Community Engagement and Self-Management in Liquid Times: the Case of the Container Garden at the School of Management and Economics of the University of Turin

Purpose – The paper presents the case of a small (about 200 m2) container garden created in a neglected space within the premises of the School Management and Economics of the University of Turin. The project is part of the framework ‘Proposal for Citizen Engagement’ of EIT Food Cross-KIC New European Bauhaus. ‘L’orto della SME’ is an example of ‘self-governance’ (Fournier, 2002), as well as a multi-stakeholder engagement hub for students, academics, local elderlies and professional gardeners to work together and share self-produced vegetables. This autoethnographic study aims to investigate how self-managed, recovered green spaces can lead to increasing social cohesion, sustainable production, and bottom-up community engagement. Design/methodology/approach – The research follows a qualitative methodology, presenting an exploratory case study, complemented by autoethnographic elements, stemming from the direct involvement of the authors in the project. Findings – Findings show that container gardens are rather inexpensive and instruments of social inclusion, equality and sustainable consumption to be scaled-up and applied to different contexts. Moreover, the exchange of good practices between different communities helps empowering the parties and creates an intergenerational knowledge flow. Sustainability therefore becomes key for redeveloping spaces. Originality/value – The study is one of the very first ones conducted on the New European Bauhaus and shows the value of European-funded cultural initiatives in regenerating neighbourhoods and promoting sustainable practices.