Introducing the project: Vrt(AKT)ivizam

One of the important roles of civil organizations in society is to participate in the creation of urban decisions and influence them, as demonstrated by the group of citizens gathered around the association Zelena Istra, which successfully implemented the advocacy project “Vrt(AKT)ivizam“! The goal was to influence the creation and implementation of a model for urban gardens in the city of Pula.

Public Forum, Workshop, Meetings

In addition to the previously expressed interest from citizens through the Zelena Istra Urban Garden Group, one of the first steps was a public forum where examples of good practices of urban and community gardens in Varaždin and Rijeka were presented. During the forum, a call for urban and community gardens at Gregovica was announced. Following the forum, a workshop was organized where educator Cvijeta Bišćević shared her personal experience advocating for urban and community gardens in Zagreb and Rijeka and provided support to participants in thinking about the Pula model.

A working group consisting of about 15 citizens of Pula, associations, and schools developed and submitted proposals to the City of Pula regarding the implementation of the urban garden project and the first community garden at Gregovica. The proposals were created during a unique participatory process held from November 25 to December 23, 2020, which included three online meetings where all criteria were discussed and decisions were made on their inclusion in the proposal text. This marked the first time in Pula that city council proposals were created “from the bottom up.”

The next step was a visit to the future location of the community garden at Gregovica and two other locations where citizens of Pula traditionally engage in urban gardening – Ferijalni and Vidikovac, as well as an analysis of soil and water from nearby wells. It was proposed that Ferijalni and Vidikovac become the locations for future Pula community gardens (apart from the one at Gregovica).

Collaboration for Success

This success was achieved through the engagement and involvement of active citizens and representatives of local civil society organizations from DC Rojc and the surrounding area – the Association of People with Physical Disabilities of South Istria (DOSTI), the Autism Association of Istria, the Pula Student Association, as well as Pula schools – the School for Education and Rehabilitation – Pula and the Pula Gymnasium – in advocating for and campaigning for “Bring the Garden Back to the City” to create and implement the model and the urban garden project and the first community garden in Pula.

The City of Pula has announced a call for urban gardens and the first community garden in Pula, which associations can apply for, and the urban garden group will continue to advocate for the preservation of existing urban gardens and the establishment of new ones.

The project was implemented within the Call for Ad Hoc Action Projects of the Active Citizenship Fund in Croatia.