The Proliferation of Collective Gardens in Lisbon (Portugal) and Montpellier (France): Urban Residents Demand and Municipal Support

Today there is renewed concern about agriculture’s place in the construction of sustainable cities. The rapid development of urban collective gardens (also named allotments and community gardens according to the authors and the countries) provides an example that takes on an exceptional dimension in the context of a systemic crisis that is simultaneously social, economic, environmental and political. In this chapter, we illustrate the diverse forms and issues observed during our study of these gardens, and compare their resurgence in two European cities: Montpellier, France; and Lisbon, Portugal. This comparison allows us to address the specificity of these collective gardens, their dynamics and their governance methods. Their proliferation in these two cities reflects a strong demand by urban residents, and the developmental support of the municipalities.