Growing vegetables and cultivating new friendships this summer

Growing Roots – Growing vegetables and social connections

Would you like to learn how to grow vegetables in a diverse group of people in a friendly environment? Would you like to do something different and exciting this summer? Then Uppskera / Growing Roots is the right project for you — and possibly your whole family.

Uppskera / Growing Roots is a collaboration between the organization GETA and Hafnarfjörður, where families in Hafnarfjörður are invited to participate in a communal vegetable gardening initiative at the gardens by Víðistaðatún. The project aims to promote sustainability, inclusion, well-being, and social connection by creating a safe and accessible space where people regularly meet and grow vegetables together.

Families will be assigned garden plots in the community gardens at Víðistaðatún, where they will work together under the guidance of a gardener and with the support of GETA staff and volunteers. Weekly meetings will be held in the gardens where participants can receive advice, chat, and enjoy each other’s company. Events and educational talks will also be held at regular intervals.

When selecting participants, special emphasis will be placed on bringing together families of different backgrounds — locals, immigrants, and refugees who have received international protection in Iceland. Together, the group will cultivate vegetables, friendships and a healthy lifestyle.

The project is supported by the Public Health Fund and HS Orka’s Community Fund, and is as well a part of the international initiative Resilient Cities, Healthy People, funded by the European Union.

Application deadline: May 18, 2025
Fill out an application here.

Participation fee: ISK 5,000 per family for the whole summer. The fee includes:

• a personal garden plot
• access to shared garden plots
• use of communal tools
• guidance from a gardener
• support from GETA staff and volunteers
• free access to events and educational talks
• small Gifts from sponsors

Note: Limited spots available!

Questions can be sent to: getasamtok@gmail.com

Image caption: The project was first launched last year and went very well, as the pictures show.