Community gardens as a response to the contradictions of sustainable urban policy: Insights from the Swiss cities of Zurich and Lausanne

In this paper we explore how policy discourses on urban sustainability impact the governing of food gardening in favoring community gardens. Our main hypothesis is that gardens better accommodate tensions created by compact and green city compared to other types gardening, especially allotment context Swiss cities Lausanne Zurich, analysis documents confirms identifying four frames orient policies toward gardening: (i) Adapting space planning densification favors with their modest, flexible multifunctional design, (ii) Revaluating role represents as a new benchmark, (iii) Reorganizing fosters diversity opportunities which turn supports variety forms (iv) Justifying through public values needs cost-efficient management, lower land management more active citizen participation. vein, policymakers continually strategic tool gives greater legitimacy wake densifying city. Overall, continue be negotiated between space-related marginalization socio-political significance serving different citizens. This results need sophisticated approach considering related location built city, associated functions, user groups.