Community gardens as locally embedded nature-based solutions: a comparative study of Budapest and Turin

This article examines how community gardens in Budapest and turin function as locallyembedded nature-based solutions (Nbs) through the everyday practices of urbanresidents. While european policy frameworks increasingly promote Nbs, less attentionhas been paid to how they are interpreted and enacted outside formal planning arenas.Drawing on a comparative qualitative design, the study analyses 47 semi-structuredinterviews conducted in five gardens in Budapest and two in turin. Using amultidimensional analytical framework, we interpret gardeners’ activities across social,technical, and ecological dimensions. the findings show that gardeners in both citiespractice Nbs-aligned approaches even when they do not explicitly use the terminology.socially, gardens foster well-being, inclusion, and community cohesion. technically,gardeners adapt to resource constraints and climatic pressures through low-techexperimentation and collaborative problem-solving. ecologically, they supportbiodiversity, soil regeneration, and microclimate regulation through organic cultivationand composting. Differences between the two cities reflect contrasting governancecontexts. While turin benefits from stronger institutional support, Budapest demonstratesresilient grassroots stewardship. the study contributes to Nbs debates by highlightingcommunity gardens as practice-based socio-ecological infrastructures and by showinghow stewardship constitutes an important dimension of urban Nbs implementation.