Project Gardeniser

Gardeniser Academy

The Gardeniser Academy comes out of a growing recognition of the vital role that community gardens play in communities across Europe. These spaces promote social inclusion, environmental awareness and local participation, yet many volunteers and staff lack the necessary training to effectively develop and sustain these initiatives. In response to this growing need, the Gardeniser Academy aims to create an accessible, flexible e-learning platform tailored to those interested in establishing or managing community gardens.

The project addresses a wide range of community gardens, from school gardens to intercultural spaces that bring together migrants and local residents. By offering tailored learning pathways, the project equips garden organisers with both the technical and soft skills needed to manage these spaces, ensuring they thrive and adapt to their specific environments. It will also offer a set of Best Practices collected directly by a group of 24 market gardeners who have visited market gardens in Spain as part of the project. Italy, Austria and France. 

Rooted in the values of sustainability, civic engagement and lifelong learning, the Gardeniser Academy represents a step forward in supporting the next generation of garden leaders across Europe.

Our role in the project

Communication and dissemination

Web page

Graphic design

Project objectives

1

Promote the development of community gardens in different European environments.

2

Train participants and volunteers to improve their skills in the management and development of community gardens.

3

Raise awareness of the social, environmental, and educational benefits of community gardens.

4

Create learning pathways adapted to different settings, including schools, migrant communities, and local neighbourhoods.

Main results

E-learning platform

A comprehensive digital platform providing resources and training modules for garden leaders.

Learning pathways

Three different courses for educational, intercultural, and neighbourhood gardens.

Best practice collection

Case studies and practical insights from community garden projects across Europe.

Mobility diaries

Collection of the experiences that 24 gardeners gathered during their visits to gardens in Austria, Spain, Italy and France.

Expected impact

The Gardeniser Academy will have a significant impact on communities by enabling the growth of community gardens that promote social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and urban green spaces. The project will encourage greater civic participation by training “citizen gardeners” and creating stronger links between local residents, schools, and migrants. Economically, it reduces the cost of face-to-face training by providing scalable online learning. Environmentally, it promotes sustainable gardening practices, contributing to the fight against climate change.

 

Ultimately, the project will not only equip volunteers with practical skills but will also inspire new gardening projects across Europe, helping to build resilient and connected communities.