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Nowadays, with the current and foreseen scenario of urbanization and world population growth, urban agriculture (UA) represents an opportunity and a strategy to improve food production and supply, local economy, social integration, environmental sustainability as well as health conditions. Within this context, UA can reach and integrate the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. For these reasons, UA has become a popular and common urban land use form worldwide in many cities. Indeed, in recent times, UA projects have spread across the world, guided as well as supported by governments and born by community-based initiatives. These projects may have a great variability: they range from low to high technological UA projects or they may have different purposes, being projects with a purely social and educational purpose or instead mainly devoted to food production and environmental services. Therefore, UA brings together multidisciplinary fields and opportunities. To facilitate a wider uptake of innovative policies and instruments for the promotion of the sustainable goals associated with UA, it is fundamental to first create and raise awareness both between institutional stakeholders as well as civil society through innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.

Sverige har under senare år tagit emot flera hundra tusen assylsökande. Att integrera dessa i samhället är en stor utmaning. De behöver känna trygghet och tillhörighet i samhället genom olika integrationsaktiviteter. Samtidigt kan de bidra med kompetens och kunskap om de lyckas etablera sig på arbetsmarknaden. Etablering på arbetsmarknaden är av stor betydelse för att förebygga utanförskap och arbetslöshet samt öka trygghet och tillhörighet hos utlandsfödda personer. Dock är integrations- och etableringsprocesser kantade av hinder och barriärer som är relaterade till bland annat språkkunskaper, ålder, utbildning och kulturen. Projektet övergripande syfte var att använda odling som ett verktyg för att öka möjligheten för utlandsfödda personer att integrera i samhället och bygga upp trygghet samt språk- och kommunikationsförmåga. Odling förespråker för matproduktion och konsumtion, utveckling av sociala nätverk, utveckling och förstärkning av språk och kommunikationsförmåga samt för hälsa och välmående. Deltagare i studien rekryterades via företaget Xenofilia i Malmö och dess projekt ”Växtplats Rosengård”, som stödjer utlandsfödda som står långt ifrån arbetsmarknad att närmas sig arbetsmarknaden i genom bland annat odlingsaktiviteter. Genom Växtplats Rosengårds odlingsspår rekryterades tre grupper med åtta deltagare i varje grupp vid tre olika tillfällen under 2018. Deltagarna i varje grupp deltog i intervjuer kring trygghet och platsanknytning, språkundervisning samt i studiebesök till olika odlingsföretag och till SLU Alnarp. Projektet omfattade också undersökningar kring utveckling av produktionsunderlag av nya grödor som ingår i utlandsföddas matkultur. Studier i projektet identifierade plats och kontext, scenariobaserat lärande, läran om odling av svenska grödor och egna grödor från hemlandet som trygghetsskapande faktorer och grundläggande förutsättningar för att kunna känna trygghet, engagemang i arbetet, öppenhet att ta in nya saker och för att skapa nya kontakter. Att känna tillhörighet till en plats med hjälp av platsanknytning och kontext såsom odling skapar trygghet genom upplevelse av tillhörighet och att lyckas och utvecklas. Scenariobaserad svenskundervisning kan hjälpa utlandsfödda att utveckla sin kommunikativa förmåga genom att delta i klassrumsinteraktioner baserade på scenarier, dialoger, och interaktiv pedagogik. Studiebesöken vidgar utöver kunskapen om odling och odlingsteknik, också den geografiska horisonten i Sverige och känslan att komma utanför hemkommunen. Tillgång till grönsaker bekanta från hemlandets matkultur på den svenska marknaden gynnar också trygghet hos utlandsfödda svenskar, grossister och konsumenter.

Nature-based solutions are an efficient way to address simultaneously environmental, economic and social problems especially in urban areas. In the Nordic countries, there has been increasing interest in nature-based integration and a number of practical projects and initiatives have been launched to promote the benefits of nature in integration. This report presents the lessons learned and experiences gathered in these practices. The report analyses the similarities and differences of Nordic nature-based integration practices in terms of aims, environments, target groups and pros and cons. Based on the analysis a working definition of nature-based integration is presented. This definition summarises how nature can be used to support integration of immigrants through building of identity, providing positive experiences and strengthening institutional capabilities. The report concludes in a checklist of key components to be considered when planning, conducting or evaluating nature-based integration practices. In the second part of the report, 16 descriptions from practitioners in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway are described in more detail to illustrate the various ways nature is used for integration across these countries.

Background: It is estimated that up-to 75% of individuals suffer from fatigue after stroke. Post-stroke-fatigue contributes to disability and reduced quality of life. Currently, there is neither sufficient evidence on the efficacy of any intervention for post-stroke fatigue nor how the patients perceive the interventions. The objective of the study was to examine the clientsu00b4 experience of post-stroke nature-based rehabilitation (Clinical Trial.gov Identifier: NCT02435043). Method: An interview was conducted included 27 informants, who voluntary participated in a semi-structured interview. The informants were identified among those who participated in a two-armed randomized controlled prospective trial, with 101 individuals included thereof 51 were randomized to the nature-based intervention. The intervention was performed in enriched garden environment, supported by a multimodal rehabilitation team. The intervention was performed as a group therapy of eight persons, lasting for ten weeks, two days/week, each day session lasting three and a half hours. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed according to Interpretive Phenomenological Analyses. The study was approved by the regional ethical committee in Lunds (Dnr 2012/352)Results: Two subordinate themes emerged 1) Salutogenic environment supporting mental recovery, with the subthemes a) tranquility, b) permissiveness and 2) Fascination as a motivation for physical activities, with the subthemes a) free play and b) exploration. The results indicate that nature-based rehabilitation can promote both perceived fatigue recovery and promote engagement in physical activities otherwise not undertaken.Conclusions: The results highlight important aspects on how nature can support the recovery of post-stroke fatigue and how these can be implemented into healthcare and so further develop successful rehabilitation programs.

Nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) has convincing support in research, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study sought to increase understanding of the role of soundscapes in NBR, an aspect paid little attention thus far. Transcribed interviews with 59 patients suffering from stress-related mental disorders and undergoing a 12-week therapy programme in the rehabilitation garden in Alnarp, Sweden, were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis (IPA). Described sounds were categorised as natural, technological or human. The results showed that patients frequently referred to natural sounds as being part of a pleasant and "quiet" experience that supported recovery and induced "soft fascination". Technological sounds were experienced as disturbing, while perception of human sounds varied depending on loudness and the social context. The study further uncovered how sound influenced patients' behaviour and experiences in the garden, through examination of three cross-theme dimensions that materialised in the study; sound in relation to overall perception, sound in relation to garden usage, and increased susceptibility to sound. The findings are discussed in relation to NBR; the need for a more nuanced understanding of susceptibility to sound among people suffering from mental fatigue was identified and design considerations for future rehabilitation gardens were formulated.

Fatigue is common after stroke and contributes to disability, impaired quality of life, and reduced work ability. Currently, there is no evidence-based intervention for post-stroke fatigue but idiopathic chronic fatigue and burnt-out syndromes may benefit from nature-based rehabilitation. The aim of NASTRU was to examine whether ten weeks of nature-based rehabilitation, as add-on to standard management, could influence post-stroke fatigue (primary outcome), depression, work ability or functional outcome (secondary outcomes), compared to controls.

This paper presents findings from real life situations, a longitudinal single case study on the role of natural environments in nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) for individuals with stress-related mental disorders, at the Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden in Sweden. A sample of 43 former clients voluntarily participated in semi-structured interview, and the data were analyzed according to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three main superordinate themes were identified as the three phases of NBR—Prelude, Recuperating and Empowerment—explaining and illuminating the role of the natural environments in each phase. An explanatory model of NBR in this context is presented including the three phases of NBR, IRP supportive occupations and a pyramid of supporting environments. A new component of supportive environments was identified and herby named, Social quietness, an important component facilitating personal and intimate engagement with the natural environments.