A local triumph demonstrating the power of communities to collaborate and drive real change—even on a global scale!
Tel Aviv, November 2024. Excited and proud to share that the Tel Chubez Agricultural Farm and the Lira Shapira initiative, have been awarded a commendation at the Future Green City World Congress held in Utrecht, Netherlands.
The project was selected alongside six other cities for its unique model that bridges urban sustainability with community engagement that encourages a sustainable urban lifestyle.
Ruth Molcho, represented Lira Shapira at the congress: “Receiving this award was especially moving, as we realized that our small initiative at the Shapira neighborhood was gaining global recognition.”
Lira Shapira is a green local currency that rewards residents for separating organic waste for compost, to enrich the farm’s crops. The currency fosters community ties and encourages support for local businesses. For every kilogram of organic waste separated and processed, residents receive one Lira, which can be spent at local businesses—thus not only protecting the environment but also strengthening the local economy and community.
The initiative is operated by local residents from the Shapira neighborhood in collaboration with the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality’s Environmental and Sustainability Authority.
Tel Chubez is an urban agricultural farm located in the Shapira operating on principles of a circular economy. This vacant city land was transformed three years ago into a farm, providing residents with a green, productive space within the City, increasing wellness and access to fresh and healthy food while strengthening community resilience and increasing biodiversity.
Further information about the Initiative Tel Chubez and Lira Shapira:
Tel Aviv–Yafo is constantly growing with massive construction and infrastructure projects. Preserving urban nature and connecting residents to it, maintaining and increasing the quality of life in this intense urban growth are significant challenges. Shapira neighborhood is located in the southern part of the City. In addition to the urban renewal phases, it has been identified as a vulnerable neighborhood in the climate change era dealing with more extreme heat waves and potential floods.
The initiative was led by activists who engaged the municipality and local businesses. The vision to connect people to the land, the environment and each other exceeded expectations. Residents and businesses separate their organic waste and deliver it to community composting sites. In exchange, they receive ‘Lira Shapira,’ a local currency accepted at neighborhood businesses, community centers, individual freelance, and more. The residents can buy fresh vegetables growing at Tel Chubez with Lira Shapira. The compost returns to the farm to enrich the soil and plants. The farm, occupying four dunams, is being maintained by city employees, Lira Shapira NGO and volunteers. The cultivation method incorporates principles from permaculture and Biodynamics without any pesticides, focusing on growing local species following the seasons and a variety of over 60 fruit trees and local wildflowers that create an ecological system and habitat for birds and insects. The farm includes workshop plots where courses and training sessions are held to transfer the practices to participants’ yards to improve biodiversity and attract butterflies and honeybees.
Tel Chubez was included in the City Urban Nature Sites Index, together with 100 more sites. It is on the infrastructure layer, and future planning will have to avoid violating the area, as it has become an anchor for future urban green belts.
Tel Chubez became a green anchor for residents, plants and animals within a relatively short time. A model for collaboration internally in the municipality and externally with non-profits and businesses working together to build a new nature-based platform where environmental, social, economic and health positively impact.
Attached are images for free use, with photo credit to: Lira Shapira, Green Local Currency
Lira Shapira, Green Local Currency
Lira Shapira, Green Local Currency
Lira Shapira, Green Local Currency
Lira Shapira, Green Local Currency