Brussels (Brussels Morning) The municipality of Forest has received a grant of 224,000 euros from the Brussels region to set up projects related to sustainability and healthy food. With that money, vegetable and cultivation gardens will be created, the municipality will draw up an inventory of trees and a local processing center for fruit and vegetables will be built.
The Council of Aldermen of Vorst is doing its utmost to support the Brussels climate ambitions at a local level. The choice is usually made for projects that increase the quality of life in the neighbourhoods. For example, think of the ‘tiny forest’ next to the Duden Park or the rainwater network in Laag-Vorst.
High demand for vegetable gardens
Four more municipal projects are now being added, with a special focus on local food production and processing. A subsidy of 75,000 euros will go to “Atelier Sud Transformation Légumes & Fruits”, a community workshop where fruit and vegetables are processed, packaged and distributed. Not only does this create a short food chain, but the project also creates local employment. Vorst sets up the studio together with the neighboring municipality of Sint-Gillis.
In addition, there will also be two new vegetable gardens, one in the Ververijstraat at a new crèche and one at the new social residential area in the Olieslagerijlaan. The demand for vegetable gardens in Vorst is enormous. Although the municipality already has fifteen, there are still 70 residents on the waiting list. For the two vegetable gardens, Vorst is raking in a subsidy of 69,000 euros.
Another 40,000 euros will go to the already started Vegetalab project in the Bemptpark, according to BRUZZ. This is a nursery garden that produced more than 10,000 flowers and plants in 2020 and which were subsequently used to brighten up public space. Finally, Vorst also wants to draw up an inventory of its tree heritage, in order to be able to maintain and protect them better.
“Thanks to these various subsidies, we can perpetuate the interaction between city and nature”, says alderman Alain Mugabo (Ecolo). “Eating healthy and local without having to spend a lot of money and living in a pleasant and green environment: that is essential for the quality of life of all Vorstenaren.”