Gardens of Guimarães, urban allotment gardens.

Recently, I visited the city of Guimarães, Portugal. This city is home to the "Horta de Guimarães," an urban allotment garden that was inaugurated in 2008. This garden is the most well-known in northern Portugal and features a network of over 500 small plots spread across 6 hectares, along with open recreational areas accessible to the public.

The park offers numerous social and health benefits, including enhanced community well-being, improved physical and mental health, and increased access to fresh, nutritious food. Locally grown food is fresher and has a higher nutritional content compared to food transported over long distances, resulting in a healthier diet.

Urban gardens in Guimarães

Urban agriculture, like that in Guimarães, has the potential to enhance the sustainability and resilience of urban communities. It contributes to a lower-carbon economy by reducing fuel consumption associated with food transportation within cities. Additionally, urban agriculture promotes greener environments by creating microclimatic conditions that help mitigate the urban heat island effect. The use of native plants in urban agriculture attracts wildlife, beneficial insects, and birds, thereby promoting biodiversity and conservation. Composting not only helps reduce chemical contamination but also encourages the use of urban waste as fertilizer.

The health benefits of urban green infrastructure are widely recognized. It provides a supportive environment for residents and plays a crucial role in protecting mental health. Access to green spaces, such as recreational areas, leads to greater neighborhood satisfaction, improved self-reported health, increased longevity, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. Urban green areas serve as healthy retreats for individuals seeking to escape stressful situations.

To support urban and peri-urban agriculture and ensure the protection of land designated for food production, it is essential to implement policies at both local and national levels. The city of Guimarães is taking the lead in the fight for food security and fostering a healthier, happier community.

Stream and recreational area.