Brazil’s Urban Edges Grow Food & Environmental Education

Community groups and organizations across the peripheries of São Paulo and its metropolitan region are combining environmental education, community mobilization, and practical solutions to address the climate crisis. Former landfills are being transformed into community gardens that feed families, and projects are underway to combat deforestation and illegal urbanization. Agência Mural highlighted four collectives working directly with local populations to lessen climate impact and advance environmental awareness.

The Coletivo das Marias, founded by Maria Edilene, converted a São Paulo dumping ground into a community garden supplying 72 families with agroecological produce. Meanwhile, Preservar Ambiental, an NGO in Itapecerica da Serra, runs the “Conexión Naturaleza” project in four schools, teaching students about climate change, water sources, and waste management.

In Guarulhos, the Cursillo Comunitario das Pimentas integrates food production with education, maintaining gardens, an apiary, and a recycling program that funds student scholarships. These initiatives demonstrate a shift in perspective, connecting residents with nature and fostering sustainable practices.