Food & GardenCologneGet a Biotonne: close the compost loop in CologneGet a Biotonne: close the compost loop in Cologne About 40% of what lands in the grey residual bin is compostable organic waste. In Niehl it is burned: costing money, CO₂, and fertile matter that could return to parks and gardens as torffreier Kölner Kompost. What you can do - Ask your landlord for the free brown Biotonne (tenants can use Zero Waste Köln’s postcard template on their project page). - Line the bin with newspaper, keep it in the shade, and skip “compostable” plastic bags: they need industrial conditions Cologne’s plants do not offer. - Buy Kölner Kompost or Blumenerde from AWB/AVG outlets (the Verein advocates more neighbourhood pick-up points). Why it matters Separate bio collection has been mandatory in Germany since 2015, but Cologne households still need to request the bin. Less bio in residual waste can mean a smaller (cheaper) grey bin.compostcircularlocal
EventRewildingFrankfurtPhotograph insects for Frankfurt biodiversity researchPhotograph insects for Frankfurt biodiversity research Frankfurt's Umweltamt supports SLInBio (Städtische Lebensstile und die Inwertsetzung von Biodiversität): researchers from Senckenberg, Goethe University, and neighbourhood partners study how everyday city life connects to insect diversity. Residents can join by uploading insect photos to the Insekten Hessen reporting portal. What you can do - Photograph bees, butterflies, or beetles in your garden, balcony, or park (no faces needed) - Upload sightings through the Insekten Hessen meldeportal - Follow project updates on insektenvielfalt-frankfurt.org and join open events when listed - Visit the Insect Embassy art installation by ISOE and HfG Offenbach to learn why urban insects matter How it works Scientists use crowd-sourced images to map distribution and population trends across Hesse. SLInBio links the data to questions about urban lifestyles, green yards, and shared stewardship with NABU Frankfurt, BioFrankfurt, and the Palmengarten. Why it matters Insects pollinate food, recycle nutrients, and signal healthy neighbourhoods. A few phone photos from many streets beat a lone expert survey.insectscitizen-sciencebiodiversity +2
EventFood & GardenFrankfurtVisit Rhine-Main organic farms this harvest wee in FrankfurtVisit Rhine-Main organic farms this harvest wee in Frankfurt Dottenfelderhof in Bad Vilbel, Querbeet's Pappelhof in Reichelsheim, and Die Kooperative's Cityfarm in Oberrad open for Foodtura: apple pressing, potato digging, a hen walk, a farm festival, and a free family Sunday with a Schnippelparty in Frankfurt. What you can do - Press juice at the Jahreszeitenwerkstatt (19 September) - Dig your own potatoes at Pappelhof - Meet the hens or join the free Hoffest at Dottenfelderhof - Close the festival at the Familiensonntag on the Cityfarm (free) - Book the Farm to Table dinner at Tonka if you want a long table of Cityfarm vegetables How it works Farm days list prices and booking links on each page. The Hoffest and Familiensonntag are free drop-in. Wear shoes you can get dirty. Why it matters Seeing soil, animals, and harvest in the same week as city kitchens makes regional food feel real.farmharvestorganic +2
Join inRewildingRio de JaneiroFund your forest-protection project through the Amazon FundFund your forest-protection project through the Amazon Fund Fundo Amazônia, managed by BNDES, puts climate finance into projects that keep Amazon forests standing and living: fire prevention, sustainable forest economies, indigenous territories, and community stewardship. Associations, cooperatives, municipalities, and foundations can submit ideas. Belém and forest cities feel the stakes every day; organisations send proposals through the Fund's public intake in Rio de Janeiro. What you can do - Gather your cooperative, association, or municipal team and sketch one concrete forest-protection or sustainable-use project - Read Como apresentar projetos and match your draft to the Fund guidelines - Submit directly or watch for a chamada pública, then send via the BNDES Portal do Cliente (Fundos, Editais e Chamadas Públicas → Fundo Amazônia) - Skip paid intermediaries: BNDES does not accredit consultants to speed approvals How it works Eligible organisations prepare a technical proposal, protocol it in the Portal, and walk BNDES review stages. Private individuals cannot apply alone; the door is open to groups already building forest protection on the ground. Why it matters When local builders hold the pen on funded projects, Amazon stewardship stays with the people who live beside the trees.amazonforestcooperative +2
LearnFood & GardenDehradunJoin the Navdanya Course in DehradunJoin the Navdanya Course in Dehradun Navdanya's farm near Dehradun teaches swadeshi economics beside seed banks and demo plots. Neighbour tip Bring a friend who has never visited before; shared first visits help you remember names, routes, and follow-up events you might skip alone. What you can do in Dehradun - Apply for Gandhi and Swadeshi: On Economic Freedom & Self-Reliance, 13–17 November 2026 (Navdanya course page) - Browse other 2026 courses on biodiversity, organic farming, and food democracy (Navdanya 2026 courses) - Walk seed banks and demo plots when course schedules include field sessions - Ask how local farmers integrate swadeshi principles into market tables and seed exchanges How to join Register through Navdanya International forms linked from each course page. Fees, lodging, and visa guidance appear on the course detail sheet. Arrive prepared for farm hours and modest accommodation on or near the campus. When & where Navdanya Biodiversity Farm / Earth University, Dehradun area, Uttarakhand, India. The Gandhi and Swadeshi course runs 13–17 November 2026 on the organiser page; confirm exact campus gate instructions after enrollment. Why it matters in Dehradun Seed and food sovereignty training on a working farm beats slide decks alone. Participants leave with hands-on compost, seed-saving, and economic literacy tied to decolonial land ethics. Bring a notebook; details you capture on site help your block organise a return visit or small solidarity fund drive. Good to know - Do I need farming experience? Courses mix beginners and practitioners; read the prerequisite line on each listing. - Are meals included? Course pages describe farm meals when included; confirm dietary needs on the form. - Can I visit without enrolling? Public open days are rare; respect that the farm is an active training site.NavdanyaDehradunswadeshi +2
VolunteerCommunityRotterdamJoin Indigeneity Workshops in RotterdamJoin Indigeneity Workshops in Rotterdam Nieuwe Instituut runs COMPOS workshops in Rotterdam linking compost work to indigeneity talks. Neighbour tip Bring a friend who has never visited before; shared first visits help you remember names, routes, and follow-up events you might skip alone. What you can do in Rotterdam - Ask a volunteer what follow-up dates they recommend for newcomers before you leave the site - Book COMPOS workshop slots on 12 November 2026 from 15:30 (Nieuwe Instituut event) - Visit Museumpark 25 galleries before or after your workshop ticket time - Join facilitator-led conversations on indigeneity, soil, and design ethics listed in the event copy - Explore other institute programmes on ecology and colonial collections when the autumn calendar publishes How to join Tickets were listed around €12.50 per workshop on the organiser page. Purchase through nieuweinstituut.nl; arrive at Museumpark 25 for check-in. FLISoL 2027 Rotterdam city pages were unavailable on the source page - this row uses the confirmed COMPOS programme instead. When & where Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Workshop start 15:30 local time on 12 November 2026 per the organiser listing. Why it matters in Rotterdam Hands-on compost and dialogue in a design museum keeps indigeneity debates tactile instead of abstract, linking urban residents to land stories under their feet. Bring a notebook; details you capture on site help your block organise a return visit or small solidarity fund drive. Good to know - Is this the same as FLISoL? No - FLISoL 2027 city details were missing; COMPOS is the verified public event on the source page. - Do I need gardening clothes? Workshop copy mentions compost work; dress for mess and indoor heat. - Is the museum ticket included? Read the ticket description on the event page for gallery access rules.RotterdamNieuwe InstituutCOMPOS +2
LearnFood & GardenYaxunahLoan heirloom seeds like a neighbourhood libraryLoan heirloom seeds like a neighbourhood library In Yaxunah, Yucatán, nine women run K'an-Lol ("the flower of good corn" in Yucatec Maya): a community seed bank that loans traditional maize, beans, chilies, and other crops at no cost. Borrowers plant their milpa, harvest, and return fresh seed so the stock stays alive for the next season. Most users are subsistence farmers feeding their families, with small surpluses sometimes reaching local markets. The bank is a library, not a shop: seeds move in circulation instead of sitting in a vault. Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya supports the project alongside local volunteers. Surplus garden produce can reach buyers through Traspatio Maya (Instagram). What you can do - Visit Yaxunah when community programmes are open and ask how the seed bank lends and receives maize (see Yucatán Magazine coverage) - Message Traspatio Maya to order a guacal of fresh produce from Yaxunah growers when you are in the region - Replicate the pattern at home: labelled jars, a simple loan ledger, and a rule to return double the borrowed grain if you cannot swap seed immediately (as Yaxcabá neighbours describe for their bank) - Pair seed saving with nixtamalization skills so heirloom maize becomes tortillas and staples again, not just decoration How it works Farmers borrow seed, grow in milpa plots, and return after harvest. Varieties such as nuuk nal (reddish maize) stay in use even though they need more care than industrial hybrids. Coordinators track loans; partners like FHMM help with training and fair-trade outlets. There is no fixed online booking: contact organisers through community channels or partner foundations before you travel. Why it matters Imported kernels can cross-pollinate native fields. A seed library keeps criollo genetics in farmers' hands, not only in policy speeches. It is low-tech mutual aid that scales one neighbourhood at a time.seedlibrarymilpa +2
Join inFood & GardenAddis AbabaThur Biotech microbial biofertilisersReplace chemical inputs and rebuild degraded soil Thur Biotech (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) manufactures microbial biofertilisers that replace chemical inputs, rebuild degraded soil, and boost farmer incomes. What you can do - Source biofertiliser products for your farm or cooperative plot - Run side-by-side trials with neighbours to compare soil health and input costs - Share results with local agricultural extension groups How to participate - Follow product and distribution updates on the Thur Biotech portfolio page Why it matters Soil is infrastructure. Microbial inputs that cut chemicals while raising yields give smallholders a dignified path off dependency on expensive synthetics.biofertilisersoilfarmers +2
VolunteerRewildingFrankfurtPlant a Miyawaki tiny forest at MainWäldchen in FrankfurtPlant a Miyawaki tiny forest at MainWäldchen in Frankfurt MainWäldchen is Transition Town Frankfurt's Tiny Forest pilot: a dense Miyawaki-style planting on about 110 m² in the Grünzug Feldscheidenstraße (Eckenheim). The mini-wood stores water, lowers heat, and gives birds and insects a permanent home neighbours can help tend. What you can do - Join planting and care days announced on mainwaeldchen.de and frankfurt-im-wandel.de/projekt/mainwäldchen - Observe which species colonise the young forest and share photos with the team - Adapt the pattern for another bare corner in your district How it works Volunteers work with the city park strip created in 2022, packing native layers tightly so the forest matures fast. The group hopes many more Wäldchen follow across Frankfurt. Why it matters Small urban forests turn leftover pavement edges into living shade and biodiversity without waiting decades for a single street tree.tiny-forestmiyawakiurban-nature +2
Food & GardenVallettaVisit Valletta Design Cluster roof gardenVisit Valletta Design Cluster roof garden The Valletta Design Cluster keeps a public roof garden with rainwater care. Visit in opening hours to see urban greening on the peninsula. What you can do - Read the urban greening note - Visit the Design Cluster roof during public hours - Ask staff how rainwater systems keep the beds alive How it works Public hours were listed around 08:00 to 18:00. Confirm on site signage. Why it matters Valletta shows that dense stone streets can still host shared green roofs.vallettaroofgarden +1
VolunteerRewildingRigaCare for Sporta Pils wild meadows, RigaCare for Sporta Pils wild meadows, Riga Sporta Pils Gardens keep biodiversity meadows on a central brownfield. Ask how to help meadow care beyond allotment plots. What you can do - Browse sportapilsdarzi.lv - Ask about meadow or biodiversity workdays - Visit the gardens and offer habitat help How it works Meadow care sits beside allotments. Confirm volunteer slots with the organiser. Why it matters Riga grows wild flowers where concrete once waited.rigameadowbiodiversity +1
VolunteerFood & GardenFrankfurtShare harvests with Solawi FrankfurtShare harvests with Solawi Frankfurt Solawi Frankfurt is a consumer cooperative that shares the costs and risks of Birkenhof in Egelsbach. Members receive weekly organic vegetables, fruit, and eggs while helping with delivery runs and farm logistics. What you can do - Read how solidarity farming works on frankfurt-im-wandel.de/projekt/solawi - Contact info@solawi-ffm.de about joining the coming harvest year - Volunteer for delivery coordination or distribution days in Frankfurt How it works The group estimates annual farm costs together, pays a fair share to the grower, and splits the harvest. New households are welcome each season. Why it matters Solawi keeps peri-urban soil in food production and gives city residents a direct stake in how their meals are grown.solawicsaorganic +2
VolunteerFood & GardenSydneyVolunteer at Sydney City Farm in St PetersVolunteer at Sydney City Farm in St Peters City of Sydney runs Sydney City Farm in Sydney Park as a place to learn urban growing and sustainable food. You can join farm volunteers for two-hour shifts and help beds, nursery stock, and orchard projects take shape. What you can do in Sydney - Sign up for farm volunteer working bees through the council What's On calendar (volunteer for Sydney City Farm) - Attend a 45-minute site induction before your first regular shift, as the council requires - Help on Thursday cropping mornings, Friday nursery tasks, or Saturday orchard and display garden projects when sessions are listed - Explore the farm on a self-guided tour when you want to see the hub before you commit How to join New volunteers complete the council registration form and book a session online when places are open. Shifts are usually two hours. The organiser asks for sturdy shoes, a hat, gloves, and a water bottle. Why it matters in Sydney Neighbours meet while seedlings go in and harvests are shared. Skills from the farm travel home to balconies, courtyards, and community plots across the city. Good to know - Do I need gardening experience? The council welcomes newcomers after the mandatory induction; interest in horticulture matters more than a formal CV. - Is there a fee to volunteer? The volunteer programme pages describe free working bees; check the booking terms for your date. - Where is the farm? Sessions use Sydney City Farm at Sydney Park; the working-bee listing gives the street address in St Peters.volunteerurban farmhorticulture +2
VisitFood & GardenLeipzigGarden together at the HildegartenA green meeting place in Plagwitz The Hildegarten at Bürgerbahnhof Plagwitz is a community garden run by engaged residents. Neighbours of all ages grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs in shared beds using ecological methods that protect soil and pollinators. What you can do - Drop in during open hours to garden, chat, or simply enjoy the green. - Join workshops on permaculture, composting, and nature-friendly gardening: no prior experience required. - Help with seasonal tasks or bring ideas for new community plots. When & where - April-October: Mon, Thu, Fri 16:00-19:00; Sat-Sun 13:00-19:00 - Röckener Str. 44, 04229 Leipzig (Bürgerbahnhof Plagwitz) Why it matters Leipzig aims to become a Zero-Waste city by 2030; neighbourhood gardens turn waste prevention into hands-on care for food, soil, and community.gardencommunityworkshops
Food & GardenKielShop unpackaged with Zero Waste einkaufenFill your own jars and boxes Shops and markets with the Zero Waste einkaufen sticker from Zero Waste Kiel e.V. let you fill your own tins, bottles, and bags with food and drinks instead of taking new packaging. What you can do - Look for the sticker in participating grocers, markets, and cafés across Kiel. - Bring clean containers; start with dry goods or drinks you already buy weekly. Why it matters Unpackaged loops keep packaging out of bins and make portion sizes visible before you pay.unpackagedshoppingrefill
Food & GardenTallinnGrow food in Tallinn community gardensShared beds, shared joy Tallinn’s 2035 green transformation links circular living with community gardens that grow local food with a minimal carbon footprint while strengthening neighbourhood ties. The city supports a network of community, learning, and rental gardens across districts; NGOs and neighbourhood societies can apply for establishment grants from the Environment and Public Works Department. What you can do - Find a garden near you via the city’s community-garden map (at least one per district). - Join Pelgu Community Garden or another plot: help maintain shared greenhouse beds and fruit shrubs. - Apply for a grant if your neighbourhood group wants to start a new kogukonnaaed. Why it matters Urban gardening turns vacant corners into food, learning, and belonging, a concrete piece of Tallinn’s green transformation.gardencommunityfood
VolunteerRewildingTallinnSteward biodiverse urban natureConnected green for people and pollinators Tallinn aims for biodiverse, blossoming urban nature: linked green networks, lifecycle-smart landscaping, and guidelines that keep species thriving alongside daily life. A connected green network lets people choose sustainable ways of living and getting around. What you can do - Plant native species in community plots; join district clean-ups that protect habitats. - Report invasive or damaged green space through city channels; volunteer with local nature groups. Why it matters Connected urban green supports pollinators, cooling, and daily wellbeing alongside concrete streets.biodiversitynatureurban
RewildingTallinnWalk green routes on everyday tripsGreenery within reach The strategy wants most daily journeys lined with trees, shrubs, or other vegetation, and a connected green network so residents can choose sustainable ways of living and moving. Parks, street trees, and linked paths should be reachable on foot from home. What you can do - Prefer routes through parks and tree-lined streets for errands and school runs. - Take part in district consultations when new landscaping or calm-traffic schemes are planned. Why it matters Visible everyday green makes walking pleasant, cools streets, and signals that nature belongs in the commute, not only in distant reserves.greenwalkingparks
Join inRewildingBrasiliaJoin the Cerrado restoration network in BrasiliaJoin the Cerrado restoration network in Brasilia Collect native seeds, plant trees, and work beside local farmers to help the Cerrado savanna grow back around Brasilia. The Araticum network links seed collectors, farmers, and researchers across nine Brazilian states. What you can do in Brasilia - Fill the Araticum membership form and join the Cerrado restoration network - Take part in a working group on knowledge, local groups, maps, or public policy - Share a native seed restoration Cerrado project that uses natural regrowth, direct seeding, or native-tree farming - Learn from seed collectors, including Cerrado de Pé in Chapada dos Veadeiros - Read the member principles on inclusive restoration before you join How to join The public path is the form on the associe-se page. Members get periodic news and invites to meetings, events, working groups, and task forces. Members follow the charter: wide participation, science plus traditional knowledge, landscape-scale work that keeps farming and wild species together, cooperation, transparency, respect for traditional peoples, and environmental, labour, and human-rights law. The programme is ongoing. Why it matters in Brasilia Araticum (Articulação pela Restauração do Cerrado) started in 2020 with an aim of 2 million hectares by 2030 across nine Brazilian states. By June 2026 more than 27,000 hectares were under restoration, with seeds from more than 150 native species. More than 400 people from 180 organizations take part. Coordination includes Rede de Sementes do Cerrado, Semeia Cerrado, Embrapa, ICMBio, Agroicone, COOCREARP, and WWF-Brasil. The network was named a UN World Restoration Flagship in 2026. This row is separate from the Cultiva Lab garden at SESI Lab in Brasilia: here you join a national savanna network, not a single demo plot. Healthy savanna holds water in the territory, feeds native fruit, and can bring seed income to local groups. Find more community projects in Brasilia. Good to know - How do I become an Araticum member? Fill the membership form. You then receive news and invites to meetings and working groups. - Who can join Araticum? People and organizations that accept the inclusive-restoration principles. The network already holds more than 400 people from 180 organizations. - What will I actually do? You can join one of four working groups: restoration knowledge, stronger local organizations, territorial maps, or opportunities and public policy.restorationsavannaseeds +1
VolunteerFood & GardenSantiagoRescue food waste at Santiago neighbourhood marketsTurn market leftovers into community benefit Chilean case studies on food loss and waste highlight community solutions that improve local livelihoods and open unexpected economic opportunities. Fundación Basura’s Ferias Libres Cero Desperdicio project runs hands-on interventions at open-air markets, recovering edible food and organic material that would otherwise rot in landfills. What you can do - Volunteer at a Ferias Libres Cero Desperdicio market day in the Santiago metropolitan area. - Ask your local feria libre organisers whether a zero-waste market intervention is planned in your comuna. Why it matters Market recovery keeps nutrients in the neighbourhood loop and builds skills residents can replicate, a concrete piece of Chile’s growing zero-waste municipal movement described in the 2025 regional report.foodmarketsrecovery
LearnFood & GardenSão PauloCompost organics with waste pickers in São PauloCatadoras and catadores lead the loop Instituto Polis and the Brasil Composta Cultiva network support community composting and organic-waste treatment, now active across ten Brazilian states, with São Paulo as a flagship hub. The 2025 regional report cites recycler participation in organic management as a top Latin American success story. What you can do - Join a compost tour or training led by waste-picker leaders in the São Paulo metro area. - Start or support a neighbourhood compost point that partners with local catadoras/es. Why it matters Organic diversion cuts methane from landfills while keeping recycler cooperatives at the centre of the system, not at its margins.compostrecyclersorganics
VolunteerFood & GardenQuitoJoin Quito's community compost and zero waste networkMunicipal tools: neighbourhood compost Ecuador’s Alianza Basura Cero documents a growing compost network and municipal zero waste ordinances residents can advocate for locally. The alliance publishes a model ordinance and maps community compost sites, from Pomasqui and Cotacachi to neighbourhood clubs such as Club del Compost in Bellavista. What you can do - Find a mapped compostera comunitaria near you and volunteer for a work day. - Ask your parish or neighbourhood council to adopt zero-waste ordinance language from the alliance toolkit. Why it matters Community compost keeps food sovereignty and soil health local while giving municipalities a replicable legal frame, reuse included, not just collection.compostordinancecommunity
LearnFood & GardenSan SalvadorGrow food sovereignty through community compost in San SalvadorGardens, organics, and mutual aid The 2025 regional chapter stresses how community compost, source segregation, recycler inclusion, and community gardens (huertos) strengthen food sovereignty in vulnerable neighbourhoods across Latin America, with San Salvador among municipalities GAIA accompanies on zero-waste pathways. What you can do - Start or join a barrio compost pile that feeds a shared garden bed. - Partner with youth groups to run organic-waste recycling workshops at schools. Why it matters When food prices rise, keeping organics in the neighbourhood loop builds soil, skills, and shared meals, not dependency on distant supply chains.gardencompostfood
RewildingVilniusSteward Antakalnis garden wildlife, VilniusSteward Antakalnis garden wildlife, Vilnius Miesto laboratorija stewards outdoor solutions: insect hotels, compost, and rainwater. Help habitat care in the Antakalnis yard. What you can do - Read tvarus sprendimai lauke - Ask about insect hotel or compost workdays - Visit Antakalnio g. 17-13 when a public slot is open How it works Habitat tasks sit in the same yard as the educational garden. Confirm open hours. Why it matters Vilnius keeps insects and rainwater in a yard neighbours can tend.vilniushabitatinsects +1
