News from the Office

Hyphen 55 News from the Office

Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux association sans but lucratif | spring 2014 Hyphen 55 | 2015 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of contents:

Leading article Specialist gardening advice today and tomorrow is the topic of the Office International’s work during the period 2014–2016 3

In memoriam 3 good friends left us forever 5

Activity report Activity report 2014 6

Decision protocol Decision protocol of the general statutory assembly held in Luxembourg on 27th and 28th February, 2015 9

Diplomas The allotment garden site “Nieuwe Levenskracht” has received the diploma for an ecological gardening 11 The association “Tuinenpark ons Buiten” from Utrecht has received the diploma for an ecological gardening 13 The allotment garden site “Park Groenewoud” in Utrecht, member of the allotment association “De Hoge Weide” has received the diploma for innovative projects. 15 The Allotment site Vallila in Helsinki has received the diploma for innovative projects 17

Actuality theme Brief overview on development and changing popularity trends of allotment gardens in Latvian cities. 19 The allotment garden movement in South Korea: The federation of allotment gardeners in Baden-Württemberg supports this development 23

The social engagement of the allotment gardeners Square-shaped allotment gardens of the Fontaine d‘Ouche district in Dijon 25 Encounters between allotment gardeners in NADESHDA and North Rhine-Westphalia Learning together to preserve the creation 27

Informations from the federations Switzerland: Allotment gardens – Bio gardens: Measures to promote making urban spaces greener 30 Netherlands: Self-managed garden brightens Amsterdam’s warehouse district 33 France: From allotment gardens to community gardens 36

News from the federations 41 Addresses 43 Impressum 44

Hyphen 55 | 2015 2 LEADING ARTICLE

Specialist gardening advice today and tomorrow is the topic of the Office International’s work during the period 2014–2016 Peter Paschke, president of Bundesverband Deutscher Gartenfreunde e.V. (Central federation of allotment gardens

In German allotment garden federa- To implement this mission, all allot- tions and associations, specialist ad- ment garden associations must have vice is and remains one of our main volunteers (experts) with the required missions, allowing us to comply with technical training. That is why the the public utility aspect of the allot- Bundesverband Deutscher Garten ment garden movement. freunde e.V. (Central federation of allotment gardens) aimed at training un- The topic of “gardening advice” is al- til 2015 a total of 5,000 new experts. ready discussed at length in our legal Training specialists is a big task, and framework, i.e. the Bundeskleingar- the regional federations will play a tengesetz (German federal law on al- major part. lotment gardens). Article 2 § 1 of the federal law states that: In fact, the regional federations or- ganise intensive training programmes “An allotment garden association is in order to train experts, particularly recognised as a public utility organi- around the following topics: sation by the region’s competent au- • Environmentally friendly gardens. thorities if it is subscribed to the regis- • Mulching instead of intensive ter of associations, undergoes regular ploughing. management control and if its statutes • Appropriate nutrition for plants. stipulate that: • Using humus in the garden. • Correct composting. 1. The association’s sole or principal • Gardening by rotating plants. aim is to stimulate the allotment • Growing vegetables that are suita- garden movement and to provide ble for the location. technical help to its members; • Growing fruits that are suitable for 2. Revenue is specifically used for the location. activities tied to the allotment • Careful selection of ornamental gardens and plants and shrubs that are suitable 3. If the association is dissolved, its for the location in order to guaran- assets are used for activities relat- tee a garden respecting nature. ing to allotment gardens.” • Using water in a way that is adapted to the needs of the garden. The legal stipulation of providing gar- • Supporting auxiliary organisms dening advice to members means through the lay-out of the gardens that the allotment garden associations and growing a variety of plants. and federations must create condi- • Getting to know what causes dam- tions that allow them to meet this re- age. quirement. • Plant protection in the garden.

Hyphen 55 | 2015 3 LEADING ARTICLE

• The association’s bulletin board: each month gardening advice is here available for member gardeners. • Information containing the latest news, e.g. about the latest causes of damage and ways to fight against parasites. • Factsheets presenting specific themes in a brief and clear way (e.g. factsheets from the central allotment garden federation (BDG)). • Information boards, e.g. in educational and specialist gardens, providing recommendations for select- ing species suitable for allotment gardens. • Series of slides, videos and Power- Point presentations as visual support to communicate around speci fic topics. • Managing educational and thematic gardens in the associations, e.g. • Orchards with fruit and berry trees • Aromatic gardens Conveying these topics comprehen- • Potato gardens sively requires a high number of train- • Gardens designed for giving spe- ing days. These can be organised in cialist gardening advice etc. different ways in the regional federa- • Competitions: competitions are not tions, and it is worth noting that one only a way of providing advice on of these ways can sometimes be by gardening, but they can also have a collaborating with the local garden- very positive effect on sparking ac- ing academies. In Saxony, the Saxe tivities related to allotment gardens, gardening academy (Sächsische e.g. a competition on the best allot- Gartenakademie) in Dresden-Pillnitz ment in the association. provides 150 hours of training, culmi- nating in a final certificate. The region- With regards to “gardening advice”, al federations in Brême, Westphalie it is important to give our experts up and Lippe also have their own training to date advice and information. This centres with the necessary education- means using factsheets from the cen- al gardens to train experts. tral allotment garden federation, factsheets from the regional federation on How is this vital knowledge environmentally-friendly gardening, then passed onto our member and different specialist information gardeners in the allotment provided by the academy for leisure garden associations? gardens. For example the Saxe gar- Our specialist experts then use a vari- dening academy has 120 information ety of ways on site, for example: and factsheets available for experts.

• Conferences on very different topics. Summary: • Making use of their visits to the gar- The success of our joint activity re- dens by offering specialist advice sides in the ability of all member gar- on site. deners in the associations to do gar- • Taking advantage of informal dis- dening in a natural way. cussions.

Hyphen 55 | 2015 4 IN MEMORIAM

3 good friends left us forever

On 8th October 2014 we received the and his readiness to help. 1973 until 1991. Together with presi- sad news that John FARMER passed dent Metty LOOS he represented the away on 5th October 2014. On 23rd October followed the news Luxembourgish federation in all the that Jan HERREMAN passed away general assemblies and congresses John FARMER was a very fervent de- on 19th October 2014. of the International Office. fendant of the International Office and strongly believed in the necessity of Jan HERREMAN was president of Theo PEFFER answered over many a strong international movement. He the Belgian respectively Flemish fed- years the plant and gardening ques- was convinced that the English allot- eration. tions of the RTL listeners. His horticul- ment federation, as founding member tural knowledge was indescribable. of the International Office, had to play During his presidency he represented an important role in our movement. his federation during our general as- He was a great defendant of the na- semblies and took part with important tional and international allotment When the English federation left the national delegations in our interna- movement. We will not forget his International Office for a while John tional congresses. commitment and his never ending FARMER remained member of the support. International Office with the region he He continuously defended the inter- presided until the English federation ests of the Belgian allotment garden- rejoined our movement. ers.

John FARMER was president of the We will not forget his commitment for International Office from 2000 until the allotment garden movement. 2002 and organised with his team the very interesting international congress in York. On 19th December 2014 we also got We owe him many thanks for his tire- the sad news that on 16th December less commitment for the national and Theo PEFFER passed away shortly European allotment gardeners. before his 85th birthday.

We will not forget John FARMER, his Theo PEFFER was secretary general commitment, his joviality, his jokes of the Luxembourgish federation from

Hyphen 55 | 2015 5 ACTIVITY REPORT

Activity report 2014

The executive board has the pleas- take similar activities in the future. quest of the delegates is unfortunately ure to submit the activity report for This activity was highly appreciated not being taken advantage of despite 2014 to you. during the presentation meeting of the several calls for using this means. Office with the new minister for envi- 1) Internal activities. ronment in Luxembourg. d) Innovative projects Since the last statutory meeting the C. ZIJDEVELD has been gathering in- executive board met on 27th August, At the occasion of the international novative projects from several federa- 23rd and 24th November 2014 and is congress, the federations, honorary tions. A USB stick with those innova- also going to meet on 27th February guests, the allotment associations tive projects has been made and was 2015. we visited and the associations which put at the disposal of the federations got diplomas received a calendar pre- at the occasion of the international a) Efficiency of the Office activi- senting the different national federa- congress. Not written documents, ties and representation towards tions. This should be a stimulation on but visual examples are instruments the exterior how we could better focus internally that can stimulate associations/fed- Similarly to the congress subject and externally on the international al- erations to innovate and realise new “Focus on allotments” the executive lotment movement. projects. It is now the duty of every board has continued to deal with federation to make these innovative this subject and to reflect on how to On request of some federations the projects known and to encourage increase the visibility of the Office. calendar was already printed for 2015 their members to do similar projects In this context the work on the Office and put at their disposal. or realise other new projects. A far charter, which has internal and exter- reaching campaign for making these nal goals, was continued. This charter Why should one not replace once the innovative projects known has to be gives guidelines to the federations on national calendars presenting plants organised. how we should work in the future. The or allotments by an international pres- charter was adopted during the gen- entation? The executive board has decided to eral assembly held at the occasion of issue a brochure of these projects our international congress in Utrecht. Suggestions for a large publicity for in English, Dutch, German, Finnish, In Hyphen no 54 there was as well the Office are always welcome. French, Norwegian, and Polish. the call of the Swedish president Mrs Catharina TARRAS-WAHLBERG to b) Representation of the Office at It is not sufficient that the authori- all pull together in the same direc- the occasion of national ceremo- ties and the population know what tion so as to make our national and nies is done on the sites. Every gardener international allotment movements fit This year, the Office was again repre- has to understand that we have to go for the future according to the motto: sented at the occasion of different na- this way and that we have to open “Together we are strong”. tional events, for example in Germany our sites for the population in order An increased information about the and Luxembourg by C. ZIJDEVELD to create the necessary acceptation Office could be noticed in the national and M. WEIRICH. for guarantying the durability of our reviews. This is a very positive evolu- movement. tion because it enables to better sen- c) Internet sitize the national allotment gardeners The homepage was updated at reg- At the occasion of the Cost meeting in for the necessity of an international ular intervals. The updating could, Riga this USB stick was given to cho- cooperation. however, be optimised if the federa- sen participants in order to positively tions regularly sent news from their influence the researchers. We have also actively worked to real- associative life. This year this sending ise the common activity “Children and of news was relatively unsatisfactory. e) Diplomas Nature”. The work is, however, not yet Regular information from all the coun- This year there have again been finished. The aim of this activity is to tries would be enriching for all and many demands for diplomas for an document our activities to sensitize would moreover give to the exterior a ecological gardening, respectively for children from allotment families and positive image of our movement. innovative projects. non-allotment families for nature and to stimulate the federations to under- The discussion forum created on re- The diplomas were awarded in Utre-

Hyphen 55 | 2015 6 ACTIVITY REPORT

cht. They should have both an internal the Garden 2014 and the 37th inter- economic grounds. and an external effect. national congress. It has as well been acknowledged Have been honoured for their efforts The Dutch federation now considers that several federations had problems in the area of an ecological gardening: celebrating every year a Day of the with the payment of their yearly affili- • The associaton „Dijkzicht “ Amster- Garden in order to increase the visibil- ation fee due to internal difficulties. All dam (NL) ity of the allotment gardens. these problems could, however, been • The association „Nieuwe Levens solved. kracht“ Amsterdam (NL) g) Hyphen • The association „Tuinenpark ons This year, the Office could publish two i) Cost and other scientific Buiten“ Utrecht (NL) further well conceived issues of the research projects Hyphen in cooperation with the firm The Office continues to take part in Received a diploma for innovative MAYERHOFER in Austria. the Cost project, a scientific study of projects: the allotment garden movement. As • The association „De Koekelt“ VAT Two new headings were inserted: already reported before, four areas: Ede (NL) a) “Actuality theme”. The idea is to ecology, social function, town plan- • The association „De Hoge Weide” discuss current problems both by the ning and urban design, are analyzed. Utrecht (NL) federations and by people not belong- An evaluation of our movement and • The association “Pontnewynydd” ing to our movement. a comparison with the new phenom- Pontnewynydd (GB) enon of the “Community Gardens” will • The association Vallila Helsinki (FI) b) An additional heading “Social com- be made. Recommendations will be mitment of the allotment gardeners” given to the authorities. The Golden Rose was granted to the was introduced. The aim is to present town of Utrecht for the efficient sup- projects, which highlight the social ac- W. HOENTJEN, F. FLOHR, H. BON- port of the Dutch federation and the tivities of the allotment gardeners. NAVAUD and M. WEIRICH took part allotment gardeners in Utrecht. in the meeting in Lisbon and a report The already existing headings were of this meeting was sent to all the fed- A constructive cooperation with the continued. erations with a call to the other fed- authorities is very important not only erations to take also part in the Cost to safeguard allotments, but also in It is desirable if in future both the fed- project. order to include them as future orient- erations and external people will help ed elements in the town development. publishing articles with a wide content It was acknowledged that the Finn- in the Hyphen in order to continue to ish federation made efforts in order f) European Day of the Garden improve and to make our magazine, to take part in the Cost activities. The This year the European Day of the which is published twice a year, even Finnish representatives in Cost also Garden was celebrated following the more interesting. invited the federation to take part in international congress, according to a the Riga meeting. Because the costs decision taken by the general assem- The federations have accordingly to for this participation could not be paid bly some years ago. be invited to send more and more by Cost, the federation didn’t have the articles, not only to make the Hyphen possibility to take part. The aim of the European Day of the more interesting, but also to increase Garden is to put both the national and its European dimension. At the Cost meeting in Riga the Office the international movement in the was represented by H. BONNAVAUD, limelight in the country, where the cer- h) Support of federations/asso- W. HEIDEMANN, A. HOBBELINK emony takes place. It should as well ciations and M. WEIRICH. document the value of the allotments It could be acknowledged that our for society. Polish allotment friends have won the Examples of allotments from battle to save the gardens and the Great-Britain, Poland, Italy, Germa- This happened especially with the re- federation. The federation, however, ny, Greece, Estonia and Latvia were ception offered by the town of Utrecht will still have to focus in a near future presented. The Office representatives at the occasion of the international on the practical application of the new had to correct statements made and congress, which was organised on law in order to comply with the new provide positive input. The discus- the allotment site “De Hoge Weide”. legislation. It cannot be excluded that sions with the national researchers A sculpture was unveiled on this site in the future it will have to fight again were as well very useful. as a souvenir of the European Day of against attacks based on political or A written report and the meeting docu-

Hyphen 55 | 2015 7 ACTIVITY REPORT

ments were sent to all the federations. an Commission. conditions for becoming a member of There are other research projects go- the Office. ing on as, for example, Snowman and It has, however, to be underlined that Gesoll unifying Belgian, Dutch and at the Council of Europe the NGOs The German federation has regular French researchers. A.HOBBELINKS in the work group concerning the re- contacts with the Czech allotment and H. BONNAVAUD represent the lationship with the European Union gardeners. A possible re-affiliation allotment gardeners in these work- will now try to establish contacts with of the Czech federation to the Of- shops. The research Snowman deals the NGOs at the European Union in fice is cautiously considered. Further above all with subjects as soil quality, order to start a co-operation. We have meetings in Czechia and Austria are pollution, healthy food and health. to wait and see if this cooperation can planned for 2015. facilitate a new cooperation of the Of- 2) International Congress fice with the European Commission. 5) Information to interested This year the international congress people and media presence took place in Utrecht from 28th until Up to now the participation, respective- This year the Office has again given 30th August. The subject was: “Focus ly the membership in Europa Nostra information concerning allotments to on allotments”. The congress took has not proven that this affiliation will students, respectively the media. place in a very attractive place with enable us to achieve a better coop- a setting to engender many discus- eration with the European Union. We M. WEIRICH, as secretary general of sions. The federations’ lectures and have to wait, what the future will bring. the Office, presented the Office and the films aiming at focussing the au- the international allotment movement thorities’, the people’s and the media’s 4) Contacts with federations during half an hour on the social-cul- attention on the national allotments that are not member in the tural radio 100,7 in Luxembourg. were very interesting. The visits of ten international Office allotment sites enabled the delegates In spring 2013 the Norwegian asso- The Office was as well informed that to take many impressions home. ciation “Egebergløkka Parsellager” other federations were highly present asked if it could become member of in the media. For example, in France, The collected innovative projects the International Office. the allotment movement was presented were presented and given to the dele- during the main evening news on A2. gates. A use as large as possible has According to our statutes it is impossi- now to be made hereof. ble for two federations from the same The English allotment federation, country to become member of the through its affiliated Leeds District Al- The presence of the allotments in the International Office. Whether a coop- lotment Gardeners Federation, which media at the occasion of the congress eration between the association Ege- received medals at the “Chelsea was excellent. bergløkka Parsellager and the Office Flower Show” and the “Great York- can take place is an internal Norwe- shire Show”, gave precious informa- Many thanks have to be expressed gian matter and has to be solved by tion to interested people and could once more to the Dutch federation these two parties. present the allotments in a very pos- for hosting the congress and for their itive focus. hospitality. This year the Japanese allotment garden federation also sent its annual re- The International Office and the na- 3) International Organisations port on the allotment garden situation tional federations published a com- Council of Europe in Japan. It has to be acknowledged mon position concerning the new The Office took part in the meetings that the subject concerning tech- seed regulation proposed by the Eu- organised for the non-governmental nical gardening advice is also very ropean Commission. organisations. important to the Japanese allotment gardeners and that their efforts well They participated in the Pesticide Ac- In the work group “Human rights and range within the subject, we will be tion Week. This participation should climate change” a position paper was analyzing during the next two years be significantly increased in 2015. elaborated on this topic. This will be the until the congress in Vienna. As well in the future the Office and basis for further activities until the cli- The Japanese allotment gardeners the federations will have to increase mate conference in Paris end of 2015. took part in the congress in Utrecht. their media presence in order to focus The Office, as well as different na- more and more on allotments. European Union tional federations have been asked There are no news concerning a new for help by allotment gardeners from Luxembourg, December 2014 effective cooperation with the Europe- Croatia. They also asked about the The executive board

Hyphen 55 | 2015 8 DECISION PROTOCOL

Decision protocol of the general statutory assembly held in Luxembourg on 27th and 28th February, 2015

Were present: the federations of Denmark, Poland, Slovakia and session are the two Office activ- Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, as far as available. ities to be made during the cam- Great-Britain, Luxembourg, the Neth- 7) The Norwegian delegate informs paign 2015. erlands, Norway and Switzerland on the situation in Norway. The call should be put online on the Office and the national home- Were excused: the federations of Bel- 8) The delegates get informed on pages on 20th March 2015. gium, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the programme and the inscrip- The delegates thank the Lux- Slovakia tion fees (+/- 700 €) for the study embourg campaign coordinator session in Luxembourg. for putting the texts of the plant 1) The agenda is completed and cards at the Office’s disposal. adopted with unanimity. 9) The contents of the Hyphens no The Office will send the tem- 56 and 57 are completed. plates with the Office logo to the 2) The decision protocol and the federations so that they can print report of the general assembly 10) On basis of the collected innova- the cards. The cards cannot be held in Utrecht are adopted with tive projects a draft layout for a distributed before 20th March unanimity. brochure will be made in Austria. 2015. The brochure should have +/- 32 The Office will ask the coordina- 3) The activity report is adopted pages. tor not only to get the PDF docu- with unanimity. The federations, from which the ment, but also a Word document, Office has not yet received inno- which will make the translations 4) The Internet forum does not yet vative projects, for example Nor- easier (for example into English work. Several federations will get way and Denmark can still (but and Dutch).The Luxembourgish new passwords. The aim of the urgently) send in a project(s). coordinator will receive these forum is to give the federations The Norwegian federation will translations made by the federa- a space where they can discuss send in a project (composting tions. and quickly solve problems with- with worms). The Danish federa- out formalities and confidentiality tion should be contacted. 13) The delegates get information problems. concerning the scientific studies 11) Examples from 11 federations in which the Office, respectively 5) Every two weeks a new article were received for our brochure the French and Dutch federations is published on our homepage on children and nature. The Ger- are represented. under the heading “News”. man federation will make the lay- Spontaneous contributions are out. As soon as the draft layout 14) P. PASCHKE informs on the pro- highly welcome. The federations will be ready, the Luxembourgish gress of the preparations for the of Austria, France, Germany, resort ministers will be contacted IGA 2017. Great-Britain, Luxembourg and for a foreword. The Dutch federation has con- Switzerland will send information. An adequate title is still missing. tacted the Danish federation in The national webmasters should order to find out if they are plan- be instructed to send interesting 12) It is unanimously decided that ning to make a presentation on articles that will be put online on the Office will take part in the the Danish allotments. There is their national homepage or will “campaign without pesticides” still no answer. The federation be published in their national in Luxembourg as well as in the should be contacted once more. magazine to the Office. countries, where the national fed- It might be possible that an Aus- erations wish it to be so. trian director will make a film on 6) The delegates receive informa- Calls to all allotment and home the European allotment move- tion on the situation in Belgium, gardeners as well as the study ment for 2016. The Office should

Hyphen 55 | 2015 9 DECISION PROTOCOL

facilitate the contacts if neces- ciations KGV Wühlmäuse 2000 26) The next general assembly will sary. Hamburg and KGV Südhang, be held in Luxembourg on 27th Zwickau (D). August, 2015 at 5.15 p.m. 15) The federations put at the dis- If the Office will get the written posal of the Office the missing requests for the association Mar- The next statutory general as- pictures for the calendar. The sannay (F) and Merl (L) and the sembly will be held in the City Norwegian federation will send a pesticide free association in Nor- Hotel in Luxembourg on 4th and recipe. way, they will get the diploma for 5th March, 2016. an ecological gardening. 16) The treasurer J. KIEFFER pre- sents the financial report. 22) P. LAITILA is nominated as sub- It is decided to change the name stitute accountant to finish the of the position “Reserve: Miscel- mandate of L. OSCARSON. laneous” into “Reserve for future (2018) not yet planned projects”. 23) The written report concerning 17) The auditors inform that they the cooperation with internation- have found no mistake. They ask al organizations was sent to all the delegates to adopt the finan- the national federations and M. cial report and to grant discharge WEIRICH gives the additional re- to the executive board. quested explanations. It is decided to transmit the text 18) The general assembly adopts worked out by the INGOs on “cli- the financial report for 2014 with mate change and human rights” unanimity and grants discharge to the Luxembourgish minister of to the executive board with una- environment protection as Lux- nimity. embourg will be presiding the Eu- ropean Union at the occasion of 19) The draft budget for 2015 is the climate summit in Paris. adopted with unanimity. The ex- The German, English and possi- pense for the interpretation in bly French federations will send Utrecht has to be included in or- projects dealing with the intercul- der to pay off the Dutch deficit. tural dialogue, so that the Office can give them to the Council of 20) The draft budget for the solidarity Europe within its campaign “A liv- fund for 2015 is adopted with una- ing together in the diversity”. nimity. The aim and purpose of the solidarity fund are explained once more. 24) The subject concerning home gardeners was discussed without 21) It is decided with unanimity to finding an adequate solution. give the diploma for an ecologi- The problem concerning allot- cal gardening to the association ment gardens and community Zonnenweelde, The Hague (NL) gardens was discussed without and to the association Vlijpark finding a consensus. The dele- Dordrecht (NL), the associations gates could not agree on a defini- KGV im Albgrün, Karlsruhe (D) tion of the existing forms of Urban and KGV Dahlie, Rostock (D). Gardening. The diploma for social activities will be given to the associations 25) The subject concerning the ne- KGV Licht-Luft, Kaiserlautern, cessity to convince the individual (D) and KGV Ulmenweg, Merse- allotment gardener of the impor- burg (D). tance of making projects in his The diploma for innovative pro- association is put on the agenda jects will be given to the asso- of a next meeting.

Hyphen 55 | 2015 10 DIPLOMAS

The allotment garden site “Nieuwe Levenskracht” has received the diploma for an ecological gardening

Implementing these policies effectively improved the ecological status of the garden park and they will continue to do so in the future. The garden park was granted a four-star National Quality Mark, the highest achievable, in 2013 as a direct result of these improvements.

A summary of the most important achievements: The expansion of Amsterdam since the 1930’s has resulted in a unique lay out of the city. Newly developed urban areas stretch like fingers of a hand into the surrounding region with broad green wedges between them. With the ongoing urbanization the vitality of these green wedges was endangered. In order to integrate the isolated green areas into a network, a “Main Ecological Structure” was developed at the start of this centu- “Nieuwe Levenskracht” is a member Seven years ago the attempts to ry. Waterways and drainage canals of the Amsterdam Allotment Federa- strengthen the ecological significance along which animals can migrate in- tion. The garden complex was found- of the garden park for the urban area terconnect the green areas and play a ed in 1933 and has recently celebrat- of Amsterdam were renewed, result- vital role in the integration. This set of ed its 80th anniversary. ing in a four-level approach: waterways is called the “ecolint”. 1) Identifying and developing the The management team of “Nieuwe existing ecological values of the Garden park “Nieuwe Levenskracht” Levenskracht” takes an active ap- garden park. is located in one of the green wedg- proach in promoting ecological gar- 2) Seeking cooperation with third es, close to a main ecological zone dening amongst the gardeners, and parties. of migration. If our garden park could has done so for fifteen years. This 3) Enhancing ecological conscious- improve its function as an ecological resulted in 35 percent of the park ness and the experience of the stepping stone along the migration members practicing an ecological natural world with both gardeners route, it would contribute to the inte- gardening. The park was awarded the and visitors from surrounding ur- gration of the green zones. This would three-dots National Quality Mark for ban areas. in its turn be beneficial to the ecologi- Ecological Gardening thirteen years 4) Developing education on topics cal structure surrounding Amsterdam. ago and this status was prolonged concerning nature and ecological In 2006 a plan was drawn up to adjust year after year. gardening. the banks of the main drainage canal

Hyphen 55 | 2015 11 DIPLOMAS

which runs through the park and the an elaborate cooperation with the neighbouring sporting grounds. Both management of the adjacent sporting the water control board (Hoogheem- grounds. This organisation has tak- raadschap Gooi- en Vechtstreek) and en important steps in improving the the province of Noord-Holland recog- ecological status of the area under its nized its relevance and contributed fi- control. Another result of the cooper- nancially to its execution. A number of ation was that several walking-routes educational and informational meet- were laid out across the garden park ings were held for the park members and the sporting grounds. In a joint in order to raise enthusiasm for the effort with the municipality of Am- project. To encourage the feeling of sterdam numerous educational signs shared responsibility it was decided were developed which were placed that an important part of the project along these walking-routes. The signs was to be executed by the gardeners give in a colour and playful way infor- themselves. mation about the nature and animal life on the sporting grounds and the A zone of gradual transition between garden park. On a regular basis pres- the water of the drainage canal and entations are given to park members the embankment was established by and the neighbourhood on topics con- the creation of wetland areas; a mod- cerning the ecological projects. ification beneficial to many groups of animal species such as snakes (grass To assure continuity of the current snake), amphibians, birds and drag- policy and sustained commitment to onflies. the development of ecological values, the park management, the eco Next to the wetland zone-volunteers and the park main- areas an array of other tenance group have drawn up plans biotopes was realized. for the coming years formulating new A wall of turf was built as habitat to projects and improvements to the all kinds of insects, small animals and embedding of the garden park in the specific plants. And furthermore an ex- “Main Ecological Structure” of Am- tended lime-mortar insect-reptile-wall sterdam. with a wide variety of micro-climates was erected. Dead hedges were placed on several locations providing living space for all sorts of small animals and to facilitate new generations of grass snakes. A brooding heap was assembled. Currently a toad pool is in the last phase of construction. Also a number of insect hotels were placed throughout the park area.

A wide variety of indigenous plants was planted. As time passed, new species also appeared spontaneous- ly. At the last count more than 185 species were listed, varying from common to endangered species. A fixed group of volunteers is responsi- ble for the maintenance of these ecological zones.

During the preparation and execution phase of the project there was

Hyphen 55 | 2015 12 DIPLOMAS

The association “Tuinenpark ons Buiten” from Utrecht has received the diploma for an ecological gardening

Special projects on ecological gardening developed by “Tuinenpark Ons Buiten” are: • several workshops for garden members and interested people from the nearby neighbourhood about ecological gardening and related subjects, • almost all gardeners are practicing nature conservation in their own gardens which results in a compre- hensive biodiversity, • “Tuinenpark Ons Buiten” is very eager to help volunteers from the neighbourhood who share in the policy of nature conservation, • initiator of an ecological neighbourhood vegetable garden outside the gate for residents and provision of compost and tools, The association “Tuinenpark Ons veloped together with several nature • beautiful petting zoo surrounded by Buiten” in Utrecht was founded in conservation organizations a national small allotments in an ecological 1928 and has its present leisure gar- quality mark for associations, which scenery, den site (3.5 hectares, 100 gardens, meet strict criteria on ecological gar- • information signs with explanation 30 small vegetable gardens and an dening. Associations that meet the on ecological projects, also aiming animal garden) since 1958. criteria can get a quality mark with to welcome and communicate with one, two, three or four stars (best). visitors in the park, Since the nineties the “Tuinenpark • the community of “Tuinenpark Ons Ons Buiten” started with a more eco- “Tuinenpark Ons Buiten” meets these Buiten” made a list of special trees logical management of their garden strict criteria of the AVVN and is one in and around the gardens and af- site. In 2004 and 2009 the association of the few leisure garden sites in The ter that the members constituted a was rewarded with the Dutch quality Netherlands, which achieved the fund in order to maintain the trees, mark for ecological management of maximum of four stars. “Tuinenpark • dry stone walling, garden for but- their site with 3 stars. The next years Ons Buiten” has signed a contract terflies, special pool for several an- the association worked hard to further with the AVVN in which they declare imals, fences and heaps of branch- improve the ecological management they will comply with the strict rules. es and twigs, a large insect hotel, and in 2009 they were awarded with special hives for solitary bees, the maximum of 4 stars. The gardening at “Tuinenpark Ons • nature education route, route of Buiten” is also, in accordance with the special trees with name signs, The criteria: Office brochure, “an ecological ap- • sensory garden and a herb garden Thirteen years ago the AVVN has de- proach to allotment cultivation”. which are also accessible to disa-

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bled persons and wheelchair users, • educational activities with childcare, primary school and the neighbourhood, • supervising several excursions for garden parks, • bee hives, • wild flowers and insects garden, • digital newsletter for the garden members and a nice website onsbuitenutrecht.nl, • some benches on the garden site are made of recycled materials, • special ecological management of the site for example phased mow- ing, • lots of nesting facilities for insects and birds.

Since 2006 the association has imple- mented the recommendations of the research report „The added value of garden parks“ where nature conservation is an integral important part. Each month the garden members are informed on ecological subjects through the magazine “Nieuwsflits”. The percentage of gardeners that effectively apply the criteria of natural gardening is approximately 95%.

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The allotment garden site “Park Groenewoud” in Utrecht, member of the allotment association “De Hoge Weide” has received the diploma for innovative projects.

The garden site is in many ways unique in The Netherlands.

A brief history: “De Hoge Weide” was founded in 1954 with the aim of providing its members with soil for the use of vegetable or ornamental gardens or a combination of both types. Originally the garden site was located on the outskirts of Utrecht. In 2003 the garden site had to be relocated because the main motorway between Amster- dam – Utrecht and the south of The Netherlands was moved and the original garden site disappeared under the asphalt.

This did not mean the end of “De Hoge Weide”. Instead of relocating the garden site to the new outskirts of the city, the council of Utrecht decided to create a new garden site on one of the most expensive building locations vocacy etc. “Park Groenewoud” is a bring several special elements into in The Netherlands, closer to the city beautiful park for gardeners as well the garden site and did/does this all centre. as for the people that work in the sur- with volunteers: rounding buildings and the residents The new garden site was planned by of the districts nearby. The park is Special projects: a landscape architect and the design open from sunrise to sunset. “De Hoge Weide” created several the- had to combine work and leisure. It matic and/or educational gardens and became a unique park on a unique However, the unique location and de- other special elements: location. The garden site is planned sign is not all that makes this garden 1) Insect garden. A sea of flowering around eight small office buildings. site an example for the rest of The plants all spring, summer and au- The offices are mainly service indus- Netherlands. The allotment associ- tumn through and food for insects tries like ICT, financial services, ad- ation “De Hoge Weide” decided to in general and butterflies in spe-

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cial all year through. A lust for the built in the central field human eye. near the association 2) Compost garden. Here the asso- building. In its design the ciation composts its own green educational function was and shows gardeners how to also taken into account, compost themselves. The com- as visitors can actually post garden also offers shelter cross the pool and can get and nesting possibilities for ani- and feel really close to it. mals. 9) Insects wall. A special wall which 3) Sheep garden. The sheep are offers shelter and nesting pos- kept for a grazing project. They sibilities for solitary insects. The graze part of the edges of the wall is located next to one of the garden park. main paths and visitors can ob- 4) Bird bush. Special trees and serve the insects from nearby. shrubs for birds are planted in the birds’ bush. An information panel provides visitors with the necessary information. 5) Food bank garden. In this garden members of “De Hoge Weide” on a voluntary base grow vegetables for the food bank. During the season every week the food bank collects the vegetables and distributes them under registered poor families. 6) Bee garden. On a hidden spot of the garden site a bee keeper has several bee hives. 7) Prairie garden. The prairie garden shows special plants that can be found on prairies and rocky surfaces. It is beautiful all year through, but especially when in flower. 8) Toad pool. A special pool for toads and other amphibians is

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The Allotment site Vallila in Helsinki has received the diploma for innovative projects Allotment Museum in Vallila Allotment Gardens In 1977 the site´s last cottage still in (Helsinki, Finland) its original condition became available

In the middle of the Vallila allotment and the Board of the Association de- gardens, at Omenapolku 93 (93, Ap- cided to buy it. The cottage museum ple Road), there is a tiny little cottage, is owned and run by the Vallila Allot- of appr. 10 m2, dating back to the ment Association. 1930s. It is still in its original condition. The cottage was designed by two As far as their living conditions were distinguished architects, Brunila and concerned the working class met with Tuukkanen, in 1932. big challenges brought along by in- dustrialization and urbanization of the The garden was recently restored to early 20th century. International La- the condition originally designed by bour Organization (ILO) recommend- Mrs. Elizabeth Koch, a professional ed workers to spend their leisure in gardener and pioneering allotment health promoting and meaningful ac- gardening promoter in Finland. Her tivities like cultivating allotments. original planting scheme is still im- plemented on three plots in the Vallila Helsinki City Council advised: “The Allotment Gardens which were set up purpose of allotment gardens is to in 1931. provide families with limited means

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with a possibility to lease at a rea- tance of variety. In her days it was Contact person: Peter Hiltunen, tel. sonable cost a small gardening plot usual to grow crops like potatoes, +358504660643, where the members of the family are Swedish turnips (Brassica napobras- [email protected] able to spend their vacation time.” The sica), carrots, root beets, sugarbeets, idea was not only to engage families turnips (Brassica rapa), various kinds in toiling the land and spending their of cabbages, pumpkins, onions as leisure effectively, but in enjoying gar- well as beans, peas, chicory (Cicho- dening and growing decorative plants rium) and dill. It was obligatory to as well. It was important to have time have at least one apple tree and for socializing and taking it easy in berry bushes on the plot. Rhubarb the shade of lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) and peppermint were grown at the growing next to the cottage. edges of the plot. Popular decorative plants of the time included as follows: For 30 years the cottage museum globeflower (Trollius hybridius), prim- was dormant. In the summers of 2009 rose (Primula denticulate), columbine and 2010 the cottage and its garden (Aquilegia caerulea), peony (Paeonia were refurbished by collective efforts lactiflora-hybridius), tiger lily (Lilium of Vallila allotment gardeners. All the lancifolium), larkspur (Delphinium items donated by local allotment gar- hybridfum), rose (Rosa pimpinellifo- deners date back to the 1930s and lia), mallow (Malva moschata), pholx their originality was verified and ap- (Phlox paniculata) cowslip (Primu- proved by the Helsinki City Museum. la elatior) and carnation (Dianthus Furthermore, the items were photo- plumarius). Nowadays Vallila allot- graphed and provided with an iden- ment gardeners work together on a tification number. They will be cata- voluntary basis growing both above logued according to the instructions of mentioned decorative plants and veg- the Helsinki City Museum. The interior etables. Meals are then prepared and design of the cottage was planned un- enjoyed together. der the supervision of researchers of the museum, too. Vallila Museum Cottage is open every Sunday, summer only, 13.00 – 15.00. Elisabeth Koch stressed the impor- It is possible to book a guided tour.

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Brief overview on development and changing popularity trends of allotment gardens in Latvian cities. Lauma Līdaka, architect, territorial planner at Riga City Council

reasons came up - the importance of good quality food, vitamins and fibre as part of a healthy diet. There was a belief that working in a garden will also have a positive effect on the workers’ moral.

During the period of both world wars gardens were created to support citizens with food. But the period of Lat- via’s independence in between both wars was another situation. As the economy of Latvia boomed because of agriculture, peasant lifestyle became a national symbol and urban allotments served as an instrument to promote living and working with land in the urban environment.

Yet most of the territories were created in Soviet times, most of them – in the 60’s and 70’s. As shops were empty people used gardens to sustain Latvia is one of the rope and in Latvia the origins of the living. As well the garden gave a feel- three Baltic States. urban allotment movement is marked ing of private property – something The typical climate for Latvia is mild by the beginning of urbanisation. that no one living in small apartments and it is possible to yield only one har- in Soviet Union could dream about. vest per year - food supply for winter The first written testimony of the es- must be prepared during the warm tablishment of allotment gardens But then – what is an allotment gar- period of the year. dates back to the year 1907 when the den in Latvia? With some exceptions first allotment gardens were created those are land plots of 200-600 m2 Inhabitants of the lands of the current in Riga. grouped on a larger territory that can territory of Latvia traditionally have have from 10 until some hundreds of been an agrarian nation. But the geo The tendencies of garden popular- garden plots. The land is owned by a graphical location on the crossroads ity have been closely linked with the municipality or the state and one can between Russia and Europe and the social and economic situation in the rent but not buy an allotment garden. entrance to sea served as a catalyst country. The first allotment gardens Plots are rented by the municipality for rapid growth of cities in the begin- were created to provide better food for or trough garden cooperatives to the ning of the 20th century. Both in Eu- the growing working class. Later other gardener.

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habitants is the 3rd largest city around the Baltic Sea.

Riga was founded in 1201. As in many medieval cities the gardens have been there almost always. Lo- cated just behind the fortification wall, they were used to produce food for the citizens of Riga.

When initiating the creation of the first allotment gardens in 1907 the Ger- man Ernest von Roth claimed that they will be a remedy against the popularity wave of socialism, alcoholism and bad behaviour. After the mayor’s Georg Armisted order the project of site was made and building rules assigned. Gardens were leased for one or three years.

After WW1 a lot of people were left unemployed and the garden was a way There isn’t a general law at national One can find an allotment garden on how to sustain at least food. When level that regulates the development site in almost all the cities in Latvia. economic stability was regained a lot and maintenance of urban allotment A survey made in the 15 largest cit- of articles that promoted the activity in gardens in Latvia. It is the municipal- ies of Latvia shows that the situation urban areas were published in mass ity’s task to create its own rules on in all of them is similar: the size of media. An article in a magazine re- handling the garden territories. one plot (200-600 m2), the proportion veals: of territory that allotments cover in the city (1,1% - 1,9%), the popularity „The City council is not trying to get a trend (stable). In most of the cities allot of profit from the gardens, because lotment gardens are of temporary use they believe that they create a beauti- and if the territory they cover, accord- ful surrounding for our grey metropo- ing to the land use plan, are meant for lis. It also teaches the inhabitants that something else. When there will be a not only the machinery that they work demand for a new use. The garden- with on daily bases is the richness of ers will have to move to give space for our country. It is mother earth that cre- housing, industry or parks. ates the wealth of it.”

Municipalities share the same prob- There was a strong control carried lems– burglaries, degraded look and out and competitions organised to en- as well antisocial behaviour that can courage maintenance of garden plots. be spotted in some gardens. As the The gardens were so popular that largest proportion of the gardeners there was a belief „Riga is the green are pensioners or people with low metropolis not only thanks to its parks income, the price of rent is also an but even more thanks to its allotment issue, even if it rarely exceeds some gardens”. Euros per year. After WW2 the number of gardens The Case of the City of Riga again grew several times. During the Riga is the capital of Latvia. Almost Soviet time free land in the city was one third of the country’s population divided in small plots and allocated lives in Riga. Therefore the city with its for gardens giving the first hand for 302 km2 area and almost 700,000 in- soldiers and war veterans. Not all

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velopment plan of Riga (2006-2018) four categories of gardens are divided according their status and lease term (Picture Nr.1).

Slowly gardens are being pushed out of the city centre. The allotments in Skanste were closed in 2002 to give space for the extension of the city centre, the site in Torn,akalns in 2010 to host the new campus of the Univer- sity of Latvia. In 2011 the northern part of the Lucavsala site was cleared. Nowadays a very popular public park is built there. Some middle term gardens have been closed to give space for the Port extension.

There are protests but they never reach the limit that can change the situation. It is because gardens are a value for people who use them. For those who don’t use them, the image happened on legal basis. Because of ample the site of the first allotments of of the gardens is that of a degrad- harsh conditions a lot of people cre- Riga, in Skanste. ed territory: sad looking, overgrown ated gardens illegally on free land. In spaces with strange buildings and total during Soviet time the number This event marked the beginning of fencing made from anything that has of family gardens grew 4 times (table society’s activism regarding the sig- been at hand, inhabited by homeless nr.1) They were also used for recre- nificance of allotments in Riga. Even people and criminals. ation. After regaining independence though the group of gardeners lead by the number of gardens fell rapidly. Ms Rita Bebre were not able to retain There is a chain reaction that facil- Lands were given back to their pre- gardens in Skanste, they achieved itates the current state of the allot- vious owners as a consequence of that allotment gardens were defined ment gardens. The short lease term denationalisation, included in a land as a long-term temporary use and makes gardeners feel insecure about reserve fund or planned for develop- were included in the Development the future and they choose either to ment. The first ones to be demolished plan of Riga (1995-2005) as part of abandon the garden or to use cheap were gardens in the city centre, for ex- the green territories. In the current De- materials to avoid losses if renting is interrupted. As gardens are abandoned, empty plots are left. Homeless people move in often bringing crimi- nal activities. Burglaries and vandalism push enthusiastic gardeners to leave. This tendency makes the municipalities think that this activity is not popular, it lowers the quality of the cities’ space and serves as a hotbed of crime and they decide to close the sites down. And the loop starts again. Do we need gardens in Riga? Accord- ing to the Central Statistical Bureau only 5.5% of the inhabitants in Riga live in private or twin houses. From the 94.5% that live in apartments, around 70% of them live in multi-storey apartment houses. It means that

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most of the people in Riga don’t have a possibility to have a closer contact with soil and green spaces except in a park or forest.

By evaluating the possibilities to pro- tect the natural structure and to sustain the ecological, recreational and social functions, Riga needs to evaluate the possibility to use allotment gardens as a means to achieve the goals. If the territories are created and based on a well thought management policy it would be possible to achieve both – widening the social function spectrum in built up areas and expanding the accessibility to public water spaces and green areas in the city. It would allow to achieve the goals of the neighbourhood policy, that describes the need to provide diverse functions in each of Riga’s 58 neighbourhoods.

As the new territorial plan for the period after 2018 is in working progress now, it is possible to start already today.

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The allotment garden movement in South Korea: The federation of allotment gardeners in Baden- Württemberg supports this development Alfred Lüthin, President of the allotment garden federation of Baden-Württemberg e. V.

on the German allotment movement. They wanted to consider a possible practical application of these ideas.

In November 2005, following an invitation of the minister of agriculture of Korea, Alfred Lüthin, president of the allotment garden federation of Baden-Württemberg, and Ferdinand Kilius, scientific garden adviser of the federation,went to South Korea in order to present the German allotment garden movement and particularly the one in Karlsruhe. Representatives from Russia and Switzerland were also present and shared information on the allotment or garden movement in their countries. In this way the South Korean experts had a survey of the advantages and disadvantages of the different allotment garden concepts.

South Korea is among the countries the substitute minister for agricul- The concept from Karlsruhe in the Asian region in which the allot- ture visited the allotment gardeners was convincing ment garden movement is very popu- in Karlsruhe. Their aim was to get to Approximately 500 representatives lar. The demand to get a small garden know the German allotment garden from different ministries, authorities for leisure is very important, especially movement and to get hold of experi- and important federations, among among the population of the big cities. ences for the development of an al- others the agricultural federation and Since 2003 the federation of allotment lotment garden movement in Korea. the federation of women farmers, gardeners in Baden-Württemberg has Following this visit the federation of al- watched this presentation. Finally the been supporting the development lotment gardeners in Baden-Württem- decision was taken to use the concept of an allotment garden movement in berg has regularly received the visit presented by the representatives from South Korea. At that occasion a del- of Korean delegations twice or three Karlsruhe, taking into consideration egation of South Korean government times a year, who wanted to deepen the typical situation of Korea and the employees under the leadership of their knowledge and get information regional differences.

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Because there are no free spaces at the service of the South Korean but the first one where allotment in the big cities and in their direct delegation in Germany and accompa- sheds are constructed according to neighbourhood the sites were creat- nied the German participants on their the traditional South Korean style. ed further away from the cities. The journeys in Korea. Dr Hwang studied Their ground surface has twenty-four necessary grounds to create allot- agriculture and horticulture at the uni- square meters, but in Chuncheon all ment gardens were received in differ- versity of Geisenheim. In South Korea the allotment sheds are two storied. ent ways: either the local authorities he was director of the State institute The reason thereof is that contrary to put the grounds directly at disposal of research for green land economics. what happens in Germany the sites or farmers transformed part of their After an intensive exchange of infor- that have been created up to now are grounds into allotment plots. During mation and opinions the first proto- situated at a distance between forty the week the local people take care of type of an allotment garden site was and eighty kilometres away from the the gardens and sometimes get paid finally accomplished in South Korea towns. Therefore, the allotment gar- for it. During the weekends the people in 2007. den users can only come to visit their having rented the gardens come from gardens during the weekend and will the towns to stay in their gardens. An intensive exchange stay there overnight. During the week A year later the support of the allot- of information the people from the neighbouring vil- ment federation from Baden-Wurt- During the next years the interest of lages take care of the garden and get the Korean people for the German paid for it. allotment garden movement was still very important. From 2007 until Also in other aspects the expend- 2010 delegations accompanied by TV ing South Korean allotment garden teams regularly visited the allotments movement is different from ours. The in Karlsruhe and gathered information sites are given ready for occupation to on the German and especially the the tenant, that means also with the Karlsruhe allotment garden move- garden shed. Because of the impor- ment. tant demand and the current very low offer the rent is high: approximately In April 2010 a German delegation 4,000 € have to be paid per year for under the experienced leadership of a garden on a site near Chuncheon. Alfred Lüthin and Ferdinand Kilius fol- The lease contracts are also con- lowed again an invitation of the South cluded only for one year, even if the Korean ministry of agriculture and of possibility for a continuation exists. the important agriculture university in Despite this, there are hundreds of Kangwon. Among others the delega- people who wish to get an allotment. tion visited a Citrus research institute. Contrary to Germany no association This agricultural experimental institu- in the classical sense of the word has tion is organisator and administrator yet been founded. The allotment gar- of a planned allotment garden site to den grounds are directly rented to the be shortly created on the Jeju Isand. interested gardener by the owners The employees of the research insti- which can be the town or private peo- tute follow the development of the al- ple.Because people have good and lotment garden movement in Germa- high salaries also “simple employees” ny with great interest and are highly can effort to rent a plot. temberg was again requested. With- interested in ecological agriculture. in the framework of a week long Consequently, it was evident that all roundtrip through South Korea the the leading people of the Citrus re- allotment gardeners informed on the search institute were present at our allotment garden movement: every lectures. day they held two lectures on the development, the structure, the admin- Different structures istration, as well as on other relevant and conditions subjects for the allotment movement. A further visit was reserved to a new During this visit as well as at the occa- allotment garden complex situated for- sion of all other discussions Dr Hwang ty kilometres away from Chuncheon. Suk-Jung was our interpreter. He was This is the third site in South Korea,

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Square-shaped allotment gardens of the Fontaine d‘Ouche district in Dijon The Community Centre is a major Community Centre; place of entertaining and activities for • High brightness in the central part of the people. It is also a resource and the land, after 3 poplars have been information centre. chopped down • The recovery of rainwater from the The request for allotment plots came storage roof will be possible. from the expressed need to find an appropriate use for the green space But some constraints... around the Community Centre. • The small area of the land will only accommodate very small plots to The National Federation for Allotment meet the demand from local resi- Gardens was called, so that its re- dents; search department made a site sur- • The irregular geometric shape of the vey, a project to create the allotments land; and the management structure for • The shadow of some large plants them. (cedar trees, poplars...) • A levelling will be necessary to get Project This expertise showed a flat, even field (it’s currently highly 50 square-shaped allotment gardens the following facts: uneven) integrated into the outer spaces of the • a 4,100 sqm surface of which 600 • The presence of an embankment Community Centre. sqm could be devoted to build al- This is an undergoing project. lotments, • the future allotment site has Project summary strengths but also has constraints. 1. Entertain a public space which hasn‘t been qualified yet Some strengths... 2. Create conviviality and social • A nice place to garden and have a links in a populous area walk: the future gardens will be near 3. Use the allotment gardens to act the Canal de Bourgogne, which will for socially disabled people be visible from the plots; 4. Raise people’s awareness about • The site will be very close to the biodiversity and nature in the blocks where the future gardeners city. live; access to the gardens will be by foot; The context • This versatile place promotes ex- The Fontaine d‘Ouche area was built changes between the different in 1967 upon the hills where you could users: gardeners and youth in the find the last vineyards of Dijon, near Community Centre; Lake Kir. This social housing area • An area which is lightly fenced; has 10,300 inhabitants, living in 4,500 • An enclosed space which can be dwellings, half of them consist of so- used as storage for gardening cial housing. A major program of ur- equipment; ban renewal is on its way, in order to • A group of bushes and a cedar tree open up the area and to improve the near the storage will make a transi- lives of the local people. tion between the gardens and the

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near the Community Center building • The presence of a gap to the north • The fairways, 0,60 meters wide, are and a 1 meter deep underground covered with lawn or wood chips. network. • Gardening equipment is stored into drawers built into the shed. The project • Bird shelters and composters make • 50 plots arranged in squares of 2,25 the installation complete. sqm and elevated 20 or 30 cm. Those very tiny plots will allow sat- Plots will be assigned either to local isfying many local residents, due to associations for their activities or to the surface of the land. Obviously families. Each family will have 3 or the food aspect is not the main goal 4 garden squares to be used as gar- in this type of project, but the con- dens. tribution in terms of usability and An association will be created and at- social links. Those plots are also tached to the FNJFC. well adapted for disabled persons and for educational activities that The actors require a large space. • The Fontaine d‘Ouche Community • An associative area composed of Centre: project leader a group of bushes at the entrance • FNJFC: Fédération Nationale des of the garden site, an area with Jardins Familiaux et Collectifs: the lawn for various activities (edu- National Federation for Allotment cational pond, suitable plots, rest Gardens: project design, definition and exchange area). A small tree, of the management structure replacing the linden trees, adorns this central area and provides some shadow. • The main paths made of stabilized material allow moving and contem- plating the garden plots.

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Encounters between allotment gardeners in NADESHDA and North Rhine-Westphalia Learning together to preserve the creation Werner Heidemann

The ecologically compatible cultivation of fruit and vegetables ensures that the centre‘s young residents enjoy fresh garden products that are not contaminated from either fertilisers or pesticides. The project has been sup- ported from the start by allotment gardeners from Westphalia-Lippe, who have provided money donations and advice as well as supplying seeds.

NADESHDA – hope and the future How does the future look for NA- DESHDA? Well, to put it uncom- promisingly, NADESHDA‘s future is ensured for decades to come. Even if the shocking events of the nuclear disaster of 1986 have faded in the memory of the general public, they remain a fact of life in many areas of Belarus. Seventy percent of the radio- active fallout descended here, affect- Large and comfortable playing areas recreational and educational activities ing a quarter of the population, includ- in the children‘s centre and benefit from the medical support ing 500,000 children. Anyone visiting Looking back – how it all began available. This has now grown into the area today cannot fail to notice What first began as a rough plan, a self-managed recreational village, that the invisible enemy – radioactivity sketched out more than two decades located in an area unaffected by the – could not be driven out, and that it ago in the wake of the Chernobyl nu- radiation, and comprises residential not only has people firmly in its con- clear reactor disaster (1986) by con- buildings, catering facilities, garden- trol, but also soil, water, animals and cerned Christians in East and West, ing activities, carpentry, sports and plants. And this is likely to remain so has meanwhile developed into a playgrounds, a schooling centre, for the centuries to come. Abandoned wonderful, full-scale project that en- and cultural and social activities. And fields and villages are the silent wit- joys the support of many hands and NADESHDA continues to grow – the nesses of the catastrophe. Children hearts. For more than twenty years, medical facilities have been modern- – our planet‘s future – are the ones children aged between 6 and 17 who ised and the canteen expanded. In most strongly affected by the radioac- have been affected by the catastro- the interest of sustainable, environ- tive hazards. There are frighteningly phe have been coming to stay at the mentally friendly development, the high incidences of lethal deformities, NADESHDA Centre (nadezhda is the centre‘s energy requirements are weak immune systems, thyroid can- Russian word for ‚hope‘) for periods of supplied from renewable sources, in- cer and leukaemia in the areas affect- almost four weeks, to enjoy a range of cluding woodchips and solar power. ed by radioactivity – at levels that are

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could arise out of ruins, at a time of unforeseen political transformation in East and West.

What is it that connects allotment gardeners from Westphalia with NADESHDA? There are many allotment gardeners from Westphalia-Lippe who support NADESHDA in many different ways to the best of their abilities. Wolfgang Menzel, the former chairman of the Hamm-Kreis Unna district association, who passed away in 2005, laid the foundations of the activities more than twenty years ago. Gardening enthusiasts from the Hamm region were there from the start, helping to develop the project. With great motivation, the participants worked together to plant the first fruit trees, later also developing plans for the natural cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops Planting trees for the future of enjoy their leisure time there. Over the in collaboration with their Belarusian NADESHDA, from left: Peter Schulz, last two decades, as many as 70,000 partners. They also acquired seeds, vice president, Werner Heidemann, children and teenagers have come to plants and gardening equipment. This director, and Wilhelm Spieß, president know and love NADESHDA, a figure gave rise to an ecologically founded of the regional association. to be justly proud of. For the founders of the project, a beautiful dream The children from NADESHDA ten to twenty times higher than in un- has come true. At the beginning of the demonstrate their creative abilities; affected areas. Those in Belarus who nineteen-nineties, nobody could have guests can purchase a unique artwork were affected by Chernobyl will never guessed that such a dynamic project in exchange of a donation. be able to return home to normal town and village life.

The NADESHDA project has planted considerable seeds of hope for these people. It allows young people to spend a few weeks living with no fear of radiation, where they can drink clean water and eat healthy fruit and vegetables in an atmosphere of environmental awareness and education, based on the careful use of natural resources such as soil, water and air. More and more disabled children and teenagers are coming to the centre to enjoy a few weeks of recreation.

Today, the centre is able to simulta- neously accommodate 310 children and teenagers in its facilities. In the summer months, a further 140 young people come to the campsite located at the beautiful Vileyka reservoir to

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gardening operation, which is recognised as a pilot project in Belarus. Over time, more and more clubs and associations joined in the activities. Meanwhile, German-Belarusian encounters are taking place every year between Belarus and North Rhine-Westphalia. The Landesschule der Kleingärtner [regional school for allotment gardeners] in Lünen formed the central accommodation for our 37 guests from Belarus from 12th until 19th August 2014. Every day, they travelled to different places in West- phalia, to familiarise themselves with the area and its people and to visit allotments and municipal parks, and even the state horticultural show [Landesgartenschau] in Zülpich, and to learn more about urban planning and restructuring. In December, we will begin our regular ‚Deeds Instead of Christmas Cards‘ campaign. Rath- er than sending Christmas greetings, the regional association will give donations to NADESHDA as a sign of the Good News, and many other associations, clubs and allotment gardeners will be joining in and giving their donations. This year‘s Christmas donations will be used to construct a photovoltaic power plant. By using solar energy, the recreation centre Many happy returns! will be able to secure its own energy in a way that is both inexpensive and environmentally friendly. NADESH- At the large birthday celebration at- others, the women‘s group and the DA continues to grow and connect tended by young people from the church congregation of St. Barbara the people in East and West, in Be- project as well as those employed in it in Lünen-Brambauer. This birthday larus and Germany, far beyond the plus several guests from both Europe present will be invested in a very vis- project itself. Many partnerships and and Japan, director Werner Heide- ible way, in renovating the children‘s friendships, both on a personal level mann presented the allotment garden- accommodation buildings. Moreover, and on the level of the associations, er organisations in North Rhine-West- all friends and partners demonstrated have evolved, which not only enrich phalia and Germany and also outlined their solidarity with NADESHDA by our lives personally but represent a the involvement of the allotment gar- jointly planting an avenue of trees. valuable building block on the way to deners from Westphalia-Lippe in the a unified Europe. NADESHDA project. And there was We wish to continue shaping the fu- even a birthday present: Wilhelm ture together. Birthday without borders Spieß, president of the allotment gar- NADESHDA‘s birthday celebrations deners from Westphalia-Lippe, pre- on 26th and 27th September 2014 sented a check for the sum of 7,000 were a chance both to look back and euros, which had been raised from to look forward, with plenty of congrat- donations. This splendid figure is the ulations, joint singing and conversa- result of last year‘s campaign, ‚Deeds tion. Instead of Christmas Cards‘, as well as other activities of, among others

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Allotment gardens – Bio gardens: Measures to promote making urban spaces greener Text and photos from the FiBL, Mrs Ingrid Jahrl and Dr Home

The project started in 2013-2014 in cal gardening, their knowledge and gardening do exist at an association/ the towns of Bâle, Lausanne, Luzerne execution of this type of gardening town level, but not all gardeners were and Saint Gall, by four associations in in the four Swiss towns, revealed six aware of them. Furthermore, it ap- each town. Financial support for the essential results or weaknesses. The pears that gardeners don’t make good project was ensured by the OFEV analysis showed that the bio garden- enough use of the offer of information (Office Féderal de l’Environnement), ers’ definition of bio gardening didn’t about bio gardening. However, on the the four towns, the Swiss allotment always correspond to their practic- other hand, the information available garden federation and Bioterra. Work- es. Only one party amongst the gar- is limited. The gardeners’ attitude to- shops were organised in most of the deners who considered themselves wards biological gardening and its participating towns before the final “bio” admitted to having extensive importance to those around them report was drafted, which will be re- knowledge of bio gardening and not also play just as important a role in leased in spring 2015 and will include always applying biological methods. this respect. Neighbours and the as- the results and methods. The study also demonstrated that bio sociations don’t always fully support gardening was sometimes seen in a bio gardening. Furthermore, those 1. Summary bad light and considered equivalent to whose mother tongue is not German The study, which focused on the at- poor maintenance of the garden. In- or French are very interested in bio titude of gardeners towards biologi- structions on environmentally friendly gardening, but there is only a small

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amount of information on the topic courses must be put forward, particu- er, the analysis carried out on Swiss available to them. larly by local associations. For this to allotment gardens reveals that the happen, we could look to reinforce notion of environmentally friendly gar- The results allowed different meas- collaboration with experts from Bio- dening is often translated as simply ures to be defined. On one hand, it terra, for example. Social media could giving up man-made pesticides and must be noted that more importance be better utilised to facilitate commu- chemical fertilisers (Kern 2005, Christl must be placed on bio gardening at nication between the different associ- et al. 2004), whilst other essential as- the heart of associations as well as ations, on a local as well as national pects such as promoting biodiversity by town administration. The study level. In general, it would be timely to or preserving the water cycle and soil revealed that there is truly an interest propose more opportunities for net- are neglected. in bio gardening, but it always comes working. This could happen by nom- up against a certain amount of scep- inating representatives dedicated to If, thanks to the research, we now ticism. The reason for being and the bio gardening within the associations, know the reasons that motivate con- use of biological methods must be but also by putting in place more train- sumers and farmers to act in an en- more prominent in the offers of in- ing methods for people who are inter- vironmentally friendly way (e.g. Vogel formation and training. Associations’ ested, who in turn would then act as and Larcher 2007, Stolz et al. 2011), communications must furthermore mentors/eco-advisors. Also, a men- we nevertheless lack information on toring scheme for new gardeners and how to encourage users of allotment new tenants could help them to learn gardens to act in an environmental- this type of gardening. In general, we ly friendly way (i.e. eco-gardening). need cooperation between existing Actions are, in effect, influenced by organisations, and initiatives by local a number of factors. According to associations need to be reinforced. Ajzen (1991), attitudes towards eco- The gardeners often don’t know how logical gardening play an essential environmentally friendly they are, role. According to Fietkau and Kessel so it would be useful to offer them (1981), knowledge has an equal ef- more “tools” to help them. A self-as- fect on behaviour. Moreover, attitude sessment tool of biological garden- and knowledge are closely linked. An ing could help them to evaluate their existing attitude can be changed by actions and offer ways to improve. acquiring new knowledge. Converse- The same improvements could be ly, attitudes and values also affect the achieved if it were possible to offer manner in which people adapt to in- them the chance to analyse their formation and knowledge. According soil at a reasonable cost. A labelling to Jurt (2003), a change in behaviour system for bio gardens could also initiated externally can’t happen with- constitute an incentive to get into bio out information. According to Ajzen gardening. And finally, a list of biolog- (1991), another determining factor ical products could help gardeners to that motivates actions is peer pres- replace man-made chemical products sure, which pushes someone to adopt with biological products. or reject an action.

2. Introduction and In the allotment garden environment, context of the study social networks play a leading role place more importance on bio garden- In an urban setting, allotment gardens (Wohatschek 2008). Being member ing. This means that the rules of bio play an important social and ecolog- of an allotment garden association gardening must be more prominent ical role (OFEV 2006). The Swiss means being part of a social network and controlled, which is not current- allotment garden federation and the formed of people of different ages, eth- ly the case. Competitions and prizes individual towns (Bâle, Luzerne, Saint nic origins and family or professional for gardens rich in biodiversity could Gall) aim to develop a use for allot- status (BMVBS and BBR 2008). The promote bio gardening at the heart of ment gardens that is environmentally importance of the topic of protecting associations, whilst encouraging gar- friendly, or biological. The reasons for nature and environment at the heart deners to adopt this way of gardening. this approach are varying degrees of of the allotment garden movement is The diversification of the offers of soil pollution in gardens and the im- also the function of the information information and training is another portance of allotment gardens in pre- led by the gardening associations, the route to explore. In one respect, more serving biodiversity in towns. Howev- federations and the towns (BMVBS

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and BBR 2008). In this regard, the al- whilst taking into account the existing lotment garden associations and the offers of training and support, and in- towns play a central role, as they can volving the users of allotment gardens influence the ways of gardening that and their associations. The objective are adopted, and the gardeners’ eco- of these methods is to support gar- logical and environmental awareness deners in using their garden in a bi- through their rules, regulations and of- ological way and, in doing so, to pro- fers of advice and training. However, mote the healthy growth of produce the successful implementation of an and develop biodiversity. action does not depend solely on the intent, i.e. the desire to accomplish an The following points were action or to achieve an objective, but the topic of an analysis also, in part, on the motivation such for the project: as the availability of resources (e.g. • What knowledge do the users of al- time, money, skills, working with oth- lotment gardens have about biolog- ers) (Pregernig 1999). ical gardening? • What influencing factors encourage/ hinder biological gardening? What role do perceptions, knowledge and circumstances (socio-demograph- ic, institutional) play? • How is the transfer of knowledge ensured within allotment garden associations and what improvements could be made? What is the role of social networks and how important are allotment gardens in this context? • What role do supporting organisations (e.g. Bioterra) play? • What information and advice do users of allotment gardens feel they need? What methods allow us to promote awareness of the environment and biological gardening amongst the users of allotment gardens? What resulting actions are relevant to the responsibilities of different parties (town administration, allotment garden associations, etc.)?

3. Objectives of the project In this context, the project allowed us to also determine the state of the gardeners’ knowledge and learning requirements concerning biological use of the gardens as well as their attitude towards biological gardening. The study focused particularly on the importance of knowledge of biological gardening. Methods were devised to reinforce environmental awareness and promote biological gardening

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Self-managed garden brightens Amsterdam’s warehouse district Josien Segers (AVVN, The Netherlands)

Struggle Judith, Angie and Saskia explained, “The municipal council initially planned to create a postage stamp-sized park on the small field on the other side of the road. Unfortunately, the private owner sold the land to a project devel- oper. According to the building plans, our front gardens were due to disap- pear, and a new building was set to be developed right opposite. We were above all against the idea of the new development, as it would detract from our privacy.”

“Following our protests, the new building was cut from four to just two sto- reys, and by way of compensation for our front gardens, we were awarded two long central strips between the houses on the other side of the road and our houses, as a self-managed green facility, measuring in total two hundred square metres. Also in exchange for the front gardens we got In the centre of Amsterdam, close Judith de Vries, Angie van Hoboken large earthenware pots that we could to the Artis zoological garden is the and Saskia Heins all live on the Laa- plant and look after ourselves.” Kadijkenbuurt district, also known as gte Kadijk. The three are the driving Kadijkeneiland. The name of the dis- force behind ‘Self-managed garden Course in Natural garden design trict refers to the two main streets: the Laagte Kadijk’. Together with other Because Saskia and Judith have an Hoogte Kadijk and the Laagte Kadijk. local residents, they were able to pre- allotment garden, they receive a copy The numerous former warehouses vent their entire neighbourhood being of the allotment gardening magazine and shipyards date back to the period built on with high-rise new housing “De Tuinliefhebber”. They were both from the seventeenth to the twentieth developments, roads for the use of attracted by a notice in 2011 about century, when it was an area dedi- the many cars and parking spaces. In- the course ‘Natural garden design’ by cated to shipping and industry. The stead, for the past year, their houses Roos Broersen. Together with Angie, neighbourhood later lost its industrial have been fronted by a beautiful, nat- they signed up for the course. “The character and residential homes were ural garden! When I paid them a visit course provided us with a whole raft built. From around 1970 onwards, at the end of September 2013, the of ideas for laying out the green strip. hundreds of low-rent homes were de- garden was still brightly coloured with Together the three of us prepared a veloped, both in the former warehous- flowering perennials and ornamental folder of ideas, but came up against es and in new-built premises. grasses in autumn colours, and orna- the obstacle of producing an actual mental shrubs with berries. garden plan. Because the new devel-

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opment and garden plan in the street were not yet ready, we were unable to create a clear idea of the whole project, in our mind’s eye.”

“At the recommendation of Roos, we called in Dirk de Winter from the nursery de Morgen. He designs gardens and ecological planting plans. To secure our privacy, and to prevent vandalism, we changed our idea from creating a ‘seated garden’ and instead opted for a ‘viewing garden’. Dirk put our ideas into a well-prepared garden plan. The plants themselves were purchased from his nursery in Obdam where he grows and experiments with plants that are able to survive without any chemical treatment or fertiliser.” (for information see: www.newgener- ationplants.nl/tuinen/)

Negotiations with the council “The Municipality of Amsterdam is divided into city districts. The policy in our city district aims to retain as much green as possible, above all in the form of self-managed green such as front gardens and planted strips. When it comes to a ‘self-managed garden’ or ‘self-managed green facility’, residents are awarded a piece of land by the municipal council, which they are then permitted to lay out and maintain according to their own ideas. The layout, materials and maintenance costs are paid for by the municipality.

The municipal authorities approved the garden plan produced by Dirk. Al- though they felt that we should have produced the plan ourselves, we swayed them with our argument that the advice from experts and profes- sionals would help to avoid errors and additional costs. In the end they also paid for Dirk’s plan and actually laid The silver birches we had initially tree and the Varnish tree. One of the out our garden, including the paving, selected were not approved by the four is already bearing the fruit and the raised borders, the steps, the soil council. The four Koelreuteria now in seedpods so characteristic of the tree. and the plants. the garden do not grow so tall and are attractive throughout the year.” Down to work at last Users of self-managed gardens are Koelreuteria goes by a number of “Because autumn is the best time for fee to choose the plants, but not the common names including the Golden planting trees, we had to postpone the trees. No large trees are permitted. rain tree, the Pride of India, the China planting of the perennials and shrubs

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people go away on holiday in the summer, we were worried that our plants would not survive the dry conditions. Fortunately, whenever help is needed, we are able to rely upon a group of willing helpers.”

Confidence in the development “Because the plants have settled in so well in just a few months, and the garden is already looking so good, we are confident in the success of the project. And we have been confirmed in our belief. The ‘Self-managed garden Laagte Kadijk’ has inspired the council to plant a number of other green strips in the area with almost exactly the same varieties.

We hope that this area of green outside our front doors will in the future not only attract sparrows, parakeets, seagulls and birds passing to and for a whole year. The municipality pro- planted twenty-eight different perenni- from the zoological gardens at Artis, vided temporary plants for that period als and various types of shrub. but also many other varieties. All we and the whole garden was awash with have to do now is wait patiently until red and yellow cannas and begonias! “Right from the start, the gardening the trees and shrubs grow a little larg- Once the council staff had planted the group consisted of seven people. The er.” trees, we could get down to work, at maintenance work such as watering last. In February 2012, eight of us, and weeding was above all time-con- instructed by Dirk and his assistants, suming at the start. Because so many

For the self-managed garden, the following strong and attractive plants (among others) were chosen: Perennials: Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Border Beauty’ Mountain Fleece Red Aster novae-angliae ‘High Class’ New England Aster Ruby red Acanthus hybrid ‘Morning Candle’ Bear’s breaches Lilac-pink Geranium x oxonianum ‘Maurice Moka’ Crane’s beak Pale pink Anemone hybrid ‘Serenade’ Japanese anemone Pink Kalimeris hybrid ‘Madiva’ Aster Light blue Tradescantia andersoniana ‘Good Luck’ Spider lily Violet Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ Ornamental grass Straw-coloured flowering heads Helenium hybride ‘Sahins Early Flowerer’ Sneezeweed Orange

Shrubs: Aronia melanocarpa Chokeberry Red autumn colour Sambucus racemosa Red elderberry Red berries

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From allotment gardens to community gardens Hervé Bonnavaud

• AMAP”: this acronym stands for “Association pour la Maintenance d’une Agriculture Paysanne”. They are installed close to the cities and provide organic food to the neighbourhood and usually to the school canteens where the local authorities want to encourage organic farming. The land (a few hectares) belongs to the farmers.

Urban agriculture is the essential form of agriculture in Africa, where millions of people depend upon it for their sur- vival (Report 2012 of the FAO entitled «Growing greener cities in Africa»).

This was to underline the fundamental importance of gardening and horticultural activities throughout the world since prehistoric times.

That human activity may have evolved with time and according to Foreword: the level of development of the vari- Gardening is undoubtedly the oldest • The “ Jardins d’insertion” are meant ous societies but, as we are going to form of agriculture. According to his- for the poorest people, usually un- see now, it is still of interest and its de- torians the first human tribes in Eu- employed and/or the neighbour/im- velopment could provide solutions for rope that lived from hunting, fishing migrants. These people are taught the future, even in our rich countries and picking fruit, became agricultur- to grow vegetables collectively for where traditional farmers have almost ists about 7,000 years ago. That was their own consumption and to learn disappeared to be replaced by large a formidable revolution that allowed new skills which might help them to agricultural enterprises which have the homo sapiens species to develop get integrated and find a job. lost almost all contact with the nour- very rapidly. He then was able to get ishing soil. In fact that intensive agri- a more abundant, regular and diversi- • The “Jardins de Cocagne” have culture produces cattle food, bio fuels fied diet all the year round. At the be- got the same finality but they are and products for exports but less and ginning agriculture did not resemble organised on a larger scale. They less to feed the local populations that our modern agriculture. It was more require a 2 to 4 ha large piece of have to rely more and more on food like a primitive form of gardening or land to produce organic vegetables imports from all over the world. to what we now call urban agriculture. and fruit that are mainly sold direct- Urban agriculture consists of micro ly to the surrounding population in I) An environment that plots for the neighbouring families and baskets every week. The gardeners evolved (1890 - 1950) for self consumption. In France Urban are employed by the association for In the 19th century, allotment gardens agriculture also includes the «Jardins 6 to 18 months thanks to subsidies were born in a social context which is d’insertion», «Jardins de Cocagne» from the state. totally different from that of today. and «AMAP». In the Northern European countries

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the populations suffered from the consequences of the industrial revolution. Many agricultural workers were attracted by the jobs offered in the iron, coal and textile industries. These new workers were exploited, lived in indescribable poor conditions whereas the working days were very long and the Sunday rest missing. In order to survive the families were forced to make children work from the age of five on. The flats were very small and un- healthy. Many workers suffered from tuberculosis and alcoholism. Many families had not enough to eat. Men were victims of the violence of this system and women and children suffered from the violence caused by worn-out men who had drunk too much.

In different countries, for example In- dia, the same working and living conditions still exist today despite international conventions. into war gardens and requisitioned the standards of living of the French sometimes even abandoned grounds population rose dramatically together The founders of the allotment move- in order to put them free of cost at the with the development of leisures. The ment, for example Abbé Jules Lemire disposal of families suffering from the workers now had much better wages in France or Dr Moritz Schreber in food shortage. You can find the same and time to go on holiday to the sea- Germany, proposed to the new work- phenomenon in England and the side, the mountains, the country… er class garden plots of a sufficient States where thousands of “victory and to practice sports and were less size to guarantee the subsistence of gardens” were created. dependent on their plots. The plot these large families. In France the first Before the second World war 80 % of holders abandoned their gardens allotments exceeded 600 square me- the population lived in rural areas. without much struggle. tres. One can still find such large plots in the region of Calais and Dunkerque II) The damages of the The remaining sites were pushed where there still exist areas of great «30 gloriousness» (name outside the towns and cities, often on poverty and long time workless peo- given to the 30 years of rapid bad lands, along the new motorways, ple dependent on the cultivation of po- economic development that sometimes on polluted land. tatoes which need much space. followed World War II). Thus the positive evolution of our so- After the Second World War the sit- ciety caused great damage to allot- During the 19th century up to 1950 uation evolved very rapidly in most ment gardens. there were sufficient grounds in countries in Europe. Cities grew very and around the cities to create allot- fast to face the baby boom. New III) The emergence of the ments. There were many allotments towns appeared in a few years’ time, concept of environment in France. towns that grew like mushrooms in In 1971, under President Geoges the suburbs of the main cities. Pompidou, Robert Poujade is ap- The first and above all the Second pointed minister of the protection of World War contributed to the develop- That development often led to the nature and of the environment. He ment of the allotments. They allowed disappearance of the old allotment will stay in office for 3 years and will to solve the problem concerning the gardens. It is estimated that 90 % of call his ministry « le ministère de l’im- providing of food and of the subsist- them were destroyed during these possible ». There is no doubt that the ence of the population due to the three decades: their number fell from creation of this ministry is the symbol disorganization of the traditional eco- 900 000 at the end of the war to 150 of a significant evolution of our society nomic circuits. Different towns trans- 000 nowadays. after the excesses of the previous pe- formed parks and available grounds I have to admit that in the late 60s riod following the war.

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the social origin and age of the tenants: they tend to be slightly younger and even if the majority is still composed of retired men from the working class, we see the emergence of employees and other social groups.

At the same time land is getting rarer and more expensive and less available for the creation of allotment garden sites in spite of the renewed interest for that activity.

IV )The emergence of new forms of allotment gardens 1) Shared gardens The new shared gardens appeared in France some 15 years ago, in accordance with the model of the Com- munity Gardens that were created in the USA in the 70s by Liz Christy. Liz Christy is the founder of the „green guerilla“, movement aiming at taking An interest for the environment is born of life of the plot holders. Recreation urban unoccupied land for the poorest and the state and local authorities grounds are built for children, places inhabitants. have started to realize the benefits were their parents can meet and or- for the urban populations of allotment ganize festivities, barbecues… They developed rather rapidly in large gardens. They have become aware of cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, the need to preserve them. Large families being then much rar- Lille, Nantes… They are usually sup- er than earlier, the average size of ported by the local authorities that The November 10th, 1976 agriculture the plots is reduced to 250 m2. At the view them as a means to solve social law has redefined allotment gardens same time we observe a change in problems. and has made it compulsory for the local authorities to replace the allotment gardens that had to be destroyed to build public equipments. The Safer (Société d’Aménagement Foncier et d’Établissement Rural) was the tool to get new grounds.

The number of allotment gardens ceased to fall and stabilized. Allotment gardens are now better protected but at the same time we observe an important pressure from their neighbours to destroy old derelict sites that look ugly in the urban landscape. They are no longer accepted. Local authorities own most of the land on which new allotment garden sites are created and to answer their demand the FNJFC starts to modify their design. The environment is now taken into account, so is their insertion into the urban landscape and the quality

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These shared gardens, though often short-lived since they are established on land which is meant to be built in a near future, are very successful among politicians and the media. Their number was estimated at about 1000 sites at the end of 2012.

These sites are sometimes hardly more than 100 m2 large. On these shared gardens gardening, planting, tending the plot and harvesting are usually shared. In Paris, the tenants are not allowed to eat the vegetables they might grow.

It seems clear that in shared gardens the original and fundamental feeding function of allotment gardens has almost completely disappeared. In- stead of food their members grow social relationships.

Shared gardens are more attractive to periments and thanks to its «Bureau owners are easily convinced of the the middle class and sometimes up- d’Etudes» designed new concepts of advantages of turning part of it into per urban middle class people than to allotment gardens taking into account gardens for the inhabitants. the lower class people. every piece of available land in a given environment and the new demand Besides, these plots, usually between 2 2) Integration gardens (Les Jardins of urban dwellers. 40 and 50 m large, produce vegeta- d’Insertion) bles for the low income dwellers of the Mass unemployment rose steeply in 3) Allotment Gardens at the foot of flats, reduce the maintenance costs, the mid 1970s. To try and alleviate its blocks of flats (Jardins en pied d’im- improve the urban biodiversity. The consequences, as soon as the early meubles) advantages are numerous and these 80s, the French Federation of Allot- In 1995, the French Federation decid- gardens have a bright future. ment Gardens (FNJFC) together with ed to create a Study and Design Of- some local authorities and groups of fice to serve the demands of its mem- The gardens at the foot of blocks of people involved in social activities bers and of the local authorities and flats are a means of recycling sterile imagined to offer a plot to the unem- social housing agencies too. The aim urban spaces. There are plenty of ployed people. of this new tool being to develop new these grounds in town. forms of allotment gardens and equip- This was frequently a failure. Most of ments adapted to the specific needs 4) Allotment Gardens on roof tops them were not interested and motivat- of plot holders (tool sheds, tool boxes, (jardins sur les toiture- terrace) ed at all and those who started sowing compost bins, secure water meters…) In 2001 the FNJFC created the first and planting, sometimes gave up be- This new concept of allotment gar- site of community gardens (jardins fore the first harvest. dens is based on the following ob- partagés) on the 1000 m2 roof of a servation: contrary to what was previ- multi-storey car park in Boulogne-Bil- Conversely, the use of gardening and ously believed, there is land available lancourt (West of Paris). The plots horticultural activities by such associ- in most towns and that land is worth were 20 m2 and were separated by ations as « Les Jardins de Cocagne » nothing. I mean that it cannot be sold paved alleys. There was only one tool or « Les Jardins du Coeur » to bring to anybody since it is entirely devoted shed and the gardeners — most of people back to work and to give them to green spaces. Moreover, this land them being women from African origin a new skill proved successful and costs the housing agencies a lot of — shared the tools. There was a com- keeps developing. money: they have to mow the lawns, mon water point and watering cans. trim the trees and bushes, look after The FNJFC learned from these ex- and water the flower beds… Their This new type of urban allotment gar-

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dens is now developing rapidly in a 1890s, even if the economical crisis mineral environment where land is generates new demands of people totally absent. who desperately need a piece of land to survive by growing their own: 5) Square gardens • they usually have no experience of (potagers en carré) gardening ; In 2011 the French Federation of allot- • many of them are women or young ment gardens was commissioned by couples ; the city of Dijon (Burgundy) to develop • those who have a job do not have a new concept of allotment gardens much time to spend in the garden ; on a 600 m2 piece of land attached • most of them are interested in or- to a social centre. The mayor wanted ganic gardening to satisfy the demand of at least 30 • want a plot in a collective allotment families that lived in flats at walking garden in order to meet other peo- distance. Most of the families were ple, from different origins. in need (unemployed, single women with children...) and had no experi- The size of the plot is not the most im- ence at all of gardening. portant thing for them, they are more interested in the quality of the equip- The French Federation of allotment ments and the social life. gardens designed a new model: square plots 1.5 × 1.5 × 0.40 m filled The functions of these new types of with compost. 65 squares were built allotment gardens are multiple: eco- on the site. Each person got one nomical, food production, therapeutic, square, a couple was allowed 2 plots educational, environmental, social... and a family with children was given Allotment gardens are a great con- 3. Thus 32 people or families were tribution to the quality of life in large able to get an allotment garden in cities. June 2011. Besides 3 raised beds were installed for disabled people in a wheelchair.

Since that time two other sites were created according to this model.

Despite the small size of these plots, the output is significant due to the quality of the soil and the people do not need to buy any expensive tools. It is a good way to initiate these new gardeners. We must point out the educational value of these ‘‘miniature’’ allotment gardens.

Conclusion Nowadays, almost 80 % of the population live in urban areas.

This led us to change our views and to design new models, new forms of allotment gardens to answer the growing needs of this new urban population. The new allotment gardeners are quite different from those in the

Hyphen 55 | 2015 40 NEWS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

News from the federations

A. National Meetings Gardening advice I garden parks. a) Finland Subject: all weathers – the allotment 29th August 2015 in the climate change Everywhere in Europe, but also on National meeting of the presidents of the other continents more and more the local associations 5th September 2015 Rostock attention is focused on allotment gar- 27th assembly of the German allot- dens and studies and scientific re- b) France ment federation. ports are made on allotments. Organization of courses for our executive board members and gardeners 25th – 27th September 2015 Rahte- On request of the minister president concerning a natural gardening in re- now Kris Peeters the University of Gent lations with the program of the Minis- Gardening advice II already realized a study in 2007 on try for Ecology « Ecophyto ». This pro- Subject: The wonderful world of roses the situation of allotments in Flanders gram aims at reducing the pesticides both from the point of view of sociolo- outside the agricultural zones by half 23rd – 25th October 2015 Hamburg gy and territorial planning. until 2018. Legal matters II Subject: Responsibility for establish- This study proved that the number of 10th April 2015 ing correct accounts existing allotments in Flanders and A day meeting for our affiliated mem- the region Brussels-Capital could be bers. The subject is: “To cultivate bio- 06th – 8th November 2015 Saar- estimated up to 4,600 plots spread in diversity” The aim of this meeting is to brucken over 114 allotment parks with a total propose techniques to our members Environment surface of 137 hectares. Half of these enabling them to participate in scien- Subject: a miniature world: Insects allotments are situated in the Prov- tific programs opened to the public and spiders in the garden ince of Antwerp. and dealing with subjects on biodiversity in the gardens. This day is or- d) Great-Britain The need of surfaces to create allot- ganized in cooperation with important • General Assembly, ments has been confirmed in a new associations on nature protection • Regional Allotment Officers Forums, study by the University of Gent in • Internal Training 2010 at the demand of the Flemish 11th April 2015 allotment federation and with the fi- General assembly e) Luxembourg nancial support of the Flemish author- 29th March 2015: National congress ities. It appeared by this study that the c) Germany in Biwer need for additional allotments was not 20th – 22nd March Chemnitz only limited to the big cities, but that Management f) Switzerland this was also the case in the urban Subject: get involved in the manage- 21st January 2015: areas and in the communes. For the ment of your association! Meeting of the Cost delegates in Ba- 10 biggest cities (city centers) and for sel 40 selected communes the need was 14th June 2015 Karlsruhe estimated at approximately 283 hec- „Day of the Garden“ 2015 27th – 29th March 2015: tares. Considering the current offer, Eco Nature Congress in Basel the demand can only be satisfied up 24th – 26th April 2015 Halle to a third. Public relations 6th June 2015: Subject: making a speech with heart, 48th general assembly in Basel b) France engagement and reason Two films promoting allotments were Date to be fixed: created 29th – 31th May 2015 Hamm Meeting: Biodiversity 2020 • The first one was made for people in Legal matters I, general and was shown in Utrecht. Subject: How to manage an allot- B. DOCUMENTS • The second should sensitize the au- ment association. Part 1 a) Belgium thorities and motivate them to cre- The Flemish government supports the ate allotment sites. 26th – 28th June 2015 Offenbach creation and the lay-out of allotment The films can be seen on our home-

Hyphen 55 | 2015 41 NEWS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

page and can be downloaded. communes and associations trying of a healthy food, with an active life in to gather ideas for the creation, the the fresh air, with alternative forms of c) Germany expansion, the lay-out or the mod- physical movements (gardening) and Weekly garden advice by dpa ernization of allotments. Many people an active life style. Monthly garden advice on Internet took part in this event day. It aimed at The jury judged the quality of the pro- Monthly newsletter explaining more in detail the criteria jects according to criteria fixed in the The review “Der Fachberater” 1-4/14 for the acceptation and selection of call for projects such as the neces- Grüne Schriftenreihe no.232-237 in the new demands. This day was also sity of allotments, the authorizations form of a CD important to establish contacts in or- received, the contribution to improve Final brochure of the 23rd federal- der to be able to ask later on for more the environment quality by the care competition „Gardens in the town information and support. given to soil, health, social cohesion, planning“ 2014 Wim Lybaert, gardener, amateur of specific groups, landscape and the allotments and producer of programs exemplarity of the projects. d) Great-Britain for the TV programme “Vier” laid the This represents now an important Flyer 2014: interesting discussions both with the task for our association as the realiza- • Membership Benefits Leaflet participants of the round-table and the tion of the different projects is planned New Leaflets planned for 2015: people who were present. for spring 2015. • Keeping Hens and Rabbits on Allot- ments Call for projects 2014 b) Switzerland • Honey Bees and Wild Pollinators This call for projects 2014 allowed the Project: Children of the Garden (Gar- • The Voice of the Allotment Move- communes and associations to ask tenkinder) ment for subsidies for allotment gardens Project: Gardening at an advanced • Water use on Allotments up to September 15th, 2014. More in- age formation related to this call and the e) Luxembourg criteria to receive a financial support D. Law Changings Review: Garden & Home: 9 issues were available in a regulation. a) Germany per year for all the members Our association again gave its com- 1st trimester 2015 – New issue of the Pocket booklet petent advice to authorities and as- 11th edition of the comment concern- sociations while writing their demand ing the federal allotment law f) Switzerland and assembling the documents for Information paper 2014: the dossier. Preparing the garden for winter Minister Schauvliege approved 40 projects for allotment gardens by end C. Useful Information of 2014. These projects can get a fi- a) Belgium nancial support either for the creation Appeal for projects 2013 and lay-out of new allotments or for Till end of May 2013 associations and the extension and/or modernisation public authorities could ask for subsi- of existing allotments. Thanks to the dies. There was an enormous number call for projects 2014, one can esti- of demands. An independent jury has mate that there will be 500 additional chosen 25 projects during summer allotments and that due to this fact the 2013 and another 21 by the end of total surface of allotment gardens in 2013. A budget of 500,000 € was Flandria will increase by more than 20 reserved for all these projects. Our hectares. association has given its competent Both for the existing and new allot- advice to several authorities and as- ments the main goal is the increase sociations while writing their demand of the social cohesion, the creation of and assembling the documents for a meeting place for different genera- their dossier. tions and cultures, the creation of a group dynamic. The final goal is the Inspiration day 2014 autonomous management of the site. On 24th April 2014 the Flemish so- By this initiative Minister Schauvliege ciety for ground property organized hopes that people will again have in cooperation with our federation contact with a healthy food, with differ- “Tuinhier” an inspiration day for the ent flavours, with the own production

Hyphen 55 | 2015 42 ADDRESSES

Austria Zentralverband der Simon-Wiesenthal-Gasse 2 Tel. 0043/1-587 07 85 Kleingärtner und Siedler A- 1020 WIEN Fax. 0043/1-587 07 85 30 Österreichs email: [email protected] Internet. www.kleingaertner.at

Belgium National Verbond van Seminariestraat 2, Tel. 0032/9 267 87 31 Volkstuinen vzw/Ligue Lokaal C.3.02 email: [email protected] Nationale du Coin de Terre B-9000 GENT Internet: www.tuinhier.be et du Foyer - Jardins Populaires

Denmark Kolonihaveforbundet Frederikssundsvej 304 A Tel. 0045/3 828 8750 DK - 2700 BRONSHOJ Fax. 0045/3 828 8350 email: [email protected] Internet: www.kolonihave.dk

Finland Suomen Siirtolapuutarhaliitto ry Pengerkatu 9 B 39 Tel. 00358/ 103213540 SF - 00530 HELSINKI email: [email protected] Internet: www.siirtolapuutarhaliitto.fi

France Fédération Nationale des Jardins 12, rue Félix Faure Tel. 0033/ 1-45 40 40 45 Familiaux et Collectifs F - 75015 PARIS Fax. 0033/ 1-45 40 78 90 email: j.clement@jardins- familiaux.asso.fr

Germany Bundesverband Deutscher Platanenallee 37 Tel. 0049/30-30 20 71-40/41 Gartenfreunde e.V. D - 14050 BERLIN Fax.0049/30-30 20 71 39 email: [email protected] Internet: kleingarten-bund.de

Great-Britain The National Allotment Society O‘Dell House/Hunters Road Tel. 0044/ 1536 266 576 GB - CORBY Fax. 0044/1536 264 509 Northants NN17 5JE email: [email protected] Internet: www.nsalg.org.uk

Luxemburg Ligue Luxembourgeoise du Coin de 97, rue de Bonnevoie Tel. 00 352/ 48 01 99 Terre et du Foyer L - 1260 Luxembourg Fax. 00 352/40 97 98 email: [email protected] Internet: www.ctf.lu

Norway Norsk Kolonihageforbund Hammersborg torg 3 Tel. 0047/22-11 00 90 N - 0179 OSLO Fax. 0047/22-11 00 91 email: [email protected]

The Netherlands Algemeen Verbond van Volks- Vogelvlinderweg 50 Tel. 0031/ 30 670 1331 tuinders Verenigingen in NL - 3544 NJ UTRECHT Fax. 0031/ 30 670 0525 Nederland email: [email protected] Internet: www.avvn.nl

Poland Polski Zwiazek Dzialkowcow Ul. Bobrowiecka 1 Tel. 0048/ 22- 101 34 44 PL - 00728 WARSZAWA Fax.0048 /22- 101 34 60 email: [email protected] Internet: www.dzialkowiec.com.pl

Slovakia Slovenský Zväz Záhradkárov Havlickova 34 Tel. 00421/ 2-20 70 71 76 Republikový Výbor SK - 817 02 BRATISLAVA Fax. 00421/2-20 70 71 77 email: [email protected]

Sweden Koloniträdgårdsförbundet Asögatan 149 Tel. 0046/ 8 556 930 80 S - 116 32 STOCKHOLM Fax. 0046/ 8-640 38 98 email: [email protected] Internet: www.koloni.org

Switzerland Schweizer Familiengärtnerverband Sturzeneggstr. 23 Tel. 0041/ 71-311 27 19 CH - 9015 ST.GALLEN email: [email protected]

Hyphen 55 | 2015 43 IMPRESSUM

Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux association sans but lucratif

Anschrift: 20, rue de Bragance, L - 1255 Luxembourg

Das Office im Internet: www.jardins-familiaux.org

EXECUTIVE BOARD: Wilhelm WOHATSCHEK (A); President of the International Office and president of the executive board Hervé BONNAVAUD (F); Peter PASCHKE (D), Chris ZIJDEVELD (NL) members, Jean KIEFFER (L) treasurer Malou WEIRICH (L) secretary general

AUDITORS : Preben JACOBSEN (DK), Karen KENNY (GB), Walter SCHAFFNER (CH) SUBSTITUTE AUDITOR: Perti LAITILA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: The federations from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great-Britain, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland;

HYPHEN is published semi-annually by the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux a.s.b.l. Editor: Malou WEIRICH, Office International Distribution: E-Mail by the Office International Concept and realization: Zentralverband der Kleingärtner und Siedler Österreichs Layout/DTP: Werbegrafik-Design Karin Mayerhofer, BeSch, Ing. Beate Scherer

Source of pictures: The federations of Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the International Office

Date: March 2015

Hyphen 55 | 2015 44