This paper offers an approach for the analysis of self-cultivation - as we define it - developed mainly by migrants who resorted to self-building during the twentieth century in Barcelona, Spain. Self-cultivation - as the object of study - fulfilled nutritional, ornamental, constructive, environmental, energetic, sanitary, and handcrafting functions, and most probably helped to improve the resilience of migrant communities in their transit between the rural world and the city. The evolving condition as well as the connecting migrant situation between factors such as origin, social class, and gender place this research in a privileged setting to observe social practices, especially with regards to plans and projects on urban ecosystem infrastructure based on greater social inclusiveness. Through the definition of the key factors for this investigation a proposition for the methodology to be developed is outlined, and also a sample of its application.