The lots are given free of charge to the institution to provide a learning and social space for its students on the Gardening Course.

This initiative will allow Existir users to be responsible for the maintenance of the space, thus promoting their autonomy. At the same time, it will allow the food grown there, in accordance with sustainability assumptions, to be consumed within the institution itself, namely within the scope of its Social Canteen.

These Community Gardens will combine environmental sustainability with social inclusion and the local community, three pillars of Loulé’s municipal policy.

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On the other hand, the Gardens will promote food security, increasing the production base.

It is worth remembering that the Community Gardens project was launched by Infralobo in 2016 as a commitment to the well-being and harmony among its workers. On these plots, the company’s workers can grow fresh food and enjoy moments of socialising in an environment of healthy camaraderie.

In its initial phase, five Community Gardens were created, each divided into 30 square metre plots, equipped with water points to facilitate cultivation. In 2023, the programme expanded to include a total of 15 Gardens, contributing to the family economy of its employees. Now the Gardens are open to the community.

The Gardens operate in a space adjacent to the Infralobo yards, which were underused.