The La Talaverona Urban Gardens are reopening to residents of Las Rozas with a new call for applications. The City Council, through the Department of the Environment, has launched the application process so that interested residents can request the use of one of these organic plots located at the La Talaverona Environmental Center.
This municipal program is part of the local sustainability and environmental education strategy , which promotes the use of organic gardens as a practical tool to encourage responsible consumption, the circularity of resources, and a form of leisure linked to respect for the environment. In addition to growing vegetables, the program aims to involve participants in a more environmentally friendly agricultural model.
What are the Urban Gardens of La Talaverona?
The urban garden project in La Talaverona, Las Rozas , is conceived as a recreational and educational activity. It's not just about having a small plot of land to plant in, but about offering residents a way to revive traditional agricultural practices adapted to an urban environment, while simultaneously strengthening environmental awareness and community participation.
These urban gardens are presented as a leisure and cultural alternative linked to sustainable development . The idea is that people who obtain a plot can learn to produce food organically, reducing waste, using water responsibly , and respecting natural cycles, all within a public space prepared for this purpose.
In total, the City Council is making 66 individual allotments available to the public . Each one is designed as a self-contained unit, intended to allow any user to easily manage their own growing space without needing to install any additional equipment.
Each module includes a manual water pump, sink, and tool shed , as well as a usable area of ​​7,68 square meters per plot. This size is geared towards domestic and hobbyist use, sufficient for an individual or family to practice local organic gardening without requiring extensive infrastructure.
An important part of the project is its inclusive dimension: the City Council reserves seven allotments specifically for people with disabilities . This quota aims to ensure more equitable access to the program and that these residents have the same opportunities to enjoy gardening and its social and therapeutic benefits.
Who can apply for an urban garden in La Talaverona
The call for applications is open to residents registered in the municipality of Las Rozas who wish to access one of the urban gardens at the La Talaverona Environmental Center. The plots are granted to individuals and are therefore not intended for companies or other private entities.
To participate in the process, interested parties must submit their application electronically through the City Council's online portal. In-person applications and other registration channels are not accepted, meaning the entire process must be completed online within the deadlines set by the City Council.
The application period remains open until December 31st . Those who do not complete the process before that date will be excluded from the application process and will have to wait for a future opening of spaces if they wish to apply for a municipal urban garden plot.
The City Council emphasizes that these allotments are intended as an opportunity for residents to begin or deepen their knowledge of organic gardening , regardless of their prior experience. Plot allocation does not require specific technical skills, as the program itself includes mandatory training.
Mandatory organic horticulture course
One of the conditions for enjoying the plot is completing an organic horticulture course . This course will be organized directly by the Las Rozas City Council and is aimed at all those who are awarded an urban garden plot in La Talaverona.
Participants will have a maximum of three months from the date of authorization to complete this training. The goal is for all users to acquire basic knowledge of ecological techniques, responsible water management, proper tool use, and environmental responsibility.
This training requirement is considered a key part of the proposal, as it ensures that the management of the plots adheres to environmental criteria and that the entire set of gardens maintains a common line in terms of good practices, both in soil care and in coexistence among users.
Furthermore, the course allows people with no prior experience in agriculture to start farming with greater confidence , reducing common mistakes and making it easier for them to achieve better results in their first planting and harvesting cycles.
Application process, lists and draws
Once the application period has ended, the Las Rozas City Council will publish a provisional list of accepted and rejected applicants . This document will include all applicants, as well as any issues found in their documentation.
Following this initial publication, a 15-day period will open for interested parties to submit claims or correct any errors or missing documents. This step is crucial for those who wish to ensure their application is properly registered.
Once the appeals and reviews have been resolved, the City Council will publish the final list of accepted applications . Each applicant will receive a participation number on this list, which they will use to enter the plot allocation lottery, along with the date and time of the lottery.
Allotments are not allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, but rather through two separate lotteries . The first lottery is exclusively for allotments reserved for people with disabilities, thus ensuring that this specific quota is assigned to those who meet this requirement.
The second draw then takes place and includes the remaining available plots , which are allocated to all applicants who have been accepted onto the final list. In this way, access to the allotments is distributed transparently and randomly, following a public and previously announced procedure.
Duration of authorizations and possible extensions
Those who obtain a plot in the La Talaverona Urban Gardens will receive a usage permit with an initial validity of two years . The usage period begins on March 1, 2026, the reference date specified in the municipal announcement.
Once that period has ended, the City Council reserves the right to extend the authorizations for a maximum of another two years , provided that a new call for applications reorganizing the use of the plots has not been published. This extension is not automatic: it is subject to the municipal decision and the conditions established at any given time.
During the validity period, users must respect the rules for using the urban garden , which usually include aspects such as access times, the type of materials authorized, the cleaning of common areas and respect for other gardeners and the environment of the La Talaverona Environmental Center.
The fact that the authorizations have a time limit seeks to facilitate the rotation of places and give new residents interested in participating an opportunity, keeping the project alive and preventing the same people from monopolizing the available modules indefinitely.
Where to find more information and how to follow the process
All information regarding the call for applications for the La Talaverona Urban Gardens in Las Rozas is available on the official website of the City Council at www.lasrozas.es. The municipal portal details the required documentation, deadlines, and instructions for submitting the application online.
The provisional and final lists will also be published on the same website , along with notices regarding claims, draw dates, and any extensions or modifications to the program. Those interested should check these channels frequently to avoid missing any key deadlines.
With this program, the Las Rozas City Council reinforces its commitment to environmental education, community participation, and small-scale organic gardening. The La Talaverona Urban Gardens are becoming established as a space for learning, growing, and sharing, while promoting a more responsible consumption model and a more direct relationship between citizens and their natural environment.
