Libreville Urban Garden
A vacant lot transformed into a thriving urban garden that now provides fresh produce for over 200 families in a densely populated neighborhood of Libreville.
Read Full StoryEmpowering communities through sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental stewardship. Our community garden initiatives create green spaces that nourish both people and the planet.
Get Involved Contact UsDilulu's community garden program transforms vacant lots and underutilized spaces into productive gardens that provide fresh food, build community connections, and create environmental benefits.
At Dilulu, we believe that community gardens are powerful catalysts for positive change. Our approach combines traditional African agricultural knowledge with modern sustainable practices to create gardens that are productive, resilient, and culturally appropriate.
We work closely with local communities to design gardens that meet their specific needs and reflect their cultural heritage. Each garden is developed through a participatory process that builds community ownership and ensures long-term sustainability.
Our gardens serve multiple purposes: they provide fresh, nutritious food; create opportunities for education and skill development; foster community connections; and improve local environments through increased biodiversity and green space.
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Community gardens provide numerous benefits that extend far beyond just growing food. They transform neighborhoods and improve quality of life in multiple ways.
Community gardens provide access to fresh, nutritious produce in areas where affordable healthy food may be limited. Participants can grow culturally appropriate foods that may not be available in local markets.
Gardens bring people together across generations and cultures, fostering social connections and reducing isolation. They create shared spaces where community members can collaborate, share knowledge, and build relationships.
Gardening provides physical activity, stress reduction, and access to nutritious food. Community gardens promote healthier eating habits and provide therapeutic benefits through connection with nature and meaningful activity.
Gardens transform vacant or underutilized spaces into beautiful, productive areas that increase property values and community pride. They reduce crime by creating active community spaces and improving neighborhood aesthetics.
Gardens increase biodiversity, improve air quality, reduce urban heat island effects, and help manage stormwater. They provide habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects while demonstrating sustainable land management practices.
Gardens provide hands-on learning opportunities for people of all ages to develop gardening skills, learn about nutrition, and understand ecological principles. They preserve and transmit traditional agricultural knowledge.
We follow a collaborative, community-centered approach to developing successful and sustainable community gardens.
We begin by engaging with community members to understand their needs, interests, and vision for the garden. Through participatory workshops and surveys, we identify local priorities, assess available resources, and build relationships with potential garden participants and stakeholders.
Working with community partners, we identify potential garden sites and conduct thorough assessments of soil quality, water access, sunlight exposure, and other environmental factors. We also address land tenure issues to ensure long-term garden security and sustainability.
Community members collaborate with our garden experts to create a garden design that reflects local needs, cultural preferences, and environmental conditions. The design process includes determining plot layouts, common areas, water systems, composting facilities, and other garden features.
We organize community workdays to prepare the site, build garden infrastructure, and establish initial plantings. This phase emphasizes community participation and skill-building, with our staff providing technical guidance and training in sustainable gardening practices.
We help communities establish effective governance structures and management systems for their gardens. This includes developing garden rules, membership processes, decision-making procedures, and maintenance responsibilities to ensure equitable access and sustainable operations.
We provide comprehensive training in sustainable gardening techniques, composting, seed saving, water conservation, and other essential skills. Our education programs build local capacity and empower community members to maintain and expand their gardens independently.
We provide ongoing technical assistance, troubleshooting support, and advanced training as gardens mature. Regular evaluation helps communities assess their progress, address challenges, and adapt their gardens to evolving community needs and environmental conditions.
Our community gardens have transformed neighborhoods and improved lives across Africa. Here are some inspiring examples of what communities have achieved.
A vacant lot transformed into a thriving urban garden that now provides fresh produce for over 200 families in a densely populated neighborhood of Libreville.
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A women's cooperative in rural Senegal that has developed a 2-hectare community garden that combines traditional crops with innovative water conservation techniques.
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An integrated school garden and composting program that has transformed waste management at five schools in Accra while providing fresh produce for school meals and hands-on learning.
Read Full StoryWe provide a variety of resources to help communities develop and maintain successful gardens.
Practical guides for sustainable gardening in African climates, including crop selection, planting calendars, and pest management.
Step-by-step instructions for creating effective composting systems that turn waste into valuable soil amendments.
Educational materials for using community gardens as outdoor classrooms for children and adults.
Resources for conducting community workshops on garden planning, sustainable techniques, and community organizing.
Find answers to common questions about our community garden program.
To start a community garden with Dilulu, begin by contacting us through our website or email at gardens@dilulu.org. We'll schedule an initial consultation to discuss your community's needs and vision. If there's a good fit, we'll guide you through our collaborative garden development process, which includes community engagement, site assessment, participatory design, and implementation. We prioritize projects with strong community support and clear plans for long-term sustainability.
Dilulu provides comprehensive support throughout the garden development process, including technical assistance with site assessment and design, training in sustainable gardening practices, help establishing governance structures, and ongoing mentorship. We can also provide starter materials such as tools, seeds, and educational resources. For qualifying communities, we offer financial support through our grant program to help with initial infrastructure costs. Our goal is to build community capacity for long-term garden sustainability.
A good community garden site has several key characteristics: adequate sunlight (at least 6 hours daily for most vegetables), access to water, suitable soil quality (or the ability to improve it), secure land tenure, accessibility for community members, and safety. The ideal site is also visible within the community, fostering engagement and deterring vandalism. We conduct thorough site assessments, including soil testing for contaminants, to ensure the location can support a healthy, productive garden.
Community gardens are typically managed by the gardeners themselves through democratic governance structures. We help communities establish clear guidelines, decision-making processes, and leadership roles tailored to their specific context. Common models include elected garden committees, cooperative structures, or integration with existing community organizations. Effective governance addresses plot allocation, maintenance of common areas, resource sharing, conflict resolution, and financial management. Our goal is to develop systems that ensure equitable access and long-term sustainability.
Dilulu promotes sustainable, agroecological gardening methods that build soil health, conserve water, and minimize external inputs. We emphasize techniques such as composting, mulching, companion planting, natural pest management, water harvesting, and seed saving. Our approach integrates traditional African agricultural knowledge with appropriate modern practices. We adapt methods to local conditions and community preferences, recognizing that successful gardening techniques vary by climate, available resources, and cultural context.
We welcome volunteers who want to support our community garden initiatives! Visit our Volunteer page to learn about current opportunities, which range from garden development workdays to ongoing mentorship roles. We particularly value volunteers with expertise in gardening, construction, education, community organizing, or language skills. Both local and international volunteers can contribute meaningfully to our work, and we provide orientation and training to ensure a positive experience for both volunteers and communities.
Whether you want to start a community garden, volunteer your skills, or support our work, we'd love to hear from you.