BİLGİ Garden's Sustainable Urban Agriculture Examples

BİLGİ Bahçe: Urban Farming for Sustainability Istanbul Bilgi University has launched 'BİLGİ Bahçe' at its santralistanbul Campus, implementing a model for sustainable urban agriculture. According to a statement from the university, Istanbul Bilgi University has established 'BİLGİ Bahçe' at the santralistanbul Campus, creating an agricultural area where BİLGİ members can grow their own produce through direct cultivation.

BİLGİ staff have the opportunity to produce sustainable food by working the soil in their designated plots, while students from the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department gain hands-on experience in the seed-to-plate process and agricultural production.

Dr. Fikret Soner, Head of the BİLGİ Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department, whose remarks are included in the statement, said: 'BİLGİ Bahçe was designed as a shared urban garden for BİLGİ members who wish to produce their own goods and engage with soil in response to the consumption intensity that dominates urban life. Urban gardens have emerged as an alternative that brings farming from rural areas to cities, enables urban residents to simply grow food for their own consumption, and increases green spaces in cities.' Soner noted that the garden also serves as a practical application area for the 'sustainable agriculture' course, which is part of introductory gastronomy classes in the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department, and added: 'Through BİLGİ Bahçe, we aim to increase our students' ecological awareness; teach them the importance of sustainable agriculture, production without harming biodiversity and the environment, and help them understand seeds and soil. As first-year students experience the journey of plants from seed onwards, they develop awareness of the seed-to-plate process and ensuring sustainability throughout it. Students can harvest aromatic plants, edible flowers, and vegetables grown seasonally throughout the year from the garden for use in their classes. In this way, we ensure they maintain a connection with agriculture throughout their entire education.' he said. Source