The Stuttgart city garden project, carried out from 1 April 2019 to 31 June 2023, aimed to demonstrate how urban green spaces can be created, managed, and integrated into municipal planning. The core of the effort was the “Reallabor Garten Inselgrün,” a real‑world laboratory that combined experimental garden design with community participation. Over the reporting period, 33 mobile raised beds were constructed, allowing the garden to be relocated as needed and enabling future moves to other sites such as the Zollamt‑Areal or the Neckarpark. The beds were built from recycled materials, underscoring the project’s commitment to circular economy principles. In addition to the beds, a photovoltaic system, a weather station, and water tanks were installed to support an autonomous water supply. Public underground hydrants were also connected, providing a reliable source of irrigation water and reducing dependence on municipal water mains.
The garden’s infrastructure was complemented by a digital outreach strategy. A dedicated Instagram and Facebook account, launched in 2022, attracted more than 1,000 followers and featured a weekly digital quiz that educated participants about plant species and biodiversity. QR codes engraved on each raised bed linked to a website that recorded the bed’s contents, allowing visitors to trace the origin of plants and learn about sustainable cultivation practices. The project also hosted a “Kulturinsel Tag” event, during which a vertical garden made from upcycled plastic bottles was assembled on the spot, demonstrating creative reuse of everyday materials. In 2020, the garden partnered with NABU for an insect summer initiative, during which volunteers counted, photographed, and documented local insect populations, contributing valuable citizen‑science data.
From a governance perspective, the project was coordinated by the city’s “Koordinierungsstelle Förderprogramme Urbanes Grün” and the Department of Urban Planning and Housing. Project leadership was provided by Viviann Mischko (née Remmel). The initiative was funded through the city’s urban gardens program, which offers up to €800 for non‑gardening activities such as educational workshops. The project also received support from the Institute for Water Management (IÖW) and the Technical University of Berlin (TUB), which contributed expertise on water‑use efficiency and sustainable landscape design. The city’s policy framework was updated in February 2021 to streamline application and accounting procedures for community gardens, making the process more transparent for both applicants and administrators.
The collaboration model extended beyond the city’s administrative bodies. An inter‑departmental coordination group called “Natur erleben” was established in 2021, linking education, environmental, and community departments to promote nature‑based learning for children and youth. This group facilitated the “Naturzeiten im Ganztag” program, which used the urban gardens funding to support school gardens and cooperative projects between schools and community gardens. Regular inter‑municipal exchanges on best practices in garden management and environmental education were held, ensuring that the project’s outcomes could be replicated in other districts.
Overall, the Stuttgart garden project demonstrated that mobile, modular garden systems can be rapidly deployed, sustainably managed, and effectively integrated into urban planning. The combination of physical infrastructure, digital engagement, and cross‑sector collaboration produced measurable outcomes—33 raised beds, a self‑sufficient water system, a photovoltaic array, and a vibrant online community—while also generating valuable data for biodiversity monitoring and educational outreach. The project’s success provides a scalable model for other cities seeking to enhance urban green spaces, promote community participation, and advance sustainable urban development.