1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Karlsruhe
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Sozialer Garten in Wolfartsweier
Short description of the intervention
The association Initial Karlsruhe initiated the "social garden" in 2009 with the objective to facilitate access to the labour market for disadvantaged individuals by providing employment for long-term unemployed individuals with gaps in their CV. (Ref. 1) The participants can work on a 6000 sqm large former agriculture area up to six hours per day under the supervision of an agrarian engineer and a professional gardener. Harvested products are delivered by bicycle to charitable organizations free of charge. (Ref. 2, 9, 10)
Address

Im Brühl 1
76229 Karlsruhe
Germany

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (8.44738 48.98013)
POINT (8.44775 48.98028)
POINT (8.44904 48.97874)
POINT (8.44738 48.98013)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Der+Soziale+Garten+INITIAL+e.V./@48.9798417,8.4477575,248m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!1m2!10m1!1e4!3m4!1s0x479708b42197d535:0x5131f2cde4c82f16!8m2!3d48.9797258!4d8.4479888?authuser=1
Total area
6000.00m²
NBS area
6000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Agricultural area or farmland
Website of the intervention
http://initial-karlsruhe.de/projekte/der-soziale-garten/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2009
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
- Providing disadvantaged people with a purpose, a daily routine and structure (Ref. 2)
- Fostering reintroduction of long-term-unemployed people into regular employment on the general labour market (Ref. 3)
- Producing healthy food with sustainable methods and providing it to socially deprived people who couldn't afford them (Ref. 3, 9)

Quantitative targets
Improving life for about 60 long-term-unemployed individuals (Ref. 2)
Please also look at additional information from telephone interview in the references section
Monitoring indicators defined
No indicators could be identified in the documents, only in the telephone conversation (see references section).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social justice and equity
Social cohesion
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving mental health
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Employment/job creation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Please specify "other Type of NBS project"
Social integration
Implementation activities
On the former agricultural area by the association Initial Karlsruhe, 60 people with difficulties entering the regular labour market are taught by an agricultural engineer and a professional gardener how to prepare the soil for agricultural activities, set up greenhouses, erect vegetable beds and trails, seed, fertilize, maintain, water and harvest plants. The goal is that they will learn how to do it autonomously and take over responsibility for the horticulture and its produce. Upon harvest, the participants manage the delivery of the product to charitable organizations who provide healthy food to people who can’t afford them. (Ref. 3). The participants receive educational support in parallel and goals for personal development are worked out and agreed together. Sustainable production: The products are grown by hand and without artificial sprays or fertilizers. The garden’s own seeds are used only, and efforts are made to involve a large variety of flowers, herb spirals and vegetable plants. (Ref. 8, 9)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Transformation of previously derelict areas
Other
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Community gardens and allotments
Allotments
Community gardens
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
unknown
Vegetation Type
Flower beds
Garden beds
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Please specify "other marginalized group"
Unemployed people and addicts. (Ref. 9)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Regulating services
Pollination
Cultural services
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Marginalized groups
Marginalized groups
Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Other
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The association Initial Karlsruhe planned, designed, implemented and administrates this initiative in which 60 long-term-unemployed individuals with an addiction problem or psychological issues are involved (Ref. 3) The Social Garden was originally funded as an European Social Fund project funded by the EU, but funding was taken over by the city in 2016. (Ref. 1) Upon harvest, the participants manage the delivery of the produce to charitable organizations who provide healthy food to people who can’t afford them. (Ref. 3)
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
No information found
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
EU body
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
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
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
No
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
The project followed up to the need for daily structure, employment and care for long-term-unemployed people suffering additions or psychological issues and therefore having trouble participating in the labour market or outside contact (Ref. 3) (Please see more information in the phone conversation in the references section).
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
There is a city-wide vision called "Grüne Stadt Karlsruhe" which aims at mastering the transition to a sustainable city by promoting citizen-led initiatives and projects by means of public associations, idea contests, workshops and the like (translation: green town Karlsruhe) (Ref. 5).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Urban redevelopment plan
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 European Social Fund financed the project until end of 2015, beginning of 2016 the city of Karlsruhe took over the funding (Ref.1).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
unknown
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)
unknown
Source(s) of funding
EU funds
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Local stewardship model
Vacant space model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Economic innovation
Please specify social innovation
The project is stated to be one of its kind in the state of Baden-Württemberg (Ref. 1). Based on its funding through the Europen Social Fund whose aim is improving employment and education options in EU countries and curb economic development within the EU, the project can be seen as an economic innovation. What is novel about it are the ways with which long-term unemployed people shall be reintegrated into the job market, namely via soft measures such as gardening activities and increasing social contact with other citizens through communal activities in town and the distribution of the produce. In a step-wise approach, they can regain self-confidence and learn how to take over responsibility (Ref. 3).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
Greenspace, habitats and biodiversity: creating green spaces was a by-product of urban gardening (Ref. 1) The leaders and participants of the project also try to cultivate a diverse range of plants. In 2016 alone, the social garden was able to present 56 different tomato varieties and one of the greatest variety of plants in a small space to the people of Karlsruhe. (Ref. 9)
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Description of economic benefits
Economic development and decent employment: Since every participant can work six hours per day in the garden which they are compensated for they obtain skills in gardening but also regain the feeling of being useful to society which also enhances their chance for employment outside of the garden (Ref. 3). 60 long-term unemployed people who are confronted with difficult situations (e.g. over-indebtedness, social isolation, mental illness or threatened homelessness) work here. (Ref. 9)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
Health and wellbeing
Improved mental health
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
Mental health: the urban gardening work has helped project participants, most of whom are addicts (alcohol or drugs) to find stability in their lives, some of them have managed to get over their addiction. (Ref. 3, 9)
Social justice, cohesion and equity: social cohesion was improved by creating a community which helps each other out in the garden and manages the work and distribution in a cooperative way. (Ref. 3). Several charity organizations receive fresh vegetables up to 2 times per week that their employees can take home, increasing the accessibility of healthy food. (Ref. 3)
Environmental education: the project is now well known in Karlsruhe through visits by school classes and regular public events, reports on SWR television and participation in market evenings. (Ref. 9)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Jobs created: the project provides employment and other opportunities for 60 people. (Ref. 3)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Work for rehabilitation (e.g. for mental health, prisoners, older people)
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
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
The garden had to be closed for visitors for a while (regular participants could still take part). On 1 August 2020, the garden reopened for visitors. (8)
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Interviews
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
Interview
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Project Website
Grüne Oasen in Karlsruhe: Offene Pforte: Knielingen & Wolfartsweier laden zur B…
Der Soziale Garten
Ein Besuch im Sozialen Garten Wolfartsweier: Wie der arbeitslose Theo im Beet w…
List of references
1. Initial Karlsruhe (2017). Der soziale Garten. Available at: http://initial-karlsruhe.de/projekte/der-soziale-garten/ [Accessed: 10 Oct. 2020].

2. Initial Karlsruhe. (2014) ‘Mitgärtnern erwünscht. Am Rand der Rahel-Strauß-Straße in der Südstadt-Ost gedeiht Gemüse’, Badische Neueste Nachrichten. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].

3. Initial Karlsruhe (2010) ‘Gesundheit für alle 2009’. Available at: https://sozialer-garten.initial-karlsruhe.de/esf-projekte/gesundheit-fuer-alle-2009/ [Accessed: 10 Oct. 2020].

4. Quartier Zukunft - Labor Stadt (2016) Konzept. Available at: http://www.quartierzukunft.de/quartier-zukunft/konzept/ [Accessed: 10 Oct. 2020].

5. Stadt Karlsruhe (2016) Karlsruhe: Grüne Stadt Karlsruhe. Ziele der Grünen Stadt. Available at: https://www.karlsruhe.de/b3/gruene_stadt/ziele.de [Accessed: 10 Oct. 2020].

6. Quint, A. and Quartier Zukunft (2014) Land fördert Reallabor zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Karlsruher Oststadt. Available at: http://www.quartierzukunft.de/land-foerdert-reallabor-zur-nachhaltigen-entwicklung-der-karlsruher-oststadt/ [Accessed: 10 Oct. 2020].

7. Stadt Karlsruhe (2016a) Grüne Höfe, Dächer und Fassaden für Karlsruhe. Available at: https://www.karlsruhe.de/b3/freizeit/gruenflaechen/hdf.de [Accessed: 10 Oct. 2020].

8. Meinka.de (2020). Grüne Oasen in Karlsruhe Offene Pforte: Knielingen & Wolfartsweier laden zur Besichtigung. [online]. Available at: https://meinka.de/offene-pforte-knielingen-wolfartsweier-laden-zur-besichtigung/ [Accessed: 11 Oct. 2020].

9. Die UN-Dekade biologische Vielfalt. (nd). Sonderwettbewerb Soziale Natur: Der Soziale Garten. [online]. Available at: https://www.undekade-biologischevielfalt.de/projekte/aktuelle-projekte-beitraege/detail/projekt-details/show/Wettbewerb/1971/ [Accessed: 11 Oct. 2020].

10. Ka-news.de (2018). Ein Besuch im Sozialen Garten Wolfartsweier: Wie der arbeitslose Theo im Beet wieder eine Aufgabe fand. [online]. Available at: https://www.ka-news.de/wirtschaft/regional/Ein-Besuch-im-Sozialen-Garten-Wolfartsweier-Wie-der-arbeitslose-Theo-im-Beet-wieder-eine-Aufgabe-fand;art127,2257198 [Accessed: 11 Oct. 2020].
Interview
Attachment Size
Information gathered from telephone conversation with public relations representative (41 KB) 41 KB
Interview comments
The evaluation report was not provided, neither the application documents for funding where quantitative indicators and monitoring indicators could be retrieved.
Comments and notes
Public Images
Social garden in Wolfartsweier
Social garden in Wolfartsweier
Max Breitzler, retrieved 08/15/2018
Social garden in Wolfartsweier (2010)
Social garden in Wolfartsweier (2010)
Max Breitzler, retrieved 08/15/2018
Social garden in Wolfartsweier (2017)
Social garden in Wolfartsweier (2017)
Max Breitzler, retrieved 08/15/2018