Orti sociali come refugia urbani: Una ricerca etnografica per Torino

Abstract

This study investigates the social and ecological potential of community urban gardens in Turin. By analyzing food policies and urban dynamics, it explores how the cultivation and consumption of food grown with care and active participation can benefit vulnerable individuals often at risk of social exclusion. Community gardens emerge as spaces for spontaneous gathering, dialogue, and mutual support, where food policies intersect with the socio-environmental needs of city residents. Particularly in former industrial neighborhoods, these green enclaves represent opportunities for collective renewal and grassroots actions to tackle urban challenges. Cultivating plants and relationships in these gardens not only strengthens the sense of belonging and care for local spaces but also enables everyone – including those who have never had a direct connection with nature – to engage with a richer, more complex social and ecological network, right in the heart of the city.