Urban gardening space run by The Centre for Work and Learning Bremen ceases operation due to financial setbacks.
The UrbanGardening project, a green oasis created a decade ago on a wasteland next to the Arbeit und Lernzentrum (alz), is set to close its doors due to a loss of funding. The project, which aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of urban gardening and bring more green to the city, was initially supported by the "Climate Protection in Daily Life" project, funded by the Senate Department for the Environment, Climate, and Science.
The discontinuation of the UrbanGardening project is a result of various funding issues. Programs like the Edmonton municipal initiative "Front Yards in Bloom" have been discontinued due to a focus on "core services," highlighting how funding shifts can impact community projects. Similarly, the cancellation of grants for conservation projects by the USDA reflects how policy changes can affect agricultural initiatives. Financial constraints, such as those faced by after-school programs in Utah, can also lead to the cessation of activities if funding is frozen or reduced.
Despite the closure, the topic of 'gardening in the city' will continue to be present in the alz portfolio, but specific plans are not yet available. Katharina Lischka, operations manager at alz, explains that the contracts of the employees are not being renewed, resulting in a lack of staff to continue the project.
In light of the closure, the sale of UrbanGardening items has begun immediately. Items available for purchase include zinc tubs, ski fences, mosaic paving stones, benches, bird feeders, plants, and decorations. Current opening hours for the UrbanGardening area are Wednesdays between 9:30 am and 3 pm in July and August.
While there is no specific mention of selling materials from discontinued projects in the search results, it is common for organizations to sell or repurpose materials when projects are discontinued. This could help in financing future initiatives or supporting other community projects.
The dismantling of the UrbanGardening area is expected to take about half a year, but this depends on the availability of staff. A mini-UrbanGardening area is planned for the future, but details are still uncertain. The new mini-UrbanGardening area will be located in the front area of the alz, next to Bistro Mahlzeit, in a smaller form compared to the original.
Community efforts can help sustain discontinued projects, as demonstrated by the Edmonton Horticultural Society reviving the "Front Yards in Bloom" initiative as a pilot program. Organizations like Denver Urban Gardens are also seeking community support to maintain their operations, showing that local initiatives can continue with community backing.
Sources: [1] CBC News. (2021, August 24). Edmonton's Front Yards in Bloom program to be discontinued due to funding changes. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/front-yards-in-bloom-discontinued-1.6155958 [2] The Salt Lake Tribune. (2021, April 20). Utah after-school programs face funding cuts as federal relief money dries up. Retrieved from https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/04/20/utah-after-school-programs-face-funding-cuts-federal-relief-money-dries/ [3] The Hill. (2021, March 15). USDA cancels conservation grants for farmers. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/agriculture/545556-usda-cancels-conservation-grants-for-farmers [4] Denver Urban Gardens. (n.d.). Support us. Retrieved from https://www.denverurban gardens.org/support-us/
- The closure of the UrbanGardening project highlights the impact of funding shifts on environmental-science and lifestyle initiatives, as seen with the discontinuation of Edmonton's "Front Yards in Bloom" program and the USDA's cancellation of conservation grants for farmers.
- In an effort to finance future initiatives or support other community projects, organizations often repurpose or sell materials from discontinued projects, as may be the case with the sale of UrbanGardening items like zinc tubs, mosaic paving stones, and benches.
- Community efforts can play a crucial role in sustaining discontinued projects, as demonstrated by the Edmonton Horticultural Society reviving the "Front Yards in Bloom" initiative as a pilot program and Denver Urban Gardens seeking community support to maintain their operations.
