In the concrete jungles of urban environments, we believe in sowing the seeds of change
Urban Gardens offer not just a city garden but a living classroom where students can witness the miracles of growth, learn about sustainable practices, and cultivate a sense of responsibility for our planet.
Inspired by the movement of Victory Gardens
The movement of Victory Gardens have played a crucial role in ensuring food security during periods of scarcity, particularly in the USA, Canada, and Europe during World War I and World War II and in Israel during the Independence War of 1948. These gardens are symbols of collective strength, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges through agriculture.
Nutritional Support
The area of the Western Negev produces 70% of vegetables in Israel. The October 7 massacre led to dramatic damage to agricultural infrastructures and to planting and harvesting cycles. Without agricultural produce from the fields and greenhouses, we expect a shortage of fruit and vegetables supplies.
Urban Gardens provide an additional source of fresh vegetables, reducing the dependency on distant food sources, thus contributing to food security and self-sufficiency in Israel.
Increasing mental health and resilience by growing your own crops
Gardening has been proven to have therapeutic benefits. It offers a sense of accomplishment, reduces stress, and fosters a connection with nature, promoting mental well-being.
Education: Science and Technologies
How to implement basic biological knowledge in establishing successful growing systems.
Our school program will educate and encourage pupils to grow their own Future Gardens, supported by professionals of the Volcani Institute. Teaching students to grow their vegetables using state-of-the-art technologies will foster an understanding of the environment, the food production process, and the importance of self-sufficiency. We will use sustainable agricultural practices and teach youngsters how to make environmentally conscious choices.
Our Partners
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Learning and Education
Future Gardens serve as a valuable educational tool. The project teaches essential agricultural skills, promote environmental stewardship, and encourage a greater understanding of where food comes from.
Implementing Future Gardens in Schools
One of the key components of the Future Gardens project is to introduce a comprehensive program in schools that educates and encourages students to grow their own Future Garden at home.
Teaching students to grow their vegetables using modern horticultural technologies will foster an understanding of the environment, the food production process, and the importance of self-sufficiency. We will use sustainable agricultural practices and teach youngsters how to make nvironmentally conscious choices.
These modules will serve as prototypes for city-gardens on the rooftops, balconies, and gardens in Israel for the sustainable production of the "salad basket" for home consumption.
Our team
The containers for plant growth and vegetable production in the city is supplied by ALMI (local production in Israel).
Each garden module includes 10-14 pots and an automatic irrigation system.
Plant material and practical guidance is provided by the Sloner Nursery (Dr. Avia Sloner).
The research team from the Volcani Institute (noshem.org.il/) leads and supports the project.
Rehovot
At the farm for agricultural education in Rehovot, a project was established in order to transfer the knowledge of growing vegetables at home to the Israeli public, in collaboration with researchers from the Volcani Institute, the unit of youth activities at the Volcani Institute, the Saloner nursery and the team of farm teachers.
Various models were set up for growing vegetables at home: balcony, yard, windowsill, etc.
40 third grade students attended an open day held at the farm and their parents, who learned the principles of growing tomato plants at home, received personal kits and experienced in planting tomato and basil plants.
An open day at the farm. experiencing planting tomato and basil plants, April 2024
The development of the vegetable plants following the demonstration planting on the farm
April 15, Rehovot
April 19, Rehovot
April 30, Rehovot
May 6, Rehovot
An elementary school student participated in the development of vegetables in the home garden, May 1
Beer Sheva
The first Model Garden was established at the Farm for Agricultural Education in Beer Sheva in collaboration with the Center for Urban Agro-Ecology at the Volcani Center.
The project aims to demonstrate how to grow vegetables on balconies, rooftops, and home gardens in the Negev, contributing to food security and a sustainable urban environment. Teachers from the Farm for Agricultural Education in Beer Sheva, Dr. Adva Maisel and Hila Weizman Ben-David will also guide the teachers' community from the farms of the southern region in Yeruham, Hura, Nitzana, and Arava to spread and extend the knowledge about home gardening and urban agriculture in the Negev.
Farming in Beer Sheva:
Dr. Hadar Heller and
Prof. Rina Kamenetzky
February 2024​
First meeting of the community of agricultural farm teachers in the south: Beer Sheva, Yeruchem, Hura, Nitsana and Arava, February 7, 2024
Establishment of the first vegetable garden at the Beer Sheva farm
January 2024
Mature plants two months after planting
Open day in Be'er Sheva