Green Happiness in Cooperative Housing
Two mothers of small children took the initiative to transform the back courtyard in their cooperative housing complex. They involved children, young people and other residents in cultivating local, edible plants to the delight of both bees and people; plus they constructed a bumblebee hotel. Their learning experiences were then passed on to their neighbors.
Description of the initiative — the background
We meet Nadia Martinuzzi (NM) and Karoline Grindaker (KG) in a cozy, old urban courtyard in Torshov. They tell us their initiative developed from the fact that they both had small children and both spent much time in their housing’s common courtyard area; they wanted to do something with it. The courtyard space had been drained earlier on account of a poorly laid foundation. Everything was ripped out, then in the aftermath, a gardener was hired who wasn’t particularly engaged in his profession. Very few plants were put in and the whole area looked a bit miserable. NM and KG were envious of the neighboring courtyard, which was very green and all the neighbors were proud of it. NM and KG wanted to do something similar. They presented a suggestion to the housing board about cultivating bumblebee friendly edible plants and building a hotel for the bees. Some thought it would be a bit chaotic and messy if everyone were to have their own garden beds. But NM and KG wouldn’t relent. They pointed out that the present plantings in the sparsely cultivated yard were ornamental apple trees that were neither for birds or for people. One couldn’t even climb these trees. We spent a lot of time outside and wanted to use our backyard, NM and KG say. It’s our garden and, in addition to our own kids, as many as 30 other children use the yard. They slowly began work in the garden as it was. The board granted them 6,000 Norwegian crowns, which was used to buy plants that were on sale and would afford pleasure to everyone. Slowly but surely they became confident in what they were doing.
They heard about the possibility of seeking Green Funding from their neighbors. They convinced the housing board to contribute the obligatory 50% and applied for funding that would give them, all together, 19,000 Norwegian crowns to work with. A small ”green group” was established consisting of about 10 residents. They met 5–6 times over the winter where they planned the building of a bumblebee hotel and planter boxes. They followed a pedagogical, didactic scheme and attended a course at the Botanical Gardens. Approximately 15 participants attended this course, plus children.
A ”bonus card” during this process was a father from the courtyard who was a bit of a handyman and hobbyist carpenter. He became quite engaged and built the framework for the bumblebee hotel. These activities were publicized on the housing cooperative’s Facebook page, and announcements were also posted. Positive responses came very quickly. Backyard inspections were made, as well as further planning for a nice trip to Østensjø Lake to gather materials for the bumblebee hotel. A variety of small houses were placed inside the framework structure and very quickly they could see that insects were moving in. They chose to place the hotel over toward a quiet street.
What was nice about this initiative was that so many people could participate, both children and adults. In addition to gathering tubes and reeds at Østensjø Lake, they also looked for usable bricks with holes. In conjunction with this they were also given access to stones from the Botanical Gardens. The children drew information charts with the Sagene district logo that were then laminated and set up beside the bumblebee hotel. The children also drew informational posters to announce Insect Hotel Day on May 2nd — an open arrangement where the insect hotel would ceremoniously be inaugurated. This arrangement would include serving food. Many people came by. On another ”Open Day” they put together a photo display documenting the whole building process so that their learning experiences could be shared.
Since then, NM, KG and other residents have registered that many people stop to study the insect hotel, among others, several of the preschools in the district. KG and another person from the green group, Frid, were interviewed on the radio program Norgesglasset.
Experiences that others can learn from
NM and KG have learned that it is important that someone is willing to ”take the reins.” They initially thought that everyone would take responsibility for the effort, but they didn’t get much help in the beginning. But slowly that changed. Our message to the others was: ”Just do it.” But clearly it was important that someone was willing to take charge. It meant a lot that we eventually got ”pats on the back” for our efforts. But if they had met just a little more resistance, they weren’t sure they would’ve been willing to continue.
“After this experience,” NM and KG add, “it’s become easier to start new projects.” With this project, we wanted to make a contribution to a sustainable urban environment, by including both green and social aspects. It’s important to identify the small steps that one can take, KG says. KG has lived in Germany/Berlin, where many similar projects have been initiated on a larger scale.
They also experience that, more and more, the board appreciates the worth and importance of their project. This year they received 15,000 additional crowns from the board to continue. Several people have also pointed out the economic gains attached to the vast improvements in the courtyard area. It’s an effective signal that will have meaning if anyone eventually wants to sell their apartment.
The social milieu has also been strengthened. Many people in the district are single and they recognize how important it is to have informal social arenas. KG and NM have thought about how, in the future, more social activities might be arranged, for example an outdoor cinema. NM is Italian and misses the more extraverted culture of her home country, with its small plazas and informal gathering places. In addition to a micro-brewery — which others have initiated — a yoga room will also soon be opening.
Future visions — from next year through 2030
Inspired by the project’s social ripple effect, they see the possibility of connecting to other courtyards. There are great social differences and a ”variety of worlds” in Torshov. The children all go to the same school and it’s important that they get to know each other. The North Pole School is very good about thinking along these lines. It’s an idea that needs to get more people involved before additionally developing it.
Looking further into the future NM and KG can imagine a buzz of activity around the bumblebee hotel. They see their courtyard becoming a little botanical garden with a large variety of plants and a lot of birdhouses. We’ve planted clover rather than grass. More and more people participate in the activities, everyone boasts — both old and young. There is good cooperation. People have learned a lot. There are small garden plots in the courtyard, cultivated by the residents. It’s a luxury to be able water and grow plants so close to where they are living. We will do something new every year and have contributed to Oslo becoming a sustainable city to live in. We believe that what we have accomplished, both green and socially, has lead to people staying on here, not moving away. It’s a good environment. Children don’t have to go far to play with their best friends; it’s become a kinder milieu. It’s cool that we are all different, diversity is good. Our young people are proud of where they come from and have gained important values. Everyone knows everyone else. We have also started a henhouse. Others will come to learn from our experiences. Our accomplishments spread to other urban courtyards and one can see in the real world what research has always shown: that putting your finger in the ground and making contact with the soil’s bacteria stimulates one’s feelings of well-being.
During our visit to this housing cooperative we tell about some of the other green initiatives in the district, among others the Pollinator Passage project and Transition Sagene, which is part of the neighborhood movement — Sustainable Living — which helps people out of action-paralysis and does great things, contributing to a good life for both people and the globe.
It’s so inspiring to hear about everything that is happening,” they say. It gives us renewed energy to get going in the new year in the Nordre Aasen Housing Cooperative.
Questions
What places in your housing community and/or your neighborhood would be good for creating green gathering places?
How can you and/or others locate the local expertise and practical experience that is needed?
How can the establishment of green courtyards be combined with other activities in your housing complex or local environment?
Contact
Nadia Martinuzzi, intiative taker
Email: nadia@utopiaretromodern.com
