A Modern Community Garden Will Soon Bloom Near Tallinn Song Festival Grounds

Something more than just garden beds is soon taking root behind the Estonian Exhibition Centre, near the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. A green oasis combining urban gardening, community spirit, and sustainable living will be established there – the Marienberg Community Garden.

The garden is being initiated by Metro in collaboration with the City of Tallinn, which supports the development of new community gardens as part of its Tallinn 2035 strategic plan. It will be located at the heart of the future Marienberg district, where hundreds of new residents will move in over the coming years.

But even today, the surrounding area is already home to nearly 600 apartment-dwelling families, most of whom don’t have access to their own garden plot.

The Marienberg Community Garden will offer them – and other city dwellers – the chance to experience a rare urban luxury: a place to grow their own plants and share experiences with fellow urban gardeners.

“A community garden is more than just a place for growing plants – it’s a new breath of life. It brings people together, creates connections, encourages knowledge-sharing, and helps nurture a more biodiverse and friendly urban environment,”
says Herdis Pärn, the project lead and passionate urban gardener who has worked in the field for seven years.

“Urban gardening is an ideal way to grow clean food and support your mental well-being at the same time. Radishes, for example, grow quickly and give a nice sense of achievement – especially when you’re just starting out. A few waterings, a little care, and you’ve got something you grew yourself. A garden works like a natural stress reliever and being outdoors gives your health a real boost,” adds Pärn.

From Tomato Queen to Community Garden Leader

Pärn also leads the Urban Garden Tallinn project, where she shares her gardening successes and experiments on Instagram (@urbangardentallinn) with the goal of proving that you can grow clean food in the city. “My gardening passion began on a tiny balcony,” she recalls. There, she started a small herb garden and planted her first tomatoes.

In 2019, she moved to a larger urban terrace and took urban gardening to the next level.

“Today, I grow enough tomatoes and cucumbers in summer to fully meet my household needs – and even have some left for preserving. Tomatoes are my favorite – so much so that my friends affectionately call me ‘Crazy Tomato Lady’ or ‘Tomato Queen.’”

Her love for tomatoes runs deep. “Where else can you get those sweet, sun-ripened tomatoes that smell like grandma’s garden – in the middle of the city? And by the way, tomatoes grow perfectly well outdoors. Somehow, people think you need a greenhouse, but that’s just not true,” she shares.

“This garden is a collaborative effort with the city,” Pärn emphasizes.

With the Marienberg Community Garden, Metro is also contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of creating environmentally friendly cities and communities – helping to reduce climate impact and enhance biodiversity in urban space.

Initially, the garden will feature 15 planting boxes, including two communal beds for growing popular herbs. The remaining boxes will be assigned to local residents who express interest.

“There’s already growing interest, so anyone who wants their own garden box should get in touch quickly,” says Pärn.

The Marienberg Community Garden will open on May 3rd, kicking off with a community clean-up event. Throughout the summer, various workshops and community gatherings are planned to provide added value – both in gardening and in building a stronger local bond.

“We expect each gardener to give back a little. Every member will be asked to contribute about five hours during the season to help maintain the shared spaces of the garden.”

The Garden’s Goals Are Clear:

• To offer city dwellers a chance to grow their own herbs, vegetables, and berries
• To strengthen community spirit and bring neighbors closer together
• To promote a nature-friendly lifestyle, supporting pollinators and a cleaner urban environment
• To make Marienberg a greener and more diverse urban space

Community gardens have long been popular in big cities like New York, Copenhagen, Berlin, and London, where people increasingly value the chance to reconnect with nature.

“My favorite city in terms of community gardens is Nantes, France,” says Pärn.
“There, you really feel like you’re part of urban greenery – sitting in the sun, soil between your fingers, tomatoes blooming… or maybe picking a juicy plum or apple from the city’s shared fruit orchard.”
That’s exactly the kind of open and shared orchard Pärn dreams of for Marienberg’s future.

Tallinn is already home to an impressive number of urban gardens – this year, there are as many as 50.

Want to join in?

Everyone interested is welcome to join the Marienberg Community Garden Facebook group, contact project lead Herdis Pärn at herdis.parn@metro.ee and fill in a Registration Form. 

Be part of the movement that brings more greenery, joy, and collaboration to the city! 🌿