 o movimento dos produtores rurais da cidade do Rio de Janeiro<\/a>, que est\u00e3o se organizado para manter as propriedades agr\u00edcolas nas \u00e1reas urbanas. Seus s\u00edtios ficaram invi\u00e1veis por conta do Plano Diretor que designa toda a \u00e1rea da cidade como urbana, tendo que pagar o imposto por metro quadrado. Eles t\u00eam o apoio dos \u201cecochefs\u201d<\/a> que trabalham em restaurantes e mant\u00eam uma barraca na Feira Org\u00e2nica do Jardim Bot\u00e2nico, aos s\u00e1bados. Produ\u00e7\u00e3o local \u00e9 bonita, pois conserva o trabalho e as rela\u00e7\u00f5es, incentiva la\u00e7os com a terra e a natureza, e mant\u00e9m tradi\u00e7\u00f5es e cultura locais, e mais do que tudo melhora os valores e emo\u00e7\u00f5es das pessoas.<\/p>\n

Os benef\u00edcios s\u00e3o evidentes: comida saud\u00e1vel, reconex\u00e3o das pessoas com a natureza, melhoria do clima e da qualidade das \u00e1guas do local, aumenta a biodiversidade e, mais importante, proporciona pessoas mais felizes e saud\u00e1veis. Existem in\u00fameros estudos cient\u00edficos que comprovam que os benef\u00edcios que a natureza e alimentos org\u00e2nicos oferecem s\u00e3o essenciais para manter a vida no planeta Terra. O livro lan\u00e7ado recentemente Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services<\/a> (Urbaniza\u00e7\u00e3o, Biodiversidade e Servi\u00e7os Ecossist\u00eamicos) liderado por Thomas Elmqvist \u00e9 uma leitura essencial para pessoas interessadas em aprender mais sobre os servi\u00e7os que a natureza oferece nas cidades. Paisagens produtivas e biodiversas deveriam substituir gramados e jardins cosm\u00e9ticos com poucas esp\u00e9cies ornamentais, que necessitam de manuten\u00e7\u00e3o cara e permanente, melhorar a funcionalidade da cidade. Essas \u00e1reas podem ser de grande import\u00e2ncia para a constru\u00e7\u00e3o de cidades com melhor qualidade de vida, mais sustent\u00e1veis e resilientes.<\/p>\n

Depois de anos de pesquisa, Marco Schmidt (Water Paradigm<\/a>) afirma eloquentemente que a mudan\u00e7a do uso do solo de verde para cinza, e em outros usos que causam erradica\u00e7\u00e3o da biodiversidade e perda de solo f\u00e9rtil, \u00e9 um fator que provoca mudan\u00e7as clim\u00e1ticas porque altera o ciclo de evapora\u00e7\u00e3o que \u00e9 respons\u00e1vel pela manuten\u00e7\u00e3o do ciclo hidrol\u00f3gico, o qual influencia o clima local e global. Isso \u00e9 frequentemente ignorado. Solos e plantas capturam carbono e produzem oxig\u00eanio que \u00e9 fundamental para manter a vida; drenam e filtram \u00e1guas da chuva; previnem enchentes e deslizamentos de terra; amenizam as temperaturas e regulam o clima local. A urbaniza\u00e7\u00e3o est\u00e1 aumentando, assim como a mudan\u00e7a na cobertura do solo<\/a>. Se revertermos esse processo, incluindo vegeta\u00e7\u00e3o nativa e as \u00e1guas em planos e projetos de diversas maneiras em \u00e1reas urbanas p\u00fablicas e privadas, podemos contribuir para a constru\u00e7\u00e3o de cidades mais sustent\u00e1veis e resilientes. Muitas das crises mais urgentes podem ser mitigadas e at\u00e9 mesmo adaptar \u00e1reas urbanas para desafios inesperados que as mudan\u00e7as clim\u00e1ticas nos trazem, onde quer que estejamos no planeta.<\/p>\n

E se gramados p\u00fablicos e privados fossem transformados em paisagens produtivas, com alimentos e vegeta\u00e7\u00e3o associados para manter a intera\u00e7\u00e3o biodin\u00e2mica entre a biodiversidade? E se as superf\u00edcies imperme\u00e1veis, como tetos, cal\u00e7adas, estacionamentos e p\u00e1tios escolares se tornassem verdes com \u00e1guas vis\u00edveis, recuperando as fun\u00e7\u00f5es da paisagem, proporcionando recrea\u00e7\u00e3o e educa\u00e7\u00e3o acess\u00edveis a todos: crian\u00e7as, adultos e idosos? E se as pessoas, arte e cultura locais, biodiversidade e mobilidade fossem planejadas e projetadas para harmonizar comunidades com muitas amenidades para todas as idades? Que cidades maravilhosas poder\u00edamos ter: \u201ccidades viv\u00edveis\u201d.<\/p>\n

Esses n\u00e3o s\u00e3o sonhos. Esses lugares existem e as pessoas adoram, como vimos acima. As pessoas t\u00eam o poder de transformar o mundo pouco-a-pouco, jardim por jardim, quarteir\u00e3o por quarteir\u00e3o, comunidade por comunidade.<\/p>\n

Ent\u00e3o, m\u00e3os \u00e0 obra!<\/p>\n

Cecilia Herzog<\/strong>
\nRio de Janeiro<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Em\u00a0Portugu\u00eas. Urban food production is gaining momentum with launching of books, seminars and congresses, websites and social media. Some cities have programs to promote people-nature direct contact through vegetable gardens \u2014 common or in allotment gardens. Urban dwellers are becoming more and more engaged in cultivating and collaborating in common public spaces, transforming many underused […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":4923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,298],"tags":[63,401,38,66,404],"coauthors":[129],"class_list":["post-4895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essay","category-essay-people-and-communitites","tag-agriculture","tag-biodiversity","tag-gardens","tag-parks","tag-value"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4895"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=4895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}