A group of neighbors in the village of Duved, in Swedish Jämtland, started a communal garden last year. After a successful first season, where participants inspired each other with new food experiences, they’re now planning to grow even more edible crops this spring. “It’s incredibly stimulating to see things grow,” says Marie Lithén, one of the co-growers.
It all started with a promise to establish allotment gardens in Duved, a project that unfortunately fell through. Instead, a group of villagers decided to come together and create a shared garden.
“From nothing – to something amazing”
Marie Lithén, who’s been growing food her whole life and works as head of the kitchen at Åredalens Folkhögskola, didn’t hesitate for a second when she was invited to join the project.
“In recent years, I’ve been driven by a desire to grow my own food. I mainly live on vegetables. And because freshly harvested produce is such a taste sensation! It’s also incredibly stimulating to see things grow. From nothing to something amazing. It creates so much pride and joy,” says Marie.
Expanding the garden in spring
Right now, 13 people are working together to take care of the 600-square-meter garden, and more are joining. The land they started growing on had been farmed before, which was a big advantage. In 2024, they cultivated about half of the area, so there is plenty of room to dream, says Marie, who envisions even more vegetables, berries, seating areas, and flowers in the future.
What did you grow in the first year?
“Since we got started a bit late in the season, we mostly planted things we already had in our seed boxes or had pre-grown on our balconies—radishes, carrots, beets, lettuce, dill, parsley, summer flowers. We also received a lot of plants from generous people, including kale, black kale, and strawberries.”
“For the next season, we’ve managed to plan a bit better and decided to focus on growing things we actually eat. It’s incredible how easily you can get huge harvests. So it’s best if everyone likes and eats what we grow, even though it’s good to expand your horizons too.”
What positive effects have you seen besides having access to locally grown produce?
“There are so many benefits! Like all the conversations happening between the planting rows. The exchange of experiences. And getting outside in all kinds of weather, realizing that even a light rain can be cozy. Everything also becomes so much easier and faster when working together. For example, we created an entire strawberry patch in just a few hours—that satisfaction is amazing. Several people have also discovered new vegetables to eat.”
“The recipes have been flowing, which is fantastic. Sharing recipes and finding new ways to use the harvest has been a wonderful experience.”
What’s the best way to start a communal garden?
“Talk to the people around you. There are definitely others dreaming of growing food. Join forces. Inspire others. Lead by example. And you can absolutely start growing on your balcony or windowsill while working toward a larger garden. I grow strawberries, potted raspberries, herbs, mushrooms, and lettuce, alongside flowers, on my balcony.”
“Right now, there’s a lot of talk about how more people should start growing food in times of crisis. So go out and start planting! It’s also incredibly climate-smart and provides much more nutrition than store-bought vegetables. Growing is life!”