Everyday Urbanism in Lithuanian towns: the case of old community gardens in Grigiškės and Plungė

This paper examines old community gardens as an example of Everyday Urbanism in two small Lithuanian towns. While academic interest in newly created community gardens in Central and Eastern European countries is growing, old community gardens remain largely absent from academic discourse. To analyse the social and spatial factors essential to their development in Grigiškės and Plungė, scientific literature, statistical data and land use maps from socialist period master plans were used. Additionally, contemporary master plans and other urban planning documents were analysed, alongside interviews, to discuss the current context of old community gardens and explore their potential future trajectories. The results indicate that old community gardens were established during the socialist period, primarily due to the rural backgrounds of new urban residents. These gardens were created informally on vacant land next to blocks of flats, land that has remained undeveloped to this day due to multiple factors throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Although they are not officially recognised, the future development of old community gardens in Grigiškės and Plungė may differ based on varying attitudes from local government and their specific locations. These gardens exemplify the diverse and informal nature of Everyday Urbanism, highlighting the need for a more flexible approach to their preservation and integration into urban planning.