Photo: Julio Cesar Barros
Brazil's city of Rio de Janeiro is working with local favelas to build a giant urban garden the size of 15 soccer fields. This year, it's estimated that the 56 gardens that compose the government-funded "Hortas Cariocas" project will produce 80 tons of food. When the project is completed and fully operational in 2024, production is expected to double. So far, 400-500 garden beds have already been built, and there are 38 gardeners working at its Madureira Park on a weekly basis. Half the harvested produce is donated to local community and residents, and the other half is sold by gardeners at affordable prices. In addition to alleviating food security (33 million Brazilians currently face hunger), the gardens also nurtures the community. The gardens sit in an area that was once a hotbed for drug consumption. "Before, you would open your door and see the 'crackland'. Today, you open your door and see a garden" states Julio Cesar Barros, founder of the initiative and director of agroecology organic gardening for Rio de Janeiro's municipal environment agency. Barros is optimistic the project will encourage urban sustainability and healthier lifestyles.
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