Urban
collective farms
Text
: Rafael Vieira
A
recent phenomena in the Lisbon cityscape are improvised urban farms,
a movement that has grown extensively in these last couple of years,
albeit quite behind other cities in Europe. Two main reasons
instilled neighbourhoods in growing their own products in several
empty plots of land around the city, the economical strains and the
conscience of a more natural and healthy lifestyle – also not
independent of a DIY kind of approach to the urban life. Some of the
farms are organized collectively, like Horta
do Monte
(in Graça district) and organize workshops and actions connected
with sustainability and ecology, but many others rose spontaneously
and are being reorganized – while others are being launched ex
nihilo – in the amidst of the growing ecological and social
conscience of the municipality of Lisbon, like Granja
de Baixo, Alta de Lisboa
and Telheiras,
amounting 40ha (99 acres) in total across the city. Several factors
assist to the success of the collective organized farming in Lisbon,
the sense of community being displayed, the perseverance in face of
recession put to test and having organic produces available at
reasonable and affordable prices.
Horta
do Monte : hortadomonte.blogspot.com