El solar de la 65: Community Garden and Living Memory

El solar de la 65: When the Concrete of Aranjuez Learned to Grow Tomatoes

On a corner of Aranjuez, the smell of wet earth overpowers the noise of the buses on 65th Street. It's not a park or an abandoned lot; it's a vacant plot that a group of neighbors has transformed into a community garden, a vibrant corner that feels like an oasis amid buildings, auto repair shops, and corner stores.

If you take a stroll along Calle 65, between Carrera 50 and 55, you'll come across guadua baskets, plastic bottles reused as planters, and you'll see the neighborhood women in hats picking cilantro in the early morning. This is the heart of the community garden of la 65, a project that not only grows food but also trust among neighbors.

This text is for those who want to know how this place works, who its protagonists are, what activities take place, and how they can join in. It's also for those coming from outside — foreigners, students, curious visitors — who want to see a Medellín that doesn't appear in the postcards of El Poblado. September 2026 is a good time to talk about this, because the project is still alive, still open, and still needs hands.

Context: Aranjuez, a Neighborhood Built by Sheer Effort

Aranjuez is one of those neighborhoods the city knows by name, but few visit intentionally. Located in the northeastern zone of Medellín, between the river and the hills that rise toward Manrique and Santa Cruz, it was born as a working-class neighborhood in the mid-20th century. Here, families built their homes with exposed brick and an effort that can be felt in every corner.

Today, Aranjuez is a dense fabric of two- and three-story houses, workshops, bakeries, stationery shops, evangelical churches, and corner stores that have been on the same corner for decades. Calle 65 is one of its main arteries, a bustling road where buses, motorcycles, and cargo trucks pass through. In the midst of that traffic, the garden plot presents itself as a breath of fresh air.

There's no need to idealize the neighborhood. Aranjuez faces problems typical of any working-class sector of Medellín: intermittent insecurity, trash on some corners, and that feeling that public investment always arrives late. But it also has a robust community life, with active juntas de acción comunal, youth collectives, and senior groups, plus this agroecological experiment that gives the area its identity.

What to Do at the Garden and Its Surroundings

The garden is not a theme park or a tourist destination. It's a community space where work happens, and the best way to experience it is by participating. However, there are several activities you can enjoy if you decide to visit.

Planting and Harvesting Days

Saturday mornings are the busiest days. Neighbors gather to plant, transplant, weed, or harvest depending on the season. They grow things that do well in the city's climate: cilantro, scallions, lettuce, radish, chard, spinach, and some herbs like mint and basil, plus tomatoes and beans on occasion. The idea is not to produce in large volumes, but to demonstrate that in an urban plot you can harvest food for the family pot.

If you arrive without experience, don't worry. No one here will demand that you know how to prune or identify pests. They explain things to you, lend you tools, and put you to work on something. The rule is clear: whoever arrives, works; whoever works, learns.

Agroecology and Composting Workshops

Periodically, open workshops are organized on specific topics: how to make compost from kitchen waste, prepare organic fertilizers, control pests without poison, and make seedbeds in plastic bottles. These workshops are free or by voluntary contribution, and are announced through social media and word of mouth in the neighborhood.

The approach is simple: no agrochemicals. They work with organic matter, crop association, and biological control. Here, agroecology is applied in a neighborhood plot, without theoretical complications.

Barter Exchanges and Community Markets

Another recurring activity is bartering: people bring what they have — seeds, seedlings, garden vegetables, homemade preserves, bread — and exchange it without money. Sometimes, farmers' markets or fairs are organized where producers from nearby townships like Santa Elena or San Cristóbal participate, and where the garden sells its harvest at popular prices.

These spaces are a magnet for agroecology students and environmental activists, because they show an alternative economy working on a small scale.

Cleanup and Space Recovery Days

The plot wasn't always clean. Before it was a garden, it was a lot full of debris and weeds, and according to the neighbors, a gathering point for things not worth mentioning. Recovering it took cleanup days, garbage collection, land leveling, and building cultivation beds with recycled materials.

That work hasn't finished. From time to time, days are called to maintain the space: collecting leaves, repairing fences, fixing the baskets, and painting signs. These activities are open and are, perhaps, the best entry point for those who want to get to know the project without committing immediately.

Junta de Acción Comunal de Aranjuez

The JAC of Aranjuez is one of the most active community organizations in the sector. It has managed stormwater channeling works, maintenance of public spaces, and coordination with City Hall programs. Its relationship with the garden has been variable: sometimes supportive, sometimes tense, as usually happens in neighborhoods where formal structures and autonomous collectives coexist.

To understand the organizational life of Aranjuez, the JAC is a key reference point. It has a website and social media presence, where they publish announcements, meetings, and neighborhood activities. If you live in the area and want to get involved in something beyond the garden, it's worth approaching their meetings.

Parque Biblioteca España

Although it's in the Santo Domingo Savio neighborhood, in the Popular district, Parque Biblioteca España is a cultural reference for the entire northeastern zone. Its architecture — three buildings shaped like black rocks designed by Giancarlo Mazzanti — is iconic, and its programming includes workshops, film screenings, a library, and activities for children and youth.

It's not next to the garden, but if you're visiting Aranjuez and want to complete the day with something cultural, it's a stop worth making. You can take the metro to Santo Domingo station and then take the metrocable or a bus.

Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe

The Jardín Botánico is another space that connects with the spirit of the garden. Located in downtown Medellín, near the Universidad metro station, it has plant collections, a butterfly garden, an herbarium, and environmental education programs. For those working in agroecology, it's a useful visit to learn about native species and learn about food sovereignty initiatives developed in the city.

Admission is affordable and there are free access days for specific audiences. I recommend checking schedules and rates before going, as they change depending on the season and programming.

Museo de Antioquia

If you're more interested in history and culture, the Museo de Antioquia, downtown, houses a significant collection of Antioquian and Colombian art, including works by Fernando Botero. Although it has no direct relation to the garden, it's part of the cultural circuit that any visitor to Medellín should consider, helping to understand the context of the city where projects like this exist.

Where to Eat and Drink Near the Garden

The garden doesn't have a restaurant or café. What there is around it is the typical neighborhood offering: corner stores, bakeries, grill spots, fried food stands, and set meals at popular prices. Here you won't find an author's menu, but you will find honest and affordable food.

On weekends, when there's a work day, it's common for participants to bring something to share: arepas, fruit, coffee in a thermos, panela water. That is, in practice, the best food in the place: the food shared after work.

If you want to eat in the area, look for the grill spots and set meal places along Calle 65 and its surroundings. Reference prices in September 2026 for a set lunch are usually between $15,000 and $25,000 COP, although this varies by establishment. For more elaborate options, Medellín's dining scene is concentrated in other areas like El Poblado or Laureles, but that's another trip.

A practical recommendation: if you go to the garden on a Saturday, bring water and something to snack on. The work is physical and the Medellín sun doesn't forgive.

How to Get There and Transportation

Aranjuez is well connected to the rest of Medellín. Here are some options:

• Metro: the nearest station is Hospital, on Line A. From there, you can walk north along Carrera 51 or take a feeder bus up toward Aranjuez.
• Metroplús: there are routes that pass through the northeastern zone and connect with downtown and other sectors of the city.
• City bus: several routes go up Calle 65 and Carrera 50. Ask the driver if it passes through Aranjuez before getting on.
• Taxi or app: it's the most comfortable option if you're going for the first time and don't know the neighborhood. From downtown, the trip is short and inexpensive.
• Bicycle: the area has some bike lanes, but traffic on Calle 65 is heavy. If you go by bike, wear a helmet and choose alternate routes.

Once in the neighborhood, the garden is on Calle 65. Ask any neighbor for "la huerta" or "el solar" and they'll point you in the right direction. It's a well-known space in the area.

Local Tips

• Wear clothes that can get dirty. This is not a museum visit. If you're going to participate, be prepared to sweat and get stained.
• Bring a cap, sunscreen, and water. The Medellín sun is strong, even on cloudy days.
• Ask before taking photos. The garden is a community space, not a set. Most people don't mind, but it's good manners to ask permission.
• Don't go with expectations of a "tourist experience." This is community work. If you arrive with curiosity and willingness to help, you'll be well received. But if you only come to look and record, you probably #
• Talk to people. The neighborhood's memory is in conversations, not on signs. Older neighbors tell stories you won't find in any book.
• If you're going to donate, ask what's needed. Sometimes tools, seeds, or specific materials are needed. Other times, what's missing is people. Don't bring things that weren't requested.
• Respect the collective's agreements. Every community garden has its rules, explicit or # Ask how things work before assuming.
• Go