The Jerusalem Community Gardens are transforming the city through sustainable urban agriculture and social connection. Spread across more than one hundred and twenty acres, these gardens have turned empty lots and neglected corners into thriving green spaces filled with color, creativity, and community life. Each garden is a living ecosystem that brings biodiversity back into the urban landscape while fostering collaboration and care among residents.
The power of these gardens lies in the people who cultivate them. Neighbors grow food, plant trees, preserve local wild vegetation, and exchange ideas about sustainable living. Composting, reusing materials, and nurturing the soil have become shared values that strengthen both the environment and community ties across Jerusalem.
This project has deeply impacted Jerusalem’s diverse communities, strengthening social ties, promoting sustainability, and fostering environmentally conscious behavior. In times of crisis, during both the COVID-19 pandemic and the current war, community gardens and the Urban Sustainability Center have served as vital sanctuaries. They provide calm, inclusive spaces for connection, support, and meaningful activity. Today, sustainable living and ecological awareness are increasingly woven into everyday life across the city. As one resident of Beit Hanina shared, “The garden hasn’t only improved the view, it has really brought us together. When we convene to tend to the garden, we feel like we’re not only gardening, but rather building up our community.”
During the recent Sukkot holiday, the community gardens came alive with celebration. Families and neighbors gathered among the trees and flowers to build sukkot beneath the open sky, giving thanks for the harvest and reflecting on the harmony between people and nature. This spirit of gratitude, community, and renewal also filled the Green Inside and Out Festival, a citywide celebration of nature, sustainability, and togetherness supported by the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Green Fund, Jerusalem Development Authority and JNF and the Sustainable Jerusalem Lobby. The festival filled dozens of locations across the city with guided nature walks, creative fairs, eco workshops, children’s activities, music, and environmental tours, highlighting the work of local organizations and grassroots initiatives that are shaping a greener and more resilient Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Community Gardens project, a partnership between the Jerusalem Foundation and the Jerusalem Municipality’s Department of Social Sustainability, continues to nurture this transformation and inspire action across the city.
Take a glimpse into these urban oases here:
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