Municipal Allotment Network (XHM)

Barcelona has 15 municipal allotments scattered around the city’s ten districts. These allotments are divided such that plots measuring between 20 and 40 m2 are ceded to pensioners over the age of 65 and organisations in the city.

The goal is to enable them to participate in environmental improvement activities by cultivating vegetables and following the principles of ecological agriculture. 

This programme was initiated in 1997 with the Can Mestres allotments. However, the first allotment started in Barcelona was the Avi Allotment in the Gràcia district in 1986, as a result of a request made by a group of residents.

How can you participate in the municipal urban allotments?

Conditions for participating in the draw:

  • Live in the district where the competition is taking place
  • Applicants must be over 65 or retired, or a non-profit organisation
  • Applicants must have the physical abilities needed for gardening
  • Applicants must submit their application within the time frame provided
  • Individuals may not live in the same household as someone who was already awarded a plot
  • Individuals may not live in the same household as someone applying in the same draw
  • Individuals may not previously have been the beneficiary of a plot as part of the ‘Urban Allotments’ project

Registration

Each of the city’s ten districts will periodically launch a draw to cede plots. You may only register when one of these processes is open. The call for applications will specify the documents that must be submitted.

Online

Via the specific procedure in the Procedures Portal.

Go to the portal

In person

Request an appointment at the Citizen Help and Information Office (OAC) in your district. How?

  1. Via the procedures and services kiosks that can be found in a any Citizen Help and Information Office..
  2. By going to Cita Prèvia .
  3. You can also phone 010 (freephone) or, if you call from outside the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, 931 537 010 (normal rates apply).

Rules

Procedure for awarding licenses
Rules on using urban allotments

The social and educational values of urban allotments

Urban allotments have enormous ecological and social value, given that they allow people to occupy their time, create new relationships and improve their quality of life with a physical activity that is positive for their health. They also bring the city environmental value and become new public green spaces where the allotment and biodiversity come to the fore.

Moreover, they serve an important educational purpose, with activities targeted at schools so that children and young people can learn about the world of farming and the principles of ecological agriculture. They also foster coexistence among different generations, since the educational activities at urban allotments facilitate interaction among children, young people, the elderly and groups at risk of social exclusion.

Useful links

Map of Barcelona’s urban allotments
Map of allotments of the Urban Agriculture Observatory
Brochure informing about the network of urban allotments

Visit the farms in the urban allotments

Can Mestres and Can Cadena farmhouses have not only gardens but also a space with farm animals with the goal of allowing Barcelona residents to learn about farm living in a traditional Catalan farmhouse. 

These farms are open to the public at weekends, and guided tours are occasionally held.