See in this short film how the GAIA Gartenberg community garden emerged from these deliberations. It was co-designed by women* with migration histories, single mothers, and retired women, alongside gardeners, artists, and researchers. Together, the women* created a place of bio-/diversity. The construction of the garden fence marked a symbolic act of collective ownership. It was a moment when physical work resulted in a deeper sense of belonging. Women who had previously felt unsure of their place in the project picked up tools, worked side by side, and declared, “This is our garden.” That simple phrase marked a shift—from participation to ownership. It was the moment the garden stopped being a “just” research site and became a brave community space for empowerment and agency.

Gardening became a form of belonging and the garden became a living lab for biodiversity and inclusion. It was a place where ecological knowledge met cultural memory, where food sovereignty and social resilience grew side by side. Biodiversity was no longer abstract — it was visible in the soil, tasted in the harvest, and felt in the rhythms of community life.

The GAIA Gartenberg is now more than a garden. It is a nucleus for an emerging community park, with a second garden and two orchards (one with traditional varieties, one which is climate adapted) already underway. The municipal green space department has become a committed partner, signalling that the Bio-Diverse Edible City idea is becoming part of Graz’s urban development strategy. Read about more ideas for inclusive policy measures to promote (agro-)biodiversity and reduce social inequality in our dossier “Bio-/Diverse Edible City Graz”.

The deeper legacy lies in the lives of the women who now see themselves not just as gardeners, but as urban actors. As one participant put it, “Before, I thought this kind of thing was for other people. Now I know it can be ours.”