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.