By Lauren DeMates.
Urban gardens are amazing: they grow healthy food to eat, which means self-sufficiency, thinking local, and reducing environmental footprints (especially if people are replacing meat with more veggies). Gardening in itself also provides a way to reconnect to nature by getting your hands dirty in nutrient-rich soil, seeing how things grow, and providing habitats for flora and fauna. People even connect with each other through urban gardens. This is most directly observed in “community” gardens, where multiple individuals take part, coming together and supporting a sense of community.
I have been interested in urban gardens for a long time (i.e., after learning about Cuba’s organopónicos in a Spanish class circa 2007 and a failed attempt in San Diego, California circa 2010). However, the interest turned to awe and inspiration after reading Novella Carpenter’s Farm City, which documents her urban farming adventure in Oakland California. And it turns out that there are urban gardens all over the world, with more people and projects popping up all the time. Here are 10 inspiring urban gardens from around the world that are not only beautiful but functional too:
The Sustainability Co-Op 
These examples are beautiful and inspiring. With soggy snow on the ground here in Minneapolis, these images of greenness are especially welcome. Thanks!
Thanks for the note! So glad you enjoyed them as we did. Good luck in that snow!