The purpose of this thesis was to create a development plan of Vasanaro garden, which is located in Vasankangas, Pikkarala, Oulu on the riverside of Oulujoki. The principal of the work was Centre of Sustainable Development of Oulu (Kestävän kehityksen keskus). Vasanaro site is in recreational use of the centre. The purpose of this development plan is to diversify Vasanaro site for job creation schemes and recreational use of the centre. The garden will be open to public as well, where one can refresh and get to know organic small-scale cultivation.

22 acres from the birch-intensive wood of the site has been cleared for the edible garden. The development plan was created according to organic cultivation methods. The employees of the Centre of Sustainable Development are responsible for implementation and maintenance of the garden. The centre employs mainly long-term unemployed and young applicants. The garden functions as an educational place for the co-operating organisations of the centre as well.

The theory part of the thesis deals with small-scale cultivation as part of sustainable development, the techniques and methods of organic gardening and gardening in recreational and rehabilitation use. The theory part brings information about the possibilities of using gardens devoted to grow useful plants in rehabilitation projects and planning of green areas. The source material consists of professional literature and magazines, theses and researches, interviews of experts and Internet-sources. Site visits, existing map-data and the fertility analysis of the site are part of the data.

As results of this thesis, a development plan and its report have been created. The report consists of construction and maintenance plan and cost estimate. The thesis was created to the use of the Centre of Sustainable Development of Oulu, but the results can also be customized for other organic small-scale cultivation projects such as home gardens, allotments and community gardens.