Community Garden
The Community Garden at Nova SBE is the DESIS Lab flagship program.
It exemplifies our commitment to long-term impact by creating positive change in the community our campus was built in and developing collaborative relationships with local residents.
Our vision
The vision for the Community Garden is one of a living lab, a vibrant space where diverse groups (NOVA SBE students, staff, faculty, and residents) can engage in activities promoting well-being, human and nature connection, as well as the understanding and preservation of the land. What started as a seed in 2023 has blossomed into a co-creative project rooted in permaculture, collaboration and shared care.
To learn more about how it all came to life and the people involved, make sure to check our video below.
About & Philosophy
The garden was born from a desire to build bridges between the university and its neighbourhood, between people and the land, between action and reflection. What began as an idea proposed by a student – Johanna Pfeffer – quickly became a shared vision embraced by the DESIS Lab @Nova SBE, committed individuals, and local partners. Since then, the garden has grown into a space of belonging, learning and regeneration.
We base our work on the ethics of permaculture: care for the earth, care for people, and fair share. Inspired by the idea of “intentional adaptation” from adrienne maree brown, we embrace a fluid, collaborative, and human-centred way of living: one where the garden is shaped by us and shapes us in return.Here, we believe that nurturing soil can also nurture solidarity, that growing food can grow connections, and that permaculture is not just agriculture, but community design.
Activities Community Garden
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Open Garden Morning Thursdays
February 19, 2026
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Open Garden Morning Thursdays
March 05, 12, 19, 26
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Pollinator Flower Bed Prep Activity
March 14
Open Garden Morning Thursdays
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Guardians Day - Harvesting and Planting
April 18
Planting workshop with local families group
April 22
Open Garden Morning Thursdays
May 7, 14, 21, 28
Open Garden Day
May 16
Open Garden Morning Thursdays
June 4, 11, 18
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Open Garden Morning
June 27
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Garden activity with Mastercard Company
July 17
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First Plantation of the Semester
February 15
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Designing our First Space Together
March 8
Let's Co-create our Activities Plan for the Semester
March 22
Trees’ Planting Session
April 26
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Hydroponic Planting at Home Workshop
May 13
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Build of the First Planting Area Phase I
May 17
Yoga in the Community Garden & Build of the First Planting Area
Phase 1May 31
Mushroom Kit at home with Nam
June 3
Discovery Week | Garden Creators
August 29
Participation Conversaccino Community Garden 7
September 17
Communitary Shelter Construction
September 22 -27
Open Garden with volunteers (ideation workshop for the garden)
October 10
Open Garden with volunteers (planting and caring)
October 25
Mushroom Cultivation KIT with Nãm Mushrooms
November 03
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Activity with Fundação Liga
November 07
Propagation Activity
November 15
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Ideation Workshop: Analysing community wishes & making them visible
February
Yoga and Health Snacks Sharing
July 8
Guardians of the Garden: Activity for 3rd graders from local school
July 6
Storytelling & Nature Workshop
October 12
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Collaboration with Forest Impact: Yoga, Miyawaki Forest cleaning, Treasure Hunt and Picnic
October 13
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Creation of our Herbarium
October 27
Garden Cleaning & First Seeding
November 9
Maternity Construction
& Planting SessionNovember 30
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Winter Solstice Celebration
December 21
Watercolour in/with nature (prototype)
October
Mushroom Kit at home with Nam (prototype)
November
How to Get Involved
We welcome everyone! Whether you’re a curious neighbour, a student, a gardener, an artist, or just someone who wants to connect with the soil and community. You can:
Join a Workshop or Activity
Check our upcoming events and join planting days, yoga classes, permaculture or art workshops. No previous experience required. Check out all our activities below.
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Propose a Project or Idea
Have an idea for a nature-based project, experiment, art installation, or community event? Pitch it and we’ll co-create, we’re open to collaborations. contact us through our e-mail below.
Advisory Board
In 2026, the Community Garden at Nova SBE have officially integrated in its governance an Advisory Board that includes representatives of the different stakeholders.
Representatives of the DESIS Lab
Anne-Laure Fayard – Professor of Social Innovation and Organization Studies and DESIS Lab coordinator
Beatriz Bento – DESIS Lab Fellow and Community Garden Project Lead
Representatives of the Guardians
Cristina Afonso – Guardian and Nova SBE staff
Ned Dwyer – Guardian and local resident
Representatives of Nova SBE students
Nova Growth Club
Representatives of Nova SBE leadership and organization
Miguel Alves Martins – Assistant Dean
Miguel Pina e Cunha – Professor and Vice Dean for Innovation & Impact
Rita Aragão Ramos – Chief Sustainability Officer
Vera Pinto – Head of Community Engagement
Representative of Cascais Municipality
Nova Growth Club
Acknowledgements & Partners
We want to thank all individuals and organisations that support the garden from local neighbours and volunteers to institutional partners, for believing in a shared vision of care, community, and sustainability.
Our guardians
Alessia
Carmel Sharkey
Cristina Afonso
José Marreiros
José Vegar
Ned Dweyer
Rogério Ferraz