Financing the community gardens

The implementation of a community garden of about 6000 square metres costs around 33 000 USD. This includes working devices (e. g. spades and hoes), irrigation system and sun protection, measures of soil improvement such as organic fertilizer and humus, construction timber for the compost heap and planting beds, plants, seeds, petrol for the delivery of materials and machines, and personnel costs for two agricultural engineers who help residents create the garden. Costs vary depending on the size of the garden. 

 

The implementation of the community gardens is financed through donations from private and public persons and foundations. In 2015, a German branch was founded in Berlin (Städte Ohne Hunger Deutschland e. V.) with the objective to support Cities Without Hunger's work in Brazil financially and public relations work abroad, especially in Germany, but increasingly at an international level. 

 

After one year, community gardens are self-supporting. Gardeners earn their income selling their produce. Cities Without Hunger still provides technical support and lends bigger machines like tractors when needed. The NGO also supports network-building actions to integrate the gardens in São Paulo's wider economy, e. g. through delivery partnerships with restaurants.

  • Cities Without Hunger depends on donations to finance the implementation of community gardens.
  • After one year, the gardens are self-supporting and gardeners earn their livelihoods by selling their produce. 
  • The NGO keeps providing technical support and fostering socioeconomic integration of the garden projects after the one-year implementation phase.
  • Financing the implementation of the garden projects through donations does not guarantee planning security. If this building block is to be replicated, attention must be given to finding reliable sources of funding.
  • Even though community gardeners manage their gardens autonomously after a year, technical support and machines are shared amongst them via Cities Without Hunger. In that resepct, the NGO plays an important role as project coordinator.