The first community gardens were created in 2009 through the ‘Terras de Cascais’ programme. The concept has grown and expanded to include schools, residents' associations, day centres and prisons.
Get to know the variety of spaces at Terras de Cascais in detail and explore our interactive dashboard:
Community Gardens I Home Gardens I Associative Gardens I School Gardens I Day Care Centre Gardens I Horta do Brejo and Horta da Quinta do Pisão I Cascais Orchards I Cascais Vineyards
To see the English version, click on the EN box at the top right of the dashboard.
Environmental Benefits:
a. Reduced Carbon Footprint: Local food production reduces the need for transport and, consequently, CO2 emissions.
b. Biodiversity: Promotion of urban biodiversity through the cultivation of diverse plant species.
Social Benefits:
a. Social Inclusion: Integrating vulnerable groups, promoting inclusion and skills development.
b. Solidarity: the ‘Verdes Solidários’ programme distributes vegetables harvested from the community gardens to food support institutions in the municipality.
c. Education and Awareness: Raises environmental awareness and educates the population about sustainable agricultural practices.
Economic Benefits:
a. Cost Reduction: Producing food for your own consumption can reduce family spending on food.
b. Entrepreneurship: Possibility of small local businesses related to the sale of cultivated products.
The gardens are divided into plots of approximately 30m2 and equipped with tool shelters, composters and shared water points. Future gardeners receive training in organic horticulture. Co-operation between the gardeners is essential for maintaining the common spaces and equipment in each garden.
‘A vegetable garden is not only an opportunity to fulfil a passion or vocation for farming, it is also a space for sharing and intergenerational and intercultural interaction. The gardens bring neighbours together and make the Cascais community more cohesive’, in the words of Nuno Piteira Lopes, vice-president of Cascais Town Council,
