Gardening in the city

There are many different places in Helsinki where people can grow crops. The urban farming, food plant and allotment garden farming, and summer lodge areas are recreation areas open to everyone. You are allowed to walk on the routes and other public areas in these places.
Auringonkukkaviljelmä lämpimässä valossa. Etualalla näkyy iso auringonkukka ja kuvan taka-alalla kaupunkimiljöö.
Sunflower farm Photo: Maria Nordlund, Dodo ry

Food plant allotments, garden allotments and summer lodges

The city rents out areas to associations for use as food plant allotments, garden allotments and summer lodges. Associations rent individual plots, allotments or summer lodges to Helsinki residents. Enquire about available plots, allotments or summer lodges directly from the associations.

The urban farming, food plant and allotment garden farming and summer lodge areas are recreation areas open to everyone. You are allowed to walk on the routes and other public areas in these places. However, plots and cottages with yard areas are the tenants' private area, so their privacy must be respected. You can also walk outside the routes in the summer lodge areas. The summer lodges do not have their own larger yard area, and the area is not intended for cultivation.

Vehreä viljelypalsta-alue, jossa näkyy puita, pensaita ja nurmikkoa.
Korppaanpuisto allotment. Photo: Hemmo Rättyä

The city rents out allotment areas for the care of district or allotment farmers' associations. You can enquire about available allotments directly from the associations. Further information on the use of allotments can also be found in the instructions for the use and management of the City of Helsinki’s allotments.

Food plant allotments on a map(Link leads to external service)

Instructions for the use and management of the City of Helsinki’s allotments (pdf)(Link leads to external service)

Instructions for the use and management of the City of Helsinki’s allotments (pdf, Russian)(Link leads to external service)

Instructions on combating harmful invasive alien species (pdf)(Link leads to external service)

Instructions on combating harmful invasive alien species (Russian, pdf)(Link leads to external service)

Instructions on combating harmful invasive alien species (Arabic, pdf)(Link leads to external service)

Associations renting out allotments

Aarnikanmäki Aarnikanmäki

Association Rapakivenkujan palstaviljelijät ry. Erkki Laukkanen, erkki.laukkanen@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)

Annala, Vanhakaupunki, Hämeentie 154

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Arabia, Syyriankatu

Association Toukolan-Vanhankaupungin yhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Elontie, Pakila, Elontien päässä

Association Elontien palstaviljelijät ry, elontienpalstat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program)

Fallbacka, Kurkimoisionpuisto, Tankovainiontie

Association Vuosaari-seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Fallkulla, Fallkullan kartano, Malminkaari

Association Fallkullan palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Haaga, Ohjaajantie

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Herttoniemi, hyppyrimäki

Association Herttoniemi-seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Honkasuo, Perhosniitty

Association Honkasuon asukasyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Itäväylä, Mellunmäki, Yllästunturinkuja

Association LC Helsinki/Vartiokylä ry, leijonapalstat@elisanet.fi(Link opens default mail program), p. 0400 497 633

Kartanonhaka, Malminkartano, Kartanonkaari

Association Kartanonhaan palstaviljelijät ry, kartanonhaka@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program), p. 040 0208 667

Kivihaka, Kivihaantie, SPR:n takana

Association Kivihaan viljelijät ry, palstat.kivihaanviljelijat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program), p. 050 301 8134

Kivinokka, Kulosaaren kartano

Association Kulomaa ry, kulomaanpalstat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program)

Korpas, Niemenmäki, Korppaanpuisto

Association Korppaan palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Kumpula, Jyrängöntie ja Limingantie

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Kuninkaantammi, Taidemaalarinpuisto

Association Kuninkaantammen Kyläyhdistys (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Laajasalo, Stansvik, Villbergskanpalstat

Stansvikin kesämajalaiset ry

Lapinlahden viljelyspalstat, Lapinlahti

Association Pro Lapinlahti - Lappviken ry(Link leads to external service)

Lassila, Niitynperäntie

Association Lassilan palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Malmi, Karviaismäki

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Maunulanpuisto, Pirkkolantie

Association Maunulanpuiston palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Meilahti, Meilahdentie

Association Meilahden palstaviljelijät ry, meikun.palstat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program), p. 040 048 8099

Mustikkasuo, Mellunkylä, Linnanpelto

Association Mustikkasuon palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Nummisuutarinpuisto, Laaksopolku

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Oulunkylä, Myllypellontien päässä

Association Ogelin plantaasit ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Pakila, Pakilan rantatie

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Pasila, Tenholanpolku

Association Pasilan palstaviljelijät ry, pasilanpalstat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program)

Pikku Huopalahden puisto

Association Tilkan palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Pihlajamäki, Rapakivenkuja 5

Association Rapakivenkujan palstaviljelijät ry. Erkki Laukkanen, erkki.laukkanen@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)

Porslahden puisto, Vuosaari

Association  Vuosaari-seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Pukinmäki, Pukinmäenkaari

Association Pukinmäki-seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Puotila, Juorumäki, Puotilantie

Association Puotila-seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Rekitie, Mellunkylä

Association Rekitien palstaviljelijäyhdistys ry, p. 044 237 4192 (sihteeri)

Savela, Savelantie

Association Savelan palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Suutarila, Kiertotähdenkuja

Association Kiertoviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Siltakylän rantapuisto

Association Siltakylän viljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Suursuo

Association Suursuon Palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service) suursuon.palstaviljelijat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program)

Talinlehto, Tali, Talin puistotie

Association Talinlehdon palstaviljelijät ry, talinlehdonpalstat@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program)

Tapulikaupunki, Moisionpolku

Association Hyötykasviyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Toimela, Munkkiniemi, Rakuunantie

Association Toimelan palstapuutarhayhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Torpparinmäki, Käräjätuvankuja ja Näsinojankuja

Association Paloheinä-Torpparimäki kaupunginosayhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Tullisaari, Laajasalo

Association Laajasalo - Degerö Seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Uutela, Vuosaari, Uutelantie

Association Helsingin työväenopiston opistolaisyhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Vartiosaari

Association Vartiosaari-seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Viikki, Vadelmakallion viljelypalstat

Association Viikki-Seura ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Viikki, Viikinojanpuiston viljelypalstat

Association Myllypuron palstaviljelijät ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

A cream-coloured summer lodge in a lush landscape.
Summer lodge in Länsiulapanniemi. Photo: Hemmo Rättyä

Allotment gardens

Associations rent allotment garden areas from the city. The city has rented out the areas until the end of 2026. You can enquire about available allotment garden spots directly from the associations. Contact details can be found on the website of the Federation of Finnish Allotment Gardens.

Federation of Finnish Allotment Gardens(Link leads to external service)

Summer lodges

The city has rented out the land plots to associations responsible for summer lodge operations. 

Hanskinen, Sipoo

Hanskisen mökkiläiset ry, Helsingin Kala- ja Erätoverit ry

Kivinokka

Kartanon kesämajat ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)  

Kivinokkalaiset ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Helsingin Ponnistus ry (in Finnish) (Link leads to external service)

Lammassaari

Raittiusyhdistys Koitto ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Lauttasaari, Länsiulapanniemi

HKL:n henkilökunnan kesämajayhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Poliisimajalaiset ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Sotainvalidien kesämajayhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Lauttasaari, Särkiniemi-Veijarivuori

Särkiniemen mökkiläiset ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Satamasaari

Satamasaarelaiset ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Stansvik

Stansvikin kesämajalaiset ry

Vasikkasaari

vasikkasaari.helsinki@gmail.com(Link opens default mail program)

Varis- ja pitkäluoto

Helsingin pelastuslaitoksen kesäkotiyhdistys ry

Varsasaari, Espoo

Varsasaari-yhdistys ry (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)

Kaupunkiviljelypalsta Malminkartanossa
Pop-up community farming in Malmikartano in 2023. Photo: Tuomas Ilander

The city offers its residents the opportunity to participate in temporary community farming, which is open to all and includes a gardener who guides residents in urban farming. The community garden confirmed for summer 2024:

Urban plant farming areas

Associations and communities can rent land from the city for small-scale urban farming. In urban farming, plants are grown in containers, pallets, sacks or small plots. Individual citizens can directly contact farming associations or establish their own community for urban farming.

A small plot area refers to an area where individuals cultivate their own plot of land of a few square metres. A community farm, on the other hand, is a larger unified area that is managed and harvested by a group of people together.

Stages of setting up a small plot or community farm in brief

  1. Assemble a group of farmers. Who would like to be involved in farming?
  2. Define the responsible organisation. Contracts for land owned by the city are concluded only with associations, not with private individuals.
  3. Designating the contact person. A contact person is needed between the farmers' responsible organisation and the city.
  4. Choosing how to organise the farm. Ground rules and communication.
  5. Selection of the location of the plot, either from the urban farming areas designated by the city, or from a location proposed by the organisation (requires a suitability check and approval by the city).
  6. Rental agreement for the farm. Renting land or water areas for short-term operations
  7. Establishment and management of the farm.

In the Viljellään kaupungissa guide (2022, in Finnish), you will find more detailed instructions and tips for establishing community and small plot farms in Helsinki. In addition, the guide contains urban farming areas defined by the city, from which it is possible to rent planting sites.

Viljellään kaupungissa guide (in Finnish)

Urban farm with a rock-lined planters and growing bags in a grassy area established in an asphalt area.
Urban farming area Photo: Pinja Sipari, Dodo ry

Community eco gardens are part of Helsinki's participatory budgeting, OmaStadi 2020-2021. In Omastadi residents can suggest and vote on projects concerning Helsinki.

In the summer of 2023, gardening boxes will be brought to 12 different playgrounds. Gardening boxes can be reserved for free by city residents (reservation and additional information directly from the playgrounds).

Community eco gardens' web page(Link leads to external service)