Abstract
In this chapter, we provide an input into current discussions concerning urban agriculture, focusing on gardening level, bottom-up approach and the stakeholder's perspective with respect to the reality of post-communist countries. At first, we set up a framework of urban agriculture to green infrastructure, food production, stakeholders and social innovation perspective.
Then we discuss definitions and typologies, purposes, methods and contributions of urban gardening. Our aim is not to create an exhaustive review of urban agriculture, but rather to show main trends and types of food production and its value-added dimensions in the urban environment, and highlight some specifics that are peculiar to the Czech and Slovak Republic (as former Czechoslovakia).
Both are in the situation of being post-communist countries in transition. The first part of the paper introduces the topic, provides a discussion on how gardening is a strong contributor to food security and environmental performance in cities.
Then we describe some specifics of household gardens, educational gardens and allotment gardens with illustrative description of the situation in the Czech and Slovak Republic in more detail. Based on literature review, enriched by field research, we found an extraordinary diversity of urban garden types and activities.
Moreover, we discovered by observation that people perceive gardens not just as a place for food production. Incorporation of natural elements and biodiversity into gardens, gardens as an educational tool and place for innovations and social interactions were all perceived as the most visible values.