Allotment gardens

Allotment gardens Small gardens

which are rented to members of an allotment association

Often around large cities → recreation place

For planting fruits and vegetables

Social functions

For families: direct exposure to

nature to harvest cheap

vegetables of their own

For immigrants: socializing about 75000

allotment holders with migration background

combining people and their hobbies contrast to the crowded and noisy cities

Development First allotment

garden associations were founded in 1864

Named after Daniel Gottlob Schreber

Actually should be a playground for children

„Gardens For The Poor“ After the Industrial Revolution → food

and housing shortage Should stop the hunger crisis because

everybody can feed themselves

Allotment areas First real

allotment was intended for children and workers because of their poor health

Playground → family garden

Especially in suburbs

Allotments in World War I./II.

Great importance for self-supply

Building of cottages

or so-called arbors

Illegal occupation

Allotment Garden LawThe rules are very strict and precise

Some examples:

-You should not have hedges but if you do they have to be 1m from the boundary and not more than 1,5m high. -One third of the area has to be used for the cultivation of useful plants. -Detached house or tool shed – you can only have one of them. 

-Greenhouses should not be bigger than 2,50m long, 2m wide and 2m high.  -The allotment garden should not be bigger than 400m²

-In case of a party the marquee should not stand longer than 4 days -You are not allowed to keep animals -Midday break 1 pm-3pm and night rest 10pm – 7 am -The arbor/cottage should not have more than 24m² of base area and should not be appropriate for permanent habitation, only occasional sleepovers are allowed.

Allotment gardens in numbersIn Germany : about 1 million tenants and 5 million users in over 15 000 associations

All in all, the area covered by allotment gardens (460 qkm) is bigger than the surface of the province of Bremen

In 14 other European countries there are allotment gardens

Number of members in allotment garden associations

Belgium DenmarkGermany FinnlandFrance Great BritainLuxemburg NetherlandsNorway AustriaPoland SwedenSwitzerland Slowakia

The anual cost of an allotment garden is about 373 euros

The protection of nature and environment is the mostimportant factor for the majoritiy of the holders

97 % use rain water for the irrigation96 % do composting54 % do biological cultivating61 % renounce to artifical fertilizers82 % do not accept chemical pest control

The average age of the allotment holders is 60 years, butthe number of young families is increasing 

Youth Allotment Garden Association

Nearly everywhere in Germany but also verygood international connections

In the foreground : Fun, education, boundlesscontacs/friendships, reasonable free timeoccupation, international exchanges betweenthe young allotment holders.