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Hortas Cariocas Project promotes recycling in exchange for food in Parque Madureira
Published on 16/10/2020 - 10:35 | Updated on 25/05/2021 - 12:10
Carioca Gardens Project - Rio City Hall The Rio City Hall, through the Special Secretariat for Tourism and Olympic Legacy, announces that a new phase of the Hortas Cariocas project, from the Secretariat for the Environment, has begun in Parque Madureira. The program, which has already provided dozens of tons of food to families in the suburbs of Rio, has started registering the names and addresses of residents living near Parque Madureira so that they can exchange recyclable waste for vegetables and greens produced in the park's vegetable garden.
The initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of disposing of waste properly and to reinforce the concept of recycling in Rio de Janeiro. Registered residents take recyclable waste to Hortas Cariocas, which separates it and sends it for recycling, and the resident receives food in exchange. According to the gardener responsible for the gardens in Parque Madureira, Douglas dos Santos, 29, the project now aims to recycle even more materials.
– Seeing the Madureira Park lands being used to provide food for those most in need, in a joint initiative of the Special Secretariat for Tourism and Olympic Legacy and the Secretariat for the Environment, is essentially what the Olympic Legacy represents. The union for such an important initiative, which helps to take care of people, is what should guide the future of Rio de Janeiro – highlights the Special Secretary for Tourism and Olympic Legacy, Camila Sousa.
RECOGNIZED BY THE UN
Responsible for distributing more than 38 tons of food to families in Rio de Janeiro since the beginning of the pandemic, the Hortas Cariocas project was recognized in August 2020 as one of the essential actions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the organization's website, the article highlights that the project “offers the local population inputs and materials for the development of organic agriculture, in addition to promoting environmental education”.
With a variety of vegetables, herbs, legumes and roots, the garden makes donations to those in need or sells its products for a nominal fee. In addition to purchasing a quality product, free from pesticides or pollutants, the consumer receives a true lesson in ecology and sustainability.
Cared for by residents living around the park, who were hired and trained to look after the garden, the land is a real turning point in the lives of these people.
Douglas dos Santos, 29, who is in charge of the vegetable gardens at Parque Madureira, is an example of this. A resident of Palmeirinha, he works with the help of his wife, Roberta, and manages to use his time to teach his four children about agriculture and recycling, who play in the facilities at Parque Madureira.
I used to work on the beach, but I didn’t earn much money for the hard work. Here I learned about organic farming techniques and family farming, which is our origin, our true culture. Today, I can work and be close to my children. We currently have 37 gardens. The idea is to reach the other garden, at the beginning of the park. I’m very happy with the success of the project because it really works,” said Douglas.
