Abstract:

Relying on voluntary participation of citizens, the city of Bogota, as part of its institutional commitments, promotes urban agriculture as a strategy that contributes to the knowledge of the agrobiodiversity, boost food production and strengthen the social network in the capital district of Colombia. Through the direct involvement of gardeners of different ages and backgrounds, linking knowledge and action, the public receives technical assistance in agriculture and engages in the maintenance of their own homegardens. By 2020, more than 60,000 people received technical assistance in urban agriculture through the city´s botanical garden. From February to June 2021, we visited 119 urban homegardens and through semi-structured interviews we investigated people´s motivations to engage in homegardening. Our results show food production is one of the main purposes of urban homegardens and that all respondents considered their homegardens as spaces that help them conserve their environment and feel relaxed. In general, gardeners perceived homegardening as a positive activity in which they plan to continue engaging (99%) and one that they would encourage others to pursue (98%). Homegardening, therefore, with the extension program offered by the city and the public engagement, is likely to grow.

Keywords:

Colombia, knowledge, urban agriculture.