Orti Generali

By project NEBA

Published on 30 May 2025

Italy

Piemonte

Torino

About this good practice

Orti Generali in Turin is a pioneering project transforming neglected urban land into a vibrant, inclusive park. Inspired by wholesale markets, it's a hub for urban cultivation and community building, rooted in a participatory process since 2010.
Officially entrusted with 3 hectares in 2018 by the City of Turin, Orti Generali returns a previously degraded space to the community, emphasizing social equity by including vulnerable groups. It integrates individual garden plots within a larger park, avoiding repetitive designs and preserving open views.
The project promotes ecological sustainability by reintroducing native plant systems and encouraging 250 families to grow organic, healthy food. Supported by public and private funds and academic collaborations, Orti Generali aims to create scenic, economic, and social value without heavily burdening public funds, proving a sustainable model for urban green space management.
Regarding stakeholders, the main ones are:
City of Torino: Landowner & institutional partner
Orti Generali Impresa Sociale: Managing entity
Bank foundations: Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT
Academic Institutions: University of Torino
Local Associations: Fondazione Mirafiori, Orti Generali APS
Utilities: IREN SpA
While the main beneficiaries are:
Local Residents: Gardeners, families, and park users
Vulnerable Groups: Economically disadvantaged, disabled, unemployed (through specific programs)
Students & Schools: Educational program participants

Resources needed

Orti Generali is run by 5 full time employees, sided by volunteers depending on the activity going on. Some activities organized in Orti bring part of the funding, but recently another big part of the funding came from successful local and EU projects like Climagen, Simbiosi or Fusilli.

Evidence of success

Renovated Cascina Piemonte as a refreshment area for gardeners and citizens
Created 170 first, then added another 100 urban gardens of 50, 75 and 100 sqm
won Landscape award of the Council of Europe in 2023
Created a local CEI
Created within the park a garden dedicated to pollinators and an apiary for honey production
Offered courses in horticulture, beekeeping, sustainability and green design…
Circular and social activities, such as tomato sauce production, plogging and circular cooking classes

Potential for learning or transfer

Orti Generali in Torino is a prime example for urban regeneration, transforming a degraded area into a vibrant park with community gardens. It's also a social enterprise promoting inclusion (e.g., discounted plots, solidarity gardens), environmental sustainability (organic farming, smart irrigation), and education (courses for citizens and schools, urban farming). The multistakeholder collaboration and its replicable model for reclaiming unused spaces make it a valuable practice to share with other cities.
Furthermore, it fosters social inclusion by engaging diverse groups, promotes environmental sustainability through organic farming and biodiversity, and operates with strong participatory governance. It's also an educational hub and aims for economic sustainability as a social enterprise. This holistic, replicable model for green infrastructure and community development is another reason why it's a great practice to share with other potential partners.