Three Documentaries on Urban Community Gardens in Buenos Aires, Berlin and South Africa

3 DVDs, Spanish/English, each film lasts 35-45 min.
By Ella von der Haide

In a series of documentaries, Ella von der Haide features urban Community Gardens in Cities in South Africa, Argentina and Germany.

Urban community gardening is a phenomenon that is spreading throughout the world. More and more people are coming together, in order to shape their surroundings and to produce organic food. In addition to gardening itself, there is a great number of social, pedagogical, and political reasons for establishing community gardens, which depend upon the natural and social context of the garden itself, and the imagination and ends of the group.

At the core of the film are the activists from the gardens, their visions, and their gardens. They explain how and why their gardens are not only “green oasis” within the city, but also projects that bring “another world” into being. The films developed out of the researches of the urban and regional planner and activist Ella von der Haide they are focusing on social and political issues.

In detail:

Community Gardens in Buenos Aires 2003
DVD, 30 min.
German, Spanish, subtitles in English
directed and filmed by Ella von der Haide and Christoph Arndt

The community garden projects in the mega-city of Buenos Aires are part of a social development that has arisen beyond the confines of the state and that seeks grass-root democratic alternatives. In this way community gardens respond to human needs not only materially through the production of organic food, but also actively help to rebuild the social safety net and to bring into being political and economic utopias.

Community Gardens in Berlin 2006
DVD, 38 min.
German, English, Spanish
Ella von der Haide and Alexander Puell

In recent years an increasing number of urban community garden projects were founded in Berlin. They integrate economic, social and political aspects that are positive for the surrounding city, such as the improvement of the microclimate and the creation of green areas. Social and political aspects, such as creating neighborhood-meeting points and organizing the articulation of common interests, are very important.

Community Gardens in South Africa, 2005
English
DVD, 45 min., 2007
Ella von der Haide

In South Africa Community Gardens are widespread, mainly because people – most of all in the townships – are extremely poor and need food. The recent economic boost only benefits the rich minority. In most cases neo-liberal policies have had a negative outcome for the poor. The community gardens are places of hope, solidarity, and sometimes of active resistance against official neo-liberal politics.

More information on the film and research here.

A note from Ella, January 22, 2009

This summer/autumn I am planning to come to the US and Canada - if possible to make a film about the CG and I also would like to show my films. 

Would you be interested in screening my films or a talk or workshop with me, possibly at one of the gardeners meetings or conferences this year?

Or would you be interested in seeing my films? Or could you put me in contact with some people that would be interested?

I am looking forward to hear from you.

All the best to you,
Ella von der Haide
Email: post@ella-von-der-haide.de