Tel Aviv–Jaffa is constantly growing with massive construction and infrastructure projects. Preserving urban nature and connecting residents to it, maintaining and increasing the quality of life in this intense urban growth are significant challenges. The south Tel Aviv Shapira neighbourhood is located has been identified as a vulnerable neighbourhood in the climate change era dealing with more extreme heat waves and potential floods.
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Meet Tel Chubez, an urban agricultural farm located in the Shapira operating on principles of a circular economy. This vacant city land was transformed three years ago into a farm, providing residents with a green, productive space within the city, increasing wellness and access to fresh and healthy food while strengthening community resilience and increasing biodiversity.
The initiative was led by activists who engaged the municipality and local businesses. The vision to connect people to the land, the environment and each other exceeded expectations. Residents and businesses separate their organic waste and deliver it to community composting sites. In exchange, they receive ‘Lira Shapira,’ a local currency accepted at neighbourhood businesses, community centres, individual freelance, and more.
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The residents can buy fresh vegetables growing at Tel Chubez with Lira Shapira. The compost returns to the farm to enrich the soil and plants. The farm, occupying four dunams, is being maintained by city employees, Lira Shapira NGO and volunteers. The cultivation method incorporates principles from permaculture and Biodynamics without any pesticides, focusing on growing local species following the seasons and a variety of over 60 fruit trees and local wildflowers that create an ecological system and habitat for birds and insects.
The farm includes workshop plots where courses and training sessions are held to transfer the practices to participants’ yards to improve biodiversity and attract butterflies and honeybees.
Tel Chubez became a green anchor for residents, plants and animals within a relatively short time. A model for collaboration internally in the municipality and externally with non-profits and businesses working together to build a new nature-based platform where environmental, social, economic and health positively impact.
