News from the Office

Hyphen 68 News from the Office Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux association sans but lucratif | October 2019 Hyphen 68 | 2019 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents: Leading article The garden as diversity engine 3 Introduction Allotments – Oases of diversity 4 Social diversity Belgium: Our allotment gardeners in Belgium have much diversity to show in their social engagement 5 Switzerland: Integration on a day to day basis 10 Luxembourg: The gardens of Matgesfeld – an open space for children to discover nature 14 Garden forms and methods of cultivation The method of vegetable cultivation in the allotment gardens in Japan 15 Diplomas The allotment association “De Smallen Entrée” in Torhout (B) received the diploma for ecological gardening 17 The allotment garden association “KGV Steinfeld” in Graz (A) received the diploma for ecological gardening 19 The Herttoniemi Allotment Garden Association ”Herttoniemen siirtolapuutarhayhdistys” in Helsinki (FI) received the diploma for innovative projects 20 The allotment garden association “KGV Schönau” in Graz (A) received the diploma for innovative activities 22 Addresses 23 Impressum 24 Hyphen 68 | 2019 2 LEADING ARTICLE The garden as diversity engine Roel Deseyn President Tuinhier Social diversity provides different In our brochure we incorporated challenges, but the garden can still different areas of diversity: function as an ideal binder. • Ethnical diversity The need for a durable vision and pol- • Gender diversity icy on diversity is necessary in this multicultural society. Associations • Intergenerational diversity that forget both to look around and to try to incorporate other target-groups • Different garden styles are doomed to shrink and perhaps to fade out. • People with disabilities To reach different target groups you • People with financial problems need a large diversity in approaches. Roel Deseyn Every situation is unique and demands • and more. President Tuinhier a different approach. The garden has the capacity to connect, hence it is the The goals of our brochure ideal diversity engine! are the following: • Promote the garden as a diversity Tuinhier wants to create a solid strate- engine. gy. Like always it all starts with a plan Diversity means variety. There is even or in our case a field study (general • Show that working with diversity a large diversity of derivatives of this method collecting data about users, isn’t that hard. word: variety, change, alternation, var- user needs etc. involving observa- iegation, multiformity, multeity, and di- tion and interviewing). We created a • Get to know the sector and create versification. digital brochure packed with tips, ex- a long-term vision and strategy. amples, collaborations and practical Everyday gardeners get in touch with approaches. It is meant to inspire peo- Our n°1 rule is ‘work with the diversity. They even depend on the ple. All tips are meant to be copied target-group’ and ‘not for the huge biodiversity for healthy plants. and used to create new stories. target-group’. Remark: The Hyphen 68 and 69 also present different areas of diversity both to inspire the readers to take action and to motivate the authorities to also promote our allotments as a “diversity engine” throughout Europe and Japan. Hyphen 68 | 2019 3 INTRODUCTION Allotments – Oases of diversity Stephanie Mayerhofer Bakk.phil. But what is meant by the term diversi- many or Austria with often several ty in allotments? First, this only means 100 m2. that there is an abundance of different kinds, forms or the like. Basically, Biological diversity almost everything can be diverse. In Last but not least: diversity also this Hyphen and the next one we will, means diversity of species. This however, concentrate on three areas. means not only plants, but also an- imals, microorganism and fungi. Bi- Social diversity ological diversity is what makes life This often refers to the diversity of on earth possible for us. Preserving nations, which is frequently already biodiversity should therefore be a top apparent on the individual allotment priority for all of us, but especially for site. People from different countries gardeners who can in particular en- and cultures meet, exchange ideas sure that diversity remains alive by and learn from each other. gardening as close to nature as possible. However, also the wide range of social commitments, which are actively This year, the report lived in many allotments, cannot be on global diversity by dismissed. Be it that the surrounding the World Biodiversi- neighbours are given the opportunity ty Council, which com- to relax on the allotment site or the in- prises more than 1700 pages tegration of the oldest and youngest and in which more than 500 experts people in our society or people with participated, was published and was disabilities: The allotment gardeners widely discussed. The fact is that bio- prove again and again how important logical biodiversity is declining every- they are for the community. where. This makes the allotment gardens, which have been proven to be Gardening diversity green oases in the city and thus make However, diversity can also mean dif- a major contribution to diversity, all ferent garden forms, cultivation meth- the more important – studies from Many nations have joined forces in ods and projects that are implement- Germany (2008) and Austria (2019) the International Office to pull togeth- ed in the individual gardens. Different confirm this. er in the same direction. Already for cultures often also mean a different this reason alone, diversity is an im- understanding of the allotment gar- Allotments are diversity portant issue. However, great diversity den in itself: What are the priorities In theory diversity in the allotment can also be seen within the individual of the individual gardeners, what veg- garden has many aspects. In sum- countries. etables do they grow, how they grow mary, however, one can say: whether them or whether they grow any at all. large or small gardens, young or old In his editorial, Roel Deseyn, Presi- gardeners, in Europe or Asia, diversity dent of Tuinhier, explained why the The different sizes of allotment gar- are lived in the allotment gardens, un- topic of diversity is relevant for allot- dens in the different countries alone der the umbrella of the International ment gardeners, how different target are manifold: There is plenty of scope Office. The following examples from groups can be reached and with what between the small Japanese gardens the individual countries are intended strategy. with 10-30 m2 and the gardens in Ger- to illustrate this. Hyphen 68 | 2019 4 SOCIAL DIVERSITY Our allotment gardeners in Belgium have much diversity to show in their social engagement Onzen hof (Our garden) Method fixed gardening time, which overlaps General info There is a steering group with volun- to create interaction between the tar- “Ter Hovingen” is a residential care teers and professional employees get groups. Most people just pass by centre for elderly people and is the who communicate on an equal level and make a little chat. The steering initiator in this garden project. They and propose projects. Activities are group communicates their activities combined two needs with each other. organised and discussed there. to the whole neighbourhood so new The first: they did a survey with their people can discover this project. inhabitants and they asked for more The garden itself is only 100 m² but interaction. The second need came an extension is on its way, doubling Tips from a group of neighbours. The peo- the size. There is a small greenhouse • Participate in neighbourhood ple in the surrounding streets have and a communal shed. There is a events and open up the garden small gardens and wanted to create a list of ‘to do’s’ and a logbook which (e.g.: garage sales). This makes neighbourhood garden on the grounds records all done chores. Everyone the terrain more accessible and of ‘Ter Hovingen’. who passes can perform some jobs lowers the fear of trespassing. and participate. Every partner has his The backyard of the centre is large and there were plans to reconstruct this garden. An allotment in the backyard was the ideal solution for both needs. One after one, new partners joined in on the project. The health centre of the neighbourhood, a fam- ily replacing home for people with a mental disability “GVT Gandae” and the local school all joined in, each add- ing extra value. Hyphen 68 | 2019 5 SOCIAL DIVERSITY • Every partner is responsible for his where they can learn from one come this healthy mix they started group and motivates new people another, be active and meet new to work together with other partners. people. E.g.: vzw gezin (an association for the • Work together! Make sure all part- local Muslim community), KWB (so- ners are convinced of the benefits. • GVT Gandae: offer activities for cio-cultural association) and the ser- their inhabitants in close proximity vice centre. • Create a match between the differ- of their buildings. ent motivations The garden • Neighbours: create an active The lay-out is made to promote inte- • Do a yearly search for new volun- neighbourhood that clings togeth- gration and cooperation. There is a teers er and organises activities. shared shed, a mutual herb garden and two shared water pumps. Mainly • Keep the tasks manageable and • Primary school: education in a the water pumps are social meeting clear. (Logbook and to do’s) healthy and green environment. points. All 55 gardeners have to get their water from them, so occasionally • Volunteers can pick up tasks ac- Challenges there is a queue. All garden tools have cording to their talents and free • Make sure that the project re- to be shared. Then there is a special time.

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