1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Nomadisch grün GmbH - Germany

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin) - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

08/05/2015

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Mobile vegetable cultivation system for urban areas with "baker boxes" as main elements.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The main technology applied in the urban gardening project "Princess gardens" can be described as mobile vegetable culitivation system based on the use of "baker boxes".
"Baker boxes" are plastic boxes (size: average area of 40 cm x 60 cm x 35 cm) made out of heat-resistant materials, which do not contain softeners. The bottom part as well as the side parts are formed in a grid pattern (holes of 1cm³ size).
For the vegetable production, cultivation units ("box towers" ) are built out of two boxes by placing them on top of each other. The lower box is filled with organic material (composition of the material like in a compost) and the upper box is filled with garden mould (or other earth material suitable for cultivation). To prevent the washing out of earth material through the grid pattern, carton is put on the bottom as well as on the side walls of the upper box.
During a period of time (length can vary from 1 to 3 years) the upper box can be cultivated according to the principles of "good practise" (e.g. crop rotation). During this time, the lower box serves as compost. In the course of each year this box is checked if the ongoing decomposition processes have lead to the creation of free space in the box. In this case, organic material needs to be refilled.
In the end of the 1-3 years-cultivation period the upper box is emptied and the contained earth material can be used for purposes such as landscaping. The box is then filled with organic material and switched with the lower box, which should contain "ready to cultivate"-compost material. The cultivation can then be restarted.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the technology is to allow cultivation on sealed or contaminated soils. Through the use of the box towers as cultivation units the roots of the plants never get in touch with the soil. While the main rooting zone is to be found in the upper box, deeper rooting plants can grow down to 70 cm into the lower box without reaching the soil in place.
Another purpose of the technology is to create a mobile cultivation system. If needed, the boxes can be easily moved away even during the vegeation period.
Last but not least, the technology has the purpose to create a space, where knowledge sharing on a practical basis regarding the topics e.g. agriculture, sustainability and health can take place.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: For the establishment of the technology first and foremost a sufficient number (depending on the size of the gardening area) of "baker boxes" is needed.
Maintenance activities consist of refilling the lower box with organic material.
This is also true for the required inputs.

Natural / human environment: The environment is strongly influenced by humans, as the first urban structures in this area already were established about 200 years ago. Regarding the topic soil this led to the conversion of the natural soils in place to Technosols.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The major land use problem can be addressed as a lack of cultivation plots within the urban areas. This is due to the fact that the soils are to a great extent sealed or contaminated.
As a result in the urban area there is also a lack of pratical learning areas which relate to the topics agriculture and soils.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): As major land use problems the cultivation circumstances are regarded. This inculdes the topics of destroyed natural soil fertility and a lack of water infiltration into the ground.

Constraints of settlement / urban

Constraints of infrastructure network (roads, railways, pipe lines, power lines)

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 200Longest growing period from month to month: April to October

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• Cultivation on sealed or contaminated soils

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0,006 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures, management measures

Specification of other structural measures: creation of cultivation plots

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Pk: sealing and crusting, Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities

Main causes of degradation: urbanisation and infrastructure development (1 sealing (foundations of buildings were constructed in the area))

Secondary causes of degradation: population pressure (as a main cause for urbanisation), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (need for public services in the city), governance / institutional (urban planning in the city)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

edited by Peter Kirch on the basis of Daniel Müller/dkmnews in „Prinzessinengärten- Anders gärtnern in der Stadt“, Nomadisch Grün (Hg.),Dumont Buchverlag, Köln, 2012, page. 115

Location: Berlin. Germany

Date: 08.10.2015

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), spatial arrangement and diversification of land use

Structural measure: boxes
Spacing between structures (m): various
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0,35
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0,4
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0,6

Construction material (other): plastic (food-safe)

Change of land use type: urban area to urban gardening area

Layout change according to natural and human environment: area is limited through infrastructure elements (roads) and buildings.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Euro

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

0.9

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	putting boxes in place	Structural

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Costs are affected by the wages for the employees and the rent of the plot

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is very low
Soil drainage/infiltration is poor
Soil water sotrage capacity is very low

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Seasonality of water quality and source of pollution: for agricultural use only (rainwater)

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: > 500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2%

Relative level of wealth: very rich, rich, very poor

1% of the land users are very rich.
5% of the land users are rich.
50% of the land users are average wealthy.
40% of the land users are poor.
4% of the land users are poor.

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well
local windstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not known

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

Comments:

An economic analysis is hard to make, as the main goal of the project is not economical profit. In the interviews it was stated, that each year about 50.000 people visit the garden. To have an outreach to such a high number of people with a budget of about 500.000 € is regarded as "benefical" by the project members.
Only looking at the financing part it was stated in the interview that the garden is one of the very few urban gardening projects that can provide for its recurrent costs itself.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on adoption trend: The members of the "Prinzessinnengarten" are supporting other land users to implement urban gardening projects through giving them advise. Up to 100 urban gardening projects were supported this way. The support is often funded by foundations. How to receive such funding is communicated by the Prinzessinnengarten to the ones seeking their advise.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
light and long-lasting production units
a great part of the needed material has been recylced
standardized format of the production units (fitting even to international cargo norms)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
mobile, flexible cultivation system
allows cultivation on sealed or polluted soils
open access technology
knowledge sharing as key priority

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
limited productivity
are highly dependent on irrigation, as the boxes dry-out fast (high evaporation/ surface area)
Soil can be easily lost/washed out throught the grid pattern (especially in the long term, when the erosion measures are reduced (decomposition of carton)
The spacing in between the boxes serves as habitat for snails.
The carton sometimes rots away in the course of the cultivation period. This leads to a loss of soil material out of the boxes.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
dependent on a high supply of "baker boxes"
dependent on external inputs (especially organic material)
allows only for hand labour

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Urban Gardening. Über die Rückkehr der Gärten in die Stadt. Christa Müller, 2011.

Available from where? Costs?

ISBN 3-86581-244-9

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Prinzessinnengärten. Anders gärtnern in der Stadt. Marco Clausen, 2012

Available from where? Costs?

DuMont,ISBN 3-8321-9436-3