1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Bremen
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Dachgarten der Bremer Volkshochschule
Short description of the intervention
The project aimed to create a garden on the roof in the Bremen Volkshochschule, developed with the help of local NGO, Gemüsewerft Bremen and local citizens. The initiative involves vegetables and herbs growing, educational workshops on nutrition and urban gardening as well as various social activities. It aims at increasing access to the urban gardening space and increase in ecological awareness of the residents of Bremen (Ref. 1, 3).
Address

Faulenstraße 69
Bamberger-Haus, 9. Etage
28195 Bremen
Germany

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Total area
110.00m²
NBS area
110.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Building
Website of the intervention
https://www.vhs-gesundheitsbildung.de/2019/01/06/urban-gardening-an-der-vhs-bre…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2015
End date of the intervention
2015
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
Goals of the intervention:
1) Creation of the rooftop garden that will combine vegetables/herbs growing with education on healthy nutrition, urban development, and urban gardening;
2) Sensitizing people to healthy food and the healthy way of life;
3) Providing a place for rest;
4) Providing ingredients for cooking seminars;
5) Bringing back agricultural competence to the city (Ref. 1, 3).
6) Increase in ecological awareness of the residents (Ref. 1, 3).
Quantitative targets
Building a rooftop garden on the total area of over 100 m² at a height of 40 meters (Ref. 1, 4).
Monitoring indicators defined
Increase in access to the urban gardening space (m^2) (Ref. 1, 3).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Implementation activities
Building a rooftop garden on the total area of over 100 m² at a height of 40 meters (Ref. 1, 4).
Planting regional and seasonal vegetable and herbs varieties in mobile planting boxes; Developing and running various teaching courses in the garden, which can show the variety of local eatable plants, teach their processing techniques and provide fun activities for harvesting and cooking (Ref. 1).

Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green roofs
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Please specify other type of green roof
"various kinds of herbs and vegetables in 100 mobile planters that can withstand a little wind" have been installed on the roof (Ref. 5).
Type of Green Roof
Other
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown
Vegetation Type
Garden beds
Amenities offered by the NBS
Viewing and outlook points
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Cultural services
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Please specify "other cultural service"
Educational services.
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Please specify other local relevant strategy
A program that supports ecological, regionally and fairly produced food in Bremen (Ref. 1).
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The garden in VHS was built in cooperation with Gemüsewerft in Bremen (which provides its knowledge and expertise in the construction of mobile city gardens) and with the non-profit company for integrative employment (as operator of the vegetable garden - Geschäftsführer der gemeinnützigen Gesellschaft für integrative Beschäftigung mbH). The project is also supported by the local government (Ref. 1, 3).
Key actors - initiating organization
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
Educational actor (schools or universities)
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Educational actor (schools or universities)
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The Bremer Volkshochschule participates in the "BioStadt Bremen", a programme of the local Department for Labor, Economy and Ports, which supports the ecological, regionally and fairly produced food in Bremen (Ref. 1).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Bremen VHS developed the project on its own initiative (Ref. 2).
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The Bremer Volkshochschule participates in the "BioStadt Bremen", a programme of the local Department for Labor, Economy and Ports, which supports the ecological, regionally and fairly produced food in Bremen (Ref. 1).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Other
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The local government supports the project within the program "BioStadt Bremen" (Ref. 1).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
5000 EUR (Ref. 3)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The VolkshochschuleIn has invested 5000 EUR in the purchase of plants (Ref. 3).
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Donations
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Local stewardship model
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
The first urban social garden in Bremen at this height (40 meters), which runs agricultural and social activities in the spot with the panoramic view of the city (Ref. 1).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Description of environmental benefits
Green space and habitat: "On an area of ​​110 square meters, we have planted various kinds of herbs and vegetables in 100 mobile planters that can withstand a little wind. Equipped with temporary seating, the roof garden of the Bremen Adult Education Center has been freely accessible every day until early evening" (Ref. 5).
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Description of economic benefits
Increase of jobs: "In this project, we are cooperating with the Bremer Gemüsewerft , a non-profit company for integrative employment" (Ref. 5).
Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not): "Thyme, sage, basil, oregano, cola and many other herbs thrive in lofty heights side by side with vegetables such as pumpkin, leek, bulbous zest or carrots" (Ref. 5).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
Social justice and cohesion:
-Improved access to urban green space: "In the city, integrated into the urban space, easily accessible and offering relaxation, leisure and education, such spaces are also called “third places”" (Ref. 5).
-Increased opportunities for social interaction: "In the last three years the roof garden has developed into a special place for meeting, communicating, learning and working" (Ref. 5).
-Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: "It brings people together who want to learn more about healthy and conscious nutrition, urban development or urban gardening" (Ref. 5).
-Increased access to healthy/affordable food: "Thyme, sage, basil, oregano, cola and many other herbs thrive in lofty heights side by side with vegetables such as pumpkin, leek, bulbous zest or carrots" (Ref. 5).
-Improvement of sustainable agriculture practices: Bringing back agricultural competence to the city (Ref. 1, 3). Increase in ecological awareness of the residents (Ref. 1, 3).


Health and wellbeing:
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "Participants from the nutrition courses carry out identification exercises and then harvest herbs and vegetables in order to prepare something delicious in the teaching kitchen" (Ref. 5).

Education
-Support education and scientific research/Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "All events around the new place of learning and experimentation raise awareness of how to deal with healthy eating and one's own way of life. The courses show the variety of local vegetables and herbs, teach their processing options and ensure fun harvesting and cooking" (Ref. 1).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Increase in access to the urban gardening space; Increase in ecological awareness of the residents (Ref. 1, 3).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Increased access to healthy food for humans and/or animals
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
As of October 20, 2020, Ref. 2 indicates that fewer courses are held on the campus with many transitioning to online. "With all our strength and creativity, we are committed to ensuring that you can continue your education with us in autumn and winter. The new program booklet contains fewer event details than you are used to. Instead, we will give you an overview of what we have planned for you."
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
The garden is informally monitored by the school (Ref. 3). Members of the school look after the garden and it is indicated that they might need to reassess and adjust the NBS if the plants don't grow well at 40 meters height (Ref. 3, 2019). As of 2019, Ref. 5 indicated that the project has seen a high level of success.
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref.1 (online article)
Ref. (online article - VHS website)
Ref.3 (online article)
Ref.4 (VHS flyer - roof garden)
Ref. 5 (update on garden results, 2019)
List of references
1. Der Senator Fur Kultur (2015). 'Roof garden of the Bremer Volkshochschule is a new learning place' ('Dachgarten der Bremer Volkshochschule als neuer Lernort eröffnet'). Available at: http://senatspressestelle.bremen.de/detail.php?gsid=bremen146.c.141084.de&asl=bremen146.c.25714.de (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
2. VHS website (n.d.). 'The VHS roof garden starts the third season' ('Der VHS-Dachgarten startet in die dritte Saison'). Available at: https://www.vhs-bremen.de/Live/VHS_Dachgarten_FS17.vhs (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
3. Pieper, K., (2015), ('Gemüse und Kräuter von der eigenen Dachterrasse'). Available at: http://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen_artikel,-Gemuese-und-Kraeuter-von-der-eigenen-Dachterrasse-_arid,1128272.html (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
4. Nolte, S. (2015). 'Roof garden in the Bamberg House' ('Der VHS-Dachgarten auf dem Bamberger-Haus'). Available at: http://gib-bremen.info/downloads/Flyer_Dachgarten.pdf (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
5. VHS (2019). “Urban Gardening auf dem Dach der Bremer vhs – ein Dachgarten in 40 Metern Höhe”. Available at: https://www.vhs-gesundheitsbildung.de/2019/01/06/urban-gardening-an-der-vhs-bremen/ (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
Comments and notes
Additional insights
"The first place is home, the workplace is the second place. Third places are public spaces or semi-public places, all of which offer the opportunity for encounter, communication and experience in their own way. Oldenburg's theory is still very topical: In times of individualization, digitization and increasing mobility, in which the boundaries between living and working, work and leisure, public and private, we need places that become new centers of an increasingly differentiating one Become a city. In the future, third places, in addition to living and working conditions, will make a city more attractive" (Ref. 5).
Public Images
Planters with sprouting vegetables on a rooftop
https://www.vhs-gesundheitsbildung.de/2019/01/06/urban-gardening-an-der-vhs-bremen/