Milan is not only the city of unexpected views, hidden courtyards and post-industrial lofts, but also that of urban gardens. Wandering through the streets of the more peripheral neighborhoods, it is easy to come across small cultivated plots, squashed next to each other, separated by slightly danceable nets, but overflowing with vegetables: zucchini, eggplant is tomatoes in the summertime, cabbage is cabbage, perfect for making cassoela, in winter. For some years, however, urban gardens have begun to appear even in the most central or otherwise redeveloped areas of the city. Have you ever been, for example, to the flower gardens under the skyscrapers of City Life? Or, do you know "Cultivating" in Bovisa, theshared garden on the campus of the Politecnico di Milano?

Urban gardens in Milan, a phenomenon extended in time and space

Someone talks about fashion, but in reality that of the Milanese urban gardens is a phenomenon extended both in time and in space. In the economic boom years those who cultivated the garden did so for need or out of nostalgia of their peasant origins. Over time, the garden has become the pastime of those who have reached retirement (also because the municipal garden is addressed, by choice, mainly to the over 60s).

Making the vegetable garden: an activity that is good for the community and the city

Today, however, the garden is being strongly re-evaluated for its size community, but also how urban regeneration tool is social innovation. The urban gardens that have appeared in Milan in recent years have in fact become meeting points where one can take care of the city together, spaces of well-being where one can stay in contact with nature and places to rebuild a healthy and conscious relationship with food.

Milan, the city of gardens told in a book

In all, there are more land dedicated to these crops than one imagines: "In the metropolitan city area their extension, added up, is equal to over 850 hectares, We read in The city of gardens. Cultivating and building social relations in the small green spaces of Greater Milan, the book, fresh off the press, signed by Mario Cucchi, Daniela Gambino, Antonio Longo. An in-depth reading on the phenomenon of urban gardens in Milan, which tells us how the city is not only not alien to the phenomenon, but also that in the past it has already been the seat of some pioneering experiences.

Urban gardens, the first pioneering experiences

First of all that of informal gardens born in the 70s starting from the experimentation of urban forestation of Boscoincittà, promoted by Italia Nostra in the western area of ​​Milan, in a space given in concession by the Municipality. Another emblematic example cited in the book is that of Garden of Aromas, the community garden that is located in the park of the former Paolo Pini psychiatric hospital in Affori, carried out with the aim of promoting the social reintegration of disadvantaged people.

From individual practice to a shared garden

Today they are counted in the metropolitan area of ​​Milan 2255 vegetable colonies. Many of the urban gardens born in recent years are "Shared". Realities generated by the thrust of associations or groups that have particular social and / or ecological purposes and that are trying to "Rejuvenate" the figure of the orthist. They do this through the involvement of people with propensity and sensitivity to ecological-health issues, but also through the organization of training courses aimed at citizens.

Orto Comune di Niguarda, an emblematic case

An emblematic example is represented by theCommon Garden Niguarda, where spices and ancient varieties are grown. In five years, the promoting association, in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan and the Parco Nord body, has managed to transform a large piece of uncultivated lawn right inside the North Park in one of the liveliest and most original shared gardens in the city. Since 2015, the year of birth, they have been over six hundred inhabitants of the neighborhood who have cultivated it, giving life to various work groups: from the “Mani di fata”, which they create aromatic salts, dried herbs and floral compositions, to the beekeepers who produce organic wildflower honey. Part of the land was also used for the construction of a synergistic garden, that is grown in a completely natural way, without fertilizers or fertilizers.

From the social to the productive dimension

During the months of lockdown, the volunteers had to stop the initiatives open to citizens. Yes they are though data to be done to distribute fresh food to the neediest families in the neighborhood. An experience, that of direct support, which demonstrates how the social dimension can coexist with the productive one. A good example from which to start answering the question of our century: "If in 2050 68 percent of the population will live in urban centers, who will produce 80 percent of the food that – they say – will be consumed in cities ? "

How to have your own vegetable garden?

This new "green wave" is also due to a push from the Municipality of Milan which, since 2015, has focused on urban gardens, assigning numerous new parcels of land. The temporary concession usually takes place through area notices to which private citizens can apply on a voluntary basis, against an annual fee of 1 euro per square meter. Furthermore, the Municipality of Milan also promoted between 2012 and 2015 the concession to associations of spaces for the creation of shared gardens. Finally, numerous gardens are located in schools, and just recently, the office of the Food Policy of Milan has drawn up the Guidelines for the creation and management of "Educational Gardens".