The annual meeting brought together board members, municipal representatives, the nomination committee, office employees and some of our member organizations. The purpose of the meeting was to summarize the past year, vote in new board members and nomination committee members, and make other important decisions for the association's future. Among other things, it was told how Upplandsbygd has received several awards and opportunities to present and spread our work on incorporating sustainability aspects into our project criteria. It is something we can all be proud of! Read more about our sustainability journey here.
We warmly thanked Anna Olsson, who is retiring as a board member and who has contributed invaluable experience and commitment as a board member and non-profit representative from Uppsala for many years. We would also like to extend a big thank you to Micael Sundström, Caroline Ullman, Mats Olsson and Ann Gidlund for their efforts and time with us, even though they were unable to attend the meeting. And Rafael Waters, chairman of the Street and Community Environment Committee in Uppsala Municipality, did a very good job as meeting chairman. At the same time, we welcomed new members to the board: Amil Sarsour, Ingela S Sandgren, Bengt Hellström, Susanne Loheman and Karl Björnström. We look forward to working together!
The meeting began with an inspiring study visit to places that have emerged thanks to the commitment of Hågaby's local people and support from Upplandsbygd. The school garden in Hågaby is a shining example of a successful project that continues to flourish even after the project period. Henrik Andersson is one of the enthusiasts behind these initiatives who drove the ideas and managed to inspire the residents of Håga to get involved and continue to take steps towards a more resilient society. He contributed to Håga residents having a common bond and interest to gather around, which benefited many in different ways. He told how the School Garden Project has functioned as a place where children of different ages have been able to learn about cultivation, cooking, environmental challenges related to water and eutrophication, health, preparedness and much more. Now it is Sofia, a committed parent and educator, who takes care of the cultivation as a part-time job for the school. They tell how the project began with a clear production focus, where during one season the school was able to supply the kitchens with almost 100 % of vegetables. But now they are testing different cultivation arrangements, adapting the garden to the classroom's educational plan and creating a playground where the youngest and most curious children can explore and gather. The combination of cultivation and education has meant that civic engagement is high enough to continue without project money.
Henrik also shared how the idea of ”Hågaby City Gardening” was born. Inspired by the School Garden Project, an association was created and part of a neighboring farmer’s field across the street from the school was converted into an urban garden where vegetables are also grown for the school. There is also space for Håga residents to have their own garden beds for private or commercial use. These initiatives are not only educational for the children, but also need to be adapted to local challenges such as water use, biodiversity and economic stability, where all parties (teachers, parents, growers, etc.) have a voice.
It was inspiring to hear about how these projects have managed to bring people together and engage them. Creating the conditions and starting dialogues can lead to fantastic results, as Henrik pointed out. We also heard about Hågabys Stadsodling's ongoing LEADER project in Perennials and local water cycles, which converts beds into less labor-intensive and less resource-intensive crops (perennials) and where they are also testing how they can collect water in rainwater tanks during the autumn without them freezing, which has been successful, he says.
Below you can see some pictures from the day. We are grateful to all of you who contribute with your commitment and look forward to continuing to develop our countryside together.
With kind regards,
Uppland region
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- hågaby school garden annual meeting
