Hyphen 61 News from the Office - Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux association sans but lucratif | June 2017 - Office ...
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Hyphen 61
News from the Office
Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux
association sans but lucratif | June 2017
Hyphen 61 | 2017 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of contents:
Editorial
Editorial 3
Activity report
Activity report 2016 (1st part) 5
Diplomas
The allotment garden association „Blumenfreunde“ with its bees in Vienna (A)
received the diploma for innovative projects 8
The allotment association „Zur grünen Insel“ in Bremen (D)
received the diploma for ecological gardening and social activities 13
The Allotment Park „De Driehoek“ in Utrecht (NL) received the diploma for social activities 15
The history of the Office
History of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux 1926 – 2016 (4th part) 17
Actuality theme
Switzerland: The situation in Switzerland and the related services offered
by the Swiss allotment federation to its members 21
Information from the federations
Germany: The Allotment gardeners’ contribution towards saving a good working soil 23
Great-Britain: Langley Park Community Garden 25
Sweden: Environmental certification of Swedish allotment associations 26
Addresses 28
Impressum 29
Hyphen 61 | 2017 2
EDITORIAL
Editorial
Walter Schaffner
former President of the Swiss Allotment Federation
There is a saying „where there is work, support from the Solidarity Fund. In
there are mistakes“. Zurich the allotment area „Vulkan“ of
the FGV Altstetten-Albisrieden is also
In 2005, I took over the presidency in threatened by a loss of garden plots.
Frauenfeld. It was always my wish to The new ZSC stadium should be built
be able to pass over the presidency in here. We also financially supported
the east of Switzerland. Thanks to the the association using the solidarity
organization of the 2017 delegates’ fund for the voting campaign and fur-
assembly by the Central Federation thermore took part in the media con-
of the St. Gallen Allotment Associa- ference on the garden site. In Central
tion, my wish was fulfilled – thank you Switzerland, the lease contracts for
very much. gardening and the building regulations
were amended and have already been
Over the past two years the Executive put into practice. In the city of St. Gal-
Board has also dealt with the problem len three areas are also affected. They
Walter Schaffner concerning the future of our federa- are to be built over within the next two
tion. On the basis of an analysis of to four years. A replacement ground is
On May 20th at the delegates’ assem- the federation made by EMHO Man- offered here, but the urban allotment
bly in my hometown St. Gallen, I re- agement AG in Alpnach, we have been concept of 2006 will be revised and
signed and transferred my mandate looking for more efficient structures unpleasant news are expected.
as President of the federation to my in our organization. We would like to
successor, Christophe Campiche, who implement some good approaches, We are pleased to see that younger
had already been elected President in including the creation of an external families are again finding access to
Riehen 2 years ago. This transfer took audit department and the transfer of gardening. At present times there are
place after 12 years as president and greater responsibility and increased again waiting lists. The boards of the
28 years of work on the executive competences to the regional repre- sections and associations are, how-
board. During those 28 years, I as- sentatives. We developed this project ever, also challenged by the tenants’
sumed various assignments on the during six meetings of the manage- cultivation of the plots and increasing-
executive board, and now it was time ment board, in four meetings of the ly have to cancel leases. In addition,
to retire. executive board, and one in the work- they have important staff problems.
ing group dealing with the revision of Who is still ready to assume a man-
We were able to introduce some inno- the statutes. date today? For a long time we were
vations during my presidential man- looking for successors for some re-
date: the regulations, a homepage An almost continuous subject is the gional representatives; even calls in
with an application for our magazine problem concerning the termination the „Gartenfreund“(our review) were
„the garden friend“, the second edition of the leases concerning alloment necessary. This is a long- lasting issue
of our brochure „Naturnah gepflegt“ sites. In Bern the „Viererfeld“, a green with which the executive board must
as well as a lobbying of national and area which is situated in the agricul- also deal very intensively in the future.
state councils to mention only the tural zone and also houses family Despite various resignations, whether
most important ones. This could not gardens is to be overbuilt with new for reasons of age or long-term man-
be done alone. It was only possible houses. The affected allotment as- agement, our executive board is now
to do this comprehensive work with sociation „Brückfeld“ has joined forc- complete again. For many allotment
a strong team. Not everything always es with various parties and organi- sites leaving the federation is not a
worked according to plan. Mistakes zations, so that they can fight for a voluntary step, but is due to the fact
also were made during these years voting against this project. Our feder- that an area is being overbuilt and no
and I would like to apologize for them. ation has contributed with a financial replacement ground is available.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 3
EDITORIAL
Over the past two years, positive re- been reduced, but is still intact and we published about the allotment move-
ports have been published in the me- are cooperating again more strongly ment. The summaries, which are al-
dia about allotment gardening. Fur- with Bioterra. FiBL conducted a study ready available in three languages,
thermore some good programmes or in the cities of Lucerne, Lausanne, Ba- can be important for the future of our
interviews have been broadcasted on sel and St. Gallen. The reports can be movement. That is why it is important
the radio DRS. This used sometimes found on our homepage. We are hav- that information from the individual af-
to be different in the past. Now we are ing increasingly discussions with Pro- filiated leagues gets to the Office.
increasingly asked for reports. Natura, ProSpecieRara and the bird
protection. The issue of „biodiversi- I would like to thank my colleagues on
Our project of building up lobbying at ty“ requires our fullest attention with the management board and the feder-
the occasion of the Federal Elections regard to the implementation by 2020 ation’s executive board for the good
in the autumn of 2015 has started of the Nagoya protocol that was rati- cooperation in the past years. I would
well, but it must not be neglected in fied by Switzerland. In this area there also like to thank the executive board
the future. The aim is to find politi- will be a few challenges for the as- of the International Office for the very
cians at the cantonal and federal lev- sociations and our federation in the good cooperation during my term
el, who support our movement above coming years. of office. I address a special thank-
all in spatial planning questions or you to the Secretary General, Malou
guideline changes. Talks with poli- We were able to provide some useful Weirich, for the cooperation and the
ticians are always important for us. information to the International Office, long-standing personal contact also
This contact must also be intensively thanks to our connections to techni- on a private level. I hope we can con-
maintained by our regional represent- cal high schools and the Swiss net- tinue to cultivate it. I would also like to
atives. We must further try to continue works. The most important one was thank all the presidents of the leagues
and intensify cooperation with other the „Cost“ project. Thanks to this in- affiliated to the International Office for
like-minded organisations and feder- formation, the Office participated with their cooperation. I wish all the best
ations. We cannot avoid cooperation some countries in the regular Cost to the whole Office for the future. You
and follow our own path towards the meetings. The final event took place will certainly not lack work and new
future. With shared synergies, we can in Basel. Thanks to the participation challenges will await you.
benefit from each other. The cooper- of the Office and some leagues, one
ation with the VdGV has somewhat could control what was gathered and
Hyphen 61 | 2017 4
ACTIVITY REPORT
Activity report 2016
(1st part)
The executive board has the pleasure ed to ask the general assembly to not work. This problem has to be
to submit the activity report for 2016 discuss this problem during the discussed once more in the gener-
to you. general assembly of March 2017. al assembly and it should be tried
to open the internet forum for the
Internal activities • It took the necessary measures gardening advisers.
Since the last statutory general as- for a third edition of the infor-
sembly the executive board met on mation brochure and for another • The executive board considered to
August 16th, November 26th and is edition of the brochure concern- celebrate the 90th anniversary of
still going to meet on March 5th, 2017. ing children and nature as well as the Office during the international
for the finalization of the brochure congress in Vienna i. e. at the oc-
a) Work of the executive board concerning innovative projects. casion of the opening session of
and of the general assembly the congress. It was additionally
Work of the executive board • On proposal of the BDG it was considered by the Austrian allot-
The executive board is conscious of decided to propose to the general ment federation to issue at this
the importance of a better visibility assembly to „internationalize“ the occasion a brochure concerning
of the Office and consequently dis- German brochure dealing with the the history of the Office from 1926
cussed, among others, the following problem concerning the soil. until 2016. Professor KATSCH
subjects in order to present the nec- agreed to write the last part of the
essary details to the general assem- • Furthermore, the executive board Office history i. e. from 1980 until
bly for an adequate decision making proposed to the general assembly today. So, a third part of the Office
and in order to execute the decisions to issue the Hyphen four times a history can be issued (part 1 and
taken as well as possible: year instead of two times a year in part 2 were already issued by the
order to create and keep up tighter German allotment garden muse-
• The executive board has acknowl- links with the national allotment um). It has to be discussed with
edged that the criteria for asking gardeners. the German allotment museum
support from the solidarity fund if the two existing parts could be
do no more match the current • The executive board was of the unified with the third part in one
situation. The text was therefore opinion that one should continue single edition.
amended and a new draft submit- to regularly update the homepage
ted to the general assembly. and that, therefore, the federations • In parallel to this brochure, a sur-
had to be asked to send in more vey of the history of the Office
• The executive board also dis- contributions. should be published in the Hyphen
cussed the problem concerning over several issues.
the future of the Office and its • It has acknowledged repeatedly
financial situation. It was decid- that the internet forum does still
Hyphen 61 | 2017 5
ACTIVITY REPORT
• After the meeting of H. BON- • The executive board discussed sion in Belgium in 2018.
NAVAUD and M. WEIRICH with the once more the problem concern-
representatives of commissioner ing the Community Gardens be- H. BONNAVAUD, followed by
VELLA, the situation flowing from cause they start networking on the new president and executive
this, was discussed. It was pro- regional and national level and board of the French federation,
posed to the general assembly to get much support from the au- have chosen as congress subject
take part in the citizen’s consul- thorities. The executive board will for 2019: „The soil, a common
tations and the federations were propose to the general assembly good, the soil in all its aspects“.
asked to volunteer to deal with that the federations make a survey This subject should be discussed
the different areas concerned: cli- of all forms of Urban Gardening during the study session 2017 and
mate, environment, regional policy, in their country. Then a working 2018 in order to prepare the con-
youth and education. group should analyse which posi- gress so that during the congress
tion the allotment garden move- the conclusions can be adopted.
• After a long research and discus- ment should adopt and make
sions it was decided not to contin- proposals. The general assembly decided
ue to seek for an affiliation of the to discuss in the study sessions
Office to the European Environ- • Following to the congress in Vien- 2017 and 2018 both the problem
ment Bureau. na the executive board discussed of the future of the Office and the
the procedure to work out new problem concerning the soil.
• The executive board took the guidelines for gardening advice.
necessary measures so that the It will propose to the coming gen- • The general assembly decided
Office can again take part in the eral assembly to create a working to issue a third edition of the in-
week against pesticides in 2017. group for this elaboration. formation brochure, to finish the
A text proposal was elaborated brochures on children and nature,
and sent to the national federa- • Finally the executive board pro- respectively on innovative projects
tions for completion and correct- poses to the general assembly to and to issue a brochure on the
ing so that the final text can be check if the “rule” one country = subject of the soil.
adopted during the general as- one federation remains necessary
sembly in March 2017. today. • It was decided to open the internet
forum to the gardening advisers.
• The executive board members Work of the general assembly The necessary password was
were of the opinion that the Of- The general assembly was informed sent to the federations. They also
fice does not have the necessary on the work of the executive board, received once more the general
means to take part as a partner in the problems were then discussed passwords for the internet forum
a scientific study on climate and and the necessary decisions taken: so that every federation has ac-
urban green (a scientist to accom- cess to the forum.
pany this work, the necessity of • The revised regulation for the
federations to host the students solidarity fund was adopted with • The general assembly decid-
and the impossibility to pay a unanimity on proposal of the exec- ed not to issue the Hyphen four
yearly contribution of 1,000 £ due utive board. times a year but only three times
to the financial difficulties of the and to check later if this practice
Office). The Office had also been • The proposal to discuss during should be continued. Accordingly,
asked to take part in a network on the general assembly in March in cooperation with the company
urban planning and a joint venture. 2017 the future orientations and MAYERHOFER the Hyphen could
These demands were rejected too. the financial future of the Office be issued three times in very well
was unanimously adopted by the conceived issues in 2016. The
• On proposal of H. BONNAVAUD delegates. information brochure was edited
the executive board discussed the for the third time at the occasion
possibility not only to deal with After a discussion in the general of the 38th international congress
the statutory obligations and the assembly in August, following the in Vienna. By end of the year the
yearly activities during the general desire of the Danish federation it brochure concerning children and
assembly, but to also discuss a was decided to also discuss this nature was issued in German,
specific subject. Thus in 2016 the problem during the study session French and English. The brochure
problem concerning community in Denmark in 2017 and if neces- concerning the innovative projects
gardening was discussed. sary as well during the study ses- will probably be issued at the be-
Hyphen 61 | 2017 6
ACTIVITY REPORT
ginning of 2017. • It was considered to check if the sembly the Swedish federation
national members in the European presented itself with the services
• The cooperation with the Europe- Parliament could not support our given to the allotment gardeners,
an Union was intensively dis- efforts to integrate the allotments their problems and challenges.
cussed after the information was in the framework policy on green It was decided to have such a
received by the executive board. infrastructures. presentation during each general
assembly. In March 2017 the Lux-
• It was acknowledged that the Eu- • We have to continue sending doc- embourgish federation is going to
ropean Union cannot issue legisla- uments showing our activities in present itself.
tion in the areas of concern for the order to maintain the „pressure“.
allotment gardeners. The Europe- • The general assembly got infor-
an Union can only give guidelines • During the general assembly in mation by the German federation
or elaborate framework policies, March 2016 the problem concern- on the presentation of the German
which have to be put into practice ing community gardening was and international allotment move-
on national level. presented and discussed under ment during the IGA 2017 in Ber-
the chair of Cost scientists. This lin. The highlight for the allotment
• Additionally, the EU decisions have problem should be maintained in gardeners will be the meetings
to be adopted by a majority vote our focus in the future in order to organised from 18th until 20th
i. e. there are 28 member States, adopt the right position. May, 2017.
but we have allotment gardeners
in only 10 member States. • During the August general as- To be followed
Hyphen 61 | 2017 7
DIPLOMAS
The allotment garden
association „Blumenfreunde“
with its bees in Vienna (A)
received the diploma for
innovative projects
The allotment garden association „Blumenfreunde“ in Vienna’s 21st district has always had a beekeeper
among them and since its very beginning a bee house was part of the association.
The allotment gardeners, in
particular the association’s
management team, have
always appreciated the
work done by the respective
beekeepers as the bees
guaranteed rich harvests in
times of scarcity.
And all of a sudden the bees
became the talk of the town. All
media was and is crammed with
reports about the bees’ struggle
for survival. And of course the
new friends of the bees came
together and founded – with big
applause and huge media cover-
age – associations like the urban
beekeepers, the rural beekeepers
and whatever other names they
could find.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 8
DIPLOMAS
Only associations such as the allot- Bees are older than mankind. The first honeybees were found in over 50-mil-
ment garden association „Blumen- lion-year-old amber. When humans started to develop 5 million years ago,
freunde“ are hardly mentioned or honeybee colonies already existed. During the Stone Age, honey was a
not at all. Subsidies, which are far popular energy provider. The eldest document, a 10‘000-year old cave drawing
from insignificant, go to media-ef- found in Spain, shows „honey hunters“ at work. In our geographical area, bee-
fective and marketable persons, keeping blossomed during the Middle Ages. The guild of the bee-masters who
companies and associations. tended to the beehives in the bee trees enjoyed particular privileges.
Bee colonies used to be situated in
tree trunks, baskets and hives with
fixed honeycombs until the hive
frame and the detachable honey-
comb were developed in the 19th
century. Many discoveries and devel-
opments took place during that time.
The invention of the honey separator
made it possible to reuse the honey-
combs after the honey harvest.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 9
DIPLOMAS
Back to our allotment garden association „Blumenfreunde“: The old bee house (a former allotment garden shed)
was beyond repair; therefore the association decided to build a new bee villa.
Together they built the foundation and the supporting After the installation of the floor …
structure.
…they assembled the framework … …and the roof panels were mounted.
The roof sealing with bitumen sheets and the front door … and the wall boards were fitted.
were next, …
Hyphen 61 | 2017 10DIPLOMAS
By the way, work makes you thirsty! The first window fits right in its place …
… and this is what the bee villa looks like once it is finished and hosts the first beehives.
It is still a bit untidy inside but the bees, the beekeeper, … because now the demolition of the old shed
the members and the board are happy … can take place.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 11DIPLOMAS
And above all, the beekeeper can now take the first … explain his work to them, …
visitors for a tour, …
… and let them taste fresh honey directly from the The last picture shows how sweet-tempered the bees
honeycombs. of the allotment garden association „Blumenfreunde“
prove to be: not a single visitor got stung.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 12DIPLOMAS
The allotment association
„Zur grünen Insel“ in Bremen
(D) received the diploma for
ecological gardening and
social activities
The allotment site „Zur grünen Insel“ green spaces. Pioneer species have The result is a supportive neighbour-
is an association boasting exactly 100 hardly been established here. Oak and hood that sees association experts
gardens, which thanks to an almost beech trees line the paths and gar- providing advice to domestic garden
perfect location make up the green dens. Parts of the site are permanent- owners on sustainable and ecological
lungs of the urban triangle of Horn, ly shaded but despite this the area is gardening, gardening tools being lent
Oberneuland and Borgfeld. The asso- used to its full extent for allotment out and allotment gardeners picking
ciation was established before 1969 gardening purposes – in accordance up the hedge trimmers when age or
by combining park and allotment land. with federal allotment garden provi- health reasons prevent others from
The result – in addition to providing sions. The allotment gardeners refrain doing so.
the benefits inherent in cultivating al- from using any chemical pesticides
lotments – was to create grounds for and herbicides. In the city-state of Bremen, soil is a
inhabitants from the neighbouring res- highly sought-after commodity, ow-
idential quarter. The pathways lead- The allotment area borders a primary ing to its severe limitation. Residential
ing through the association’s territo- school and a kindergarten, providing quarters frequently lack open spac-
ry allow pupils and commuters alike resident children with great outdoor es and children often have no room
to enjoy a much shorter route to their experiences, spacious natural areas for playing and running around. The
everyday environment. A route that is and a good neighbourhood. communal areas of the allotment as-
moreover green in every respect, given sociation „Zur grünen Insel“ comprise
that it does away with vehicles. Not just the allotment area is firmly several rambling meadows, which
anchored in the urban neighbourhood children from the neighbourhood are
The allotment garden area itself is of Bremen-Horn; the association, re- welcome to „kick around“ on. The spa-
characterised by an unusual stock of spectively association life, also has a cious area also lends itself to walk-
trees seldom found in Bremen’s public positive impact on its surroundings. ing man’s best friend and the bench-
Hyphen 61 | 2017 13DIPLOMAS
es provide an opportunity for urban rying out community work and cul-
residents to engage in a chat. And so tivating her own leased garden. Her
children, mothers, people both young efforts are appreciated by countless
and old, individuals from different admiring passers-by.
backgrounds, even senior citizens
come together not just as allotment The association initiates joint activi-
gardeners; they also live together in ties, such as the Easter market and
urban neighbourhoods and cross the Christmas bazaar. There is a Nor-
paths in the allotment site „Zur grü- dic walking group, a summer and chil-
nen Insel“. dren’s festival as well as an organis-
ing team responsible for two events
The care of the common green space in the FlorAtrium: the Bremen „Day of
is shared by the municipal council of the Garden“ and the autumn market,
Bremen and the allotment garden ten- each featuring some 30 exhibitors.
ants. Here there are no maintenance All these events foster contact with
or upkeep arrears. The sought-after the residential neighbourhood, with
location of the allotment area has personal invitations issued and spe-
seen local tenants reach innovative cific projects created for children and
heights. An example: one allotment senior citizens, so that nobody feels
gardener planted a bed of May lil- left out.
ies in a communal green space that
was previously inaccessible due to In a nutshell: the association com-
shrubs and a potential site for waste bines an ecologically exemplary cul-
discharge. She cares for this approxi- tivation of its allocated land with the
mately 500 m2 area in addition to car- highest level of social commitment.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 14DIPLOMAS
The Allotment Park
„De Driehoek“ in Utrecht (NL)
received the diploma
for social activities
This association has invested much
effort to bring refugees / asylum
seekers in contact with a typical
Dutch / north European phenomenon:
associations and voluntary work. The
initiative of the association also drew
the attention of our Minister of Social
Affairs. In spite of all the bureaucracy
De Driehoek pulled through.
On Monday 1 February, Minister As-
scher (of Social Affairs) paid a work-
ing visit to the Organic Allotment Park
De Driehoek in Utrecht. The minister
wants asylum seekers to be given
faster access to volunteer work op-
portunities. Until now, the Employees’
Insurance Agency (UWV) has required
approximately five weeks before issu-
ing a decision on permission. The Min-
ister wants the time within which the
matter is settled to be cut to between
one and two weeks. In his opinion, it is
vital that refugees quickly be allowed
to carry out volunteer work, for exam-
ple working in nature or organising
games for the elderly. For that reason,
he visited the Zuylenstede Residential
Care Home in Overvecht and the Allot-
ment Park De Driehoek.
Since 2014, a number of asylum seek-
ers have been spending every Monday
morning in the allotment park. After
long negotiations with the UWV – sup-
ported by the AVVN – formal permis-
sion was granted following an initial
rejection, and asylum seekers were al-
lowed to assist with general mainte-
nance (weeding), maintenance of the
scrub embankments (pruning) and
Hyphen 61 | 2017 15DIPLOMAS
helping elderly and infirm gardeners nuity of service. This means that the the gardeners.
carry out heavier work (for example recruitment process is taken out of
sieving and transporting compost to the hands of the allotment associa- It is a win-win situation. The asylum
the gardens by wheelbarrow). This tion. The allotment members are of seekers are a welcome addition to the
volunteer work for the allotment as- course responsible for supervising the short supply of volunteers for main-
sociation is not a form of work that work at the allotment park. taining the complex; they help enliven
would otherwise be carried out by the gardens and offer the allotment
paid employees. Volunteers are not Generally, when newcomers arrive in gardeners an opportunity to get to
permitted to be deployed in place of the morning, they are given a tour of know and understand the refugees,
paid positions. the allotment park. Asylum seekers in a congenial environment. For the
have little or no knowledge of the al- asylum seekers, it is a pleasant intro-
The Utrecht Volunteer Agency acts as lotment system, nor are they general- duction to a typically Dutch phenom-
the go-between. They recruit interest- ly conversant with the phenomenon enon. They make contact with Dutch
ed individuals from the Asylum Seek- of volunteer work for the public good nationals, have the feeling that they
ers Centre (AZC) and travel with them (unpaid work). They are introduced are doing something useful while
by bicycle right across the city to De to the gardeners on site and there awaiting the conclusion of their asy-
Driehoek, and subsequently back to is an opportunity to communicate in lum procedure, and can break out of
the AZC. The bicycle guidance task is Dutch, English, or with hand gestures. the daily rut and boredom at the Asy-
sometimes taken on by a representa- After coffee / tea is served, they work lum Seekers Centre with an enjoyable
tive from the allotment. The asylum together under the supervision of a outdoor activity.
seekers know that there is always small group of allotment gardeners,
someone to greet them at the gate, and receive instructions on weeding, It would be excellent if more allot-
and cycle with them. Each month, raking and pruning. They also learn ment associations could join forces
if necessary, the Volunteer Agency the names of fruit and vegetables in with volunteer agencies to encourage
tries to identify a new group of vol- Dutch and are occasionally sent home asylum seekers to work as volunteers
unteers, thereby guaranteeing conti- with small samples of the produce, by in their gardens.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 16THE HISTORY OF THE OFFICE
History of the Office International
du Coin de Terre et des Jardins
Familiaux 1926 – 2016
4th part Malou Weirich
The evolution from a) Allotments, a means Today the vegetable cultivation is
1947 until today for material support again trendy, both because of the eco-
After 1947 the allotment garden At the time of the Office’s foundation nomic crisis and because of people’s
movement had to redefine itself in or- the allotments mainly aimed at ena- awareness for healthy food.
der to tackle the new challenges and bling the workers to cultivate vege-
to take into consideration the changes tables in order to lighten the family b) The allotment, a means
in our towns and in society. This evolu- budget by getting a surplus of food. for the personal development
tion will now be analysed over several and for the development
issues of the Hyphen. The topics dis- This subject of the allotments as pro- of the families.
cussed, the internal evolution of the vider of food was up-to-date until the After the Second World War the allot-
Office and the cooperation with the Second World War. ment was above all a means for the
international organisations with their personal development and the recon-
successes and problems will be an- Afterwards the economic aspect of struction of the families.
alysed. vegetable and fruit cultivation as a
provider of food for the family was Five congresses, London 1949, Lux-
1) The topics and further discussed during the interna- embourg 1951, Amsterdam 1953, Vi-
areas of concern tional congress in Brussels in 1998. enna 1955 and Brussels 1958 tried to
The subjects that have been dealt with define people’s new needs and consid-
by the Office and the national federa- A comparison was made between ered the social and personal function
tions are based on the societal and the costs of self-cultivated vegeta- of the allotments as a main priority.
urban development in Europe: Recon- bles and the price of these vegeta- The delegates were of the opinion
struction after the War, boom of the bles, bought in the supermarket. The that the contact with the earth ena-
glorious sixties, awareness and sen- result was that not only the self-culti- bled people to recover the physical,
sitisation of people for nature and en- vated vegetables were healthier, but moral and spiritual balance, which had
vironment protection as well as health that they were also cheaper. 368 € been heavily damaged during the war.
to name only these few. can be saved per year if you cultivate
your vegetables and don’t need to buy Two other congresses, Basel 1980
The problems and aims of the federa- them. and Stockholm 1990, dealt again with
tions were everywhere the same and the social function of the allotments
on a national and international level The priorities of the allotment garden and the social evolution in our soci-
the problems and challenges were changed, however, slowly shifting ety. Increasingly the allotment feder-
discussed and dealt with. from the material factor to becom- ations and associations considered
ing a useful leisure time occupation their mission no more in a restricted
First of all the subjects were dis- and then afterwards towards nature manner i. e. limited to their members,
cussed in congress cycles. Later on and environment protection as well as but in a much larger way. The focus
seminars and study sessions were towards a sustainable development. was on laying out the allotment sites
introduced in order to intensively pre- The intensity of this shift was different and on creating activities so that chil-
pare the congress subject so as to be from federation to federation. The so- dren, disabled people, the elderly and
able to finalise the discussions during cial function of the allotment garden immigrants could be integrated on the
the coming congress. movement and the problems related allotment sites.
to it were, however, not neglected.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 17THE HISTORY OF THE OFFICE
A social diploma was created by the the free time resulting from this, was that the allotments had to play a role
Office in 2010 in order to recognise all well used. In the congress resolution in this urban development.
these efforts, to reward the allotment it was stipulated that the possibility to
gardeners and to motivate others to cultivate a garden was an ideal means Therefore, the allotment sites through-
realise similar projects. A brochure in order to use the free time meaning- out Europe were opened all day long
entitled: „the social responsibility of fully and so to improve the moral and in order to share our green oasis with
the allotment gardeners“ as well as physical health of the population. other citizens. The allotments could
two brochures dealing with the topic no more exclusively serve the allot-
„Allotments and children“ were pub- This topic was afterwards discussed ment gardeners. They had to make
lished. again during the congresses in Gene- a contribution to the neighbourhood
va in 1961, in Paris in 1963, in Copen- and society.
c) The allotment, a means hagen in 1965, in Birmingham in 1976
for a meaningful leisure and in Brussels in 1982. The congresses in Luxembourg in
time occupation 1967, in Stockholm in 1970 and in Vi-
When the working time was greatly re- Also today the problem of a mean- enna in 1972 required the taking into
duced and the leisure time society be- ingful leisure time is not completely consideration of allotments as urban
gan, the International Office was one solved. People have more and more – green areas and required the recogni-
of the first organisations on interna- deliberately or not deliberately – free tion of this new function of the allot-
tional level to deal with this problem time. The offers, on how to occupy ments. The consequence of this was
and to analyse it as a whole. oneself during this free time are con- that the allotment gardeners became
stantly increasing. However, are they aware that they had to protect nature
Father Lemire already acknowledged all in the interest of people? Does not and the environment in the urban area.
during the congress in 1927 that the the essence of a person consist in the A link between the contribution of the
legislator had to intervene in order to possibility to take up initiatives one- allotments for a humane and natural
liberate the worker of the very bad self, to freely create something one- environment in towns was created
working conditions, the continuation self? Is the allotment garden not still and was developed over the follow-
and the hardship of which made them today a means to enable a person to ing years.
tyrannical for the workers. The eight fully develop his personality during his
hour working day and the forty hour free time and this according to what Despite the fact that in several coun-
week as well as the obligatory pen- he thinks best fits? tries the allotment gardens are part
sions were introduced. So, the leisure of the town planning schemes, they
time was created and one had to find Is not the development of new forms are, however, not everywhere an inte-
means in order to use it in a mean- of gardens (Community Gardens, In- grated element of the urban green in-
ingful way. Sport, leisure time occupa- tercultural Gardens) the proof that the frastructures. All the federations are
tions, continuous education etc were social potential of the allotments is convinced of the importance of this
mentioned. not yet fully recognised and not ful- problem and this subject has to be
ly used? discussed together, for example dur-
These different possibilities to use the ing the preparation for the internation-
free time were adequate for some, but d) The allotments, an al congress to be organised in Germa-
not for all. The allotment gardeners urban green zone and a ny in 2021.
were convinced that the allotment necessary element of the
garden was the only possibility for a town green infrastructures e) The allotment, a
meaningful leisure time occupation, Father Lemire already wrote down ide- means for nature and
which was adequate for all. In the al- as concerning the subject of „Worker environment protection
lotment the person can in fact recover gardens and Urbanism“ in 1920. Already during the congress in Am-
his free personality. sterdam in 1974 it was acknowledged
In the 60s the quick development of that the allotment garden is stimulat-
This subject was discussed for the big cities started with their skyscrap- ing an active contact with nature and
first time during the congress in ers and the risk of people to feel suf- is an irreplaceable space to sensitise
Dortmund in 1959. At the end of this focated by concrete and asphalt. children for nature. However, also
congress an urgent appeal was ad- All open spaces disappeared due to adults have to be acquainted with
dressed to the national authorities. construction and the cost of land in- the facts, the new requirements and
The delegates underlined that the re- creased. But despite all this, green knowledge concerning nature and en-
duction of the working time could only zones had to be safeguarded in the vironment protection. If already gov-
be a step towards social progress if towns. Very quickly one recognised ernment counsellor Bielefeld reported
Hyphen 61 | 2017 18THE HISTORY OF THE OFFICE
that in 1910 professional gardening spectful of nature. It was financially ations’ gardening advisers should be
advisers came to the allotment sites supported by the European Union, the created.
during the evenings in order to inform Council of Europe and the Luxembour-
the allotment gardeners on an ade- gish government in order to stimulate f) Allotment gardens, an
quate fertilisation and to give them the efforts of the allotment gardeners element of urban gardening
advice on gardening cultivation, it is to garden in an ecological way and to Garden plots are appearing every-
today even more important that the give them suggestions. where. Urban Gardening is considered
modern gardening advisers are best a panacea, a proof, if still necessary,
trained and acquainted with the new The Office additionally published a Va- that people need the contact with the
necessary subjects of gardening ad- demecum on bees on allotment gar- earth, the garden. Allotment gardens
vice in order to be able to inform the den sites in 2013. are, however, often considered first
allotment gardeners in an optimal way to be closed down if construction
on the new requirements. A diploma for an ecological gardening grounds are needed.
was also created in 1996 in order to
The congresses in Paris in 1986, The support the efforts of the allotment Since the end of the 19th century al-
Hague 1992, Dresden 1996 and Lau- gardeners and to stimulate them. Up lotments have been laid out in towns
sanne 2000 dealt above all with the to now 56 diplomas have been award- among other reasons in order to re-
subjects of nature and environment ed. store people’s contact with earth that
protection and a sustainable devel- had been lost. They enable still today
opment. Additionally, new challenges have to contacts between people, provide
be faced. The subject concerning gar- healthy food to the allotment garden-
The allotment gardeners were, on dening advice was discussed during ers …
one hand, conscious that a garden- the international congress in Vienna in
ing respectful of nature would give 2016. It has to be organised in such For a long time allotment gardens
them healthy food and was a reme- a way as to embrace all the new as- have been increasingly cultivated all
dy to the food scandals that regularly pects and to support the allotment over Europe in a nature friendly way,
appeared. They, however, on the oth- gardeners so that all the requirements pesticides are banished and the rules
er hand, were also conscious of their of an optimal nature and environment on a sustainable development are ap-
responsibility to contribute to a sus- protection can be observed. plied.
tainable development through a gar-
dening respectful of nature and en- Subjects as for example sewage, pro- And despite all this, they are easily for-
vironment. It was without any doubt tection of ground water, economical gotten, overseen.
that a gardening respectful of nature use of water, waste separation and
constituted a possibility to safeguard waste prevention as well as safe- Are allotments than no element of Ur-
biodiversity in the urban areas. It has guarding of green spaces in the ur- ban Gardening?
to be underlined that a German study, ban areas to improve the quality of
worked out in 2008, proved that one air have to be included. On the contrary allotments should be
can find 59 varieties of fruit in allot- considered as the most sustainable
ment gardens whereas there exist Gardening advice has additionally to form of Urban Gardening.
only 30 in the professional cultiva- include the general topics as for ex-
tion and 114 varieties of vegetables ample integration, sensitization of The problem concerning Urban Gar-
whereas there are only 35 varieties children for nature etc. dening was already discussed during
in the professional cultivation. The the Office general assemblies. We
comparison of ornamental plants is The resolution adopted in Vienna stip- have to adopt the correct position
as well much more positive in the al- ulated that additionally to the existing in this area for the future, work out a
lotment garden. In fact, per 100 sqm guidelines, the Office should work out common strategy and make our voice
you find an average of 22,4 plants in a new module of expert gardening heard.
the allotment garden but only 0,5 in advice. It should deal with advanced
public parks. training measures considering sus- g) Legal protection
tainability. It should be formulated in of allotments
Currently a similar study is being car- such a way that it can be adopted ac- In order for the allotment gardeners to
ried out in Vienna. cording to the different national ne- be able to realize all the above men-
cessities. tioned functions, be it the material,
Already in 1994 the Office issued a social, town planning or nature and
brochure on a gardening that is re- Furthermore, a network of the feder- environment protection functions,
Hyphen 61 | 2017 19THE HISTORY OF THE OFFICE
the allotments have to be legally pro- well as in the town planning schemes. dens …). The allotment garden sites
tected (congresses 1961, 1963, 1965, Later this problem was once more dis- have to be in the focus of the author-
1976, 1982 and 1986) and be included cussed during the congresses in York ities. The authorities and the popula-
in the urban planning schemes. in 2002 and Lyon in 2005. tion have to realize the value of the
allotments for all.
This subject was and still is today a Today the legal protection of allot-
current problem. It has been of con- ments and their integration into town The allotment garden has to contin-
cern for the allotment federations and planning schemes is not yet given ue to evolve and innovations have to
the Office since their foundation until everywhere. take place. The allotments must at-
today. Especially the congresses in tract the attention of the authorities,
Copenhagen in 1984 and in Vienna in While fighting for every piece of the population and the media on them
1994 dealt with this subject. The Of- ground, we have to look for addition- with their new layout and with the pro-
fice could put the translations of the al methods to protect the allotments, jects that are carried out. Innovative
existing legislations at the disposal for example the recognition of the al- projects have already been surveyed
of all the federations. Whereas the ef- lotments as ecological compensation and put at the disposal of the federa-
forts to get a general allotment garden grounds, the integration into cultural tions. They have now to be spread and
law were successful in Denmark, this itineraries etc. further developed.
was not so in Luxembourg. In Poland
after the political changes the exist- h) Focus on allotments The allotment gardeners have on
ing legislation was modified several The congresses in Cracow in 2008, all levels to take increasingly part
times and the situation seems not yet Copenhagen in 2011 and Utrecht in in scientific studies (as for example
to be definitively settled. In Slovakia a 2014 dealt with the future of the allot- COST). Scientists analyse the allot-
law was adopted which is, however, ments and the question: How can we ment movement in a critical way. We
not favourable for the federation. Cur- lay out attractive allotment gardens have to take part, to give them the
rently there are again discussions in and position them in a future orien- correct information and help to ban-
the Czech Republic in order to adopt tated way in a society where every ish clichés. But we also have to react
a new general allotment garden law. piece of land is coveted by so many to justified criticism and to improve
people? It is clear – as it had already our allotments.
The Office discussed the problem been acknowledged during the previ-
concerning town planning in Vienna ous congresses – that the allotment Our aim must be, to be recognized
in 1972 and in Amsterdam in 1974. garden sites can no more exclusive- over the next years as the most sus-
These congresses requested among ly serve the allotment gardeners, but tainable and possibly the cheapest
others that the allotment gardens have to be part of the public green, form of Urban Gardening. We have to
should be integrated in the town plan- have to be opened for the neighbours consider the new trends in order that
ning schemes in order to guarantee and other people of our society. The the coming generations can also in
their protection. They requested that allotment gardeners have to contrib- the future have the opportunity to get
the local authorities should be obliged ute with their projects to the general an allotment.
to give an adequate place to allotment well-being (sensitization of children
gardens in the planned green areas as for nature, food banks, school gar- To be followed
Hyphen 61 | 2017 20ACTUALITY THEME
The situation in Switzerland
and the related services
offered by the Swiss
allotment federation
to its members
Walter Schaffner
former president of the Swiss Allotment Federation
In Switzerland, the urbanization was biodiversity. Sometimes certain spe- that do not place specific demands
rather hesitant until the middle of the cies find here a substitute for habitats on their habitat. Non-locals and par-
20th century, but it was all the more that have otherwise disappeared from tially invasive species, so-called neo-
rapid afterwards. Today three quarters the landscape. In the city of Zurich, phytes or neo-oozes, often find par-
of the Swiss population lives in urban for example, there are 1,200 species ticularly favourable living conditions
areas. Since 1970 the built-up area of wild-growing ferns and flowering in the settlement area.
has almost doubled, and still about plants i. e. 40 % of all species to be
one square meter of ground is cov- found in Switzerland. The settlement area is both a danger
ered per second. As a result, agricul- and an opportunity for biodiversity.
tural land is lost, natural habitats are More than elsewhere, biodiversity in With differentiated and well-planned
destroyed or cut into small fragments the settlement area is subject to hu- measures in agglomerations, cities
and many species are endangered. man influence. Technical innovations, and villages, a considerable part of
new building materials and construc- our flora and fauna can be preserved,
The settlement area is, however, also tion methods as well as changes in promoted and in some cases protect-
habitat for animals and plants: set- use of individual zones can very quick- ed from extinction. Research shows
tlements with nature friendly green ly lead to the disappearance of indi- that many of the objectives of biodi-
areas and many structural elements vidual species. Current urbanization versity promotion are compatible with
can accommodate a surprisingly high favours adaptive and mobile species the demands of the population. In ad-
Hyphen 61 | 2017 21ACTUALITY THEME
dition, attractive species used as sign the cities, the allotment areas are un-
boards can increase acceptance for a der pressure. Many allotment sites are
biodiversity – friendly design of urban leased as an in between use in order
green spaces. to be later used as building grounds
as they are located in the building
Biodiversity Strategy Switzerland and zone. However, compacted construc-
the Action Plan: tion should still preserve green zones
in the residential areas and here is
1) Sustainable use of biodiversity the balancing act between planners
and politicians. The residential quar-
2) Creation of an ecological ters are above all affected by this up-
infrastructure heaval, as new gardens are then built
on the outskirts of the cities. Is this
3) Improving the status of national meaningful?
priority species
We are clearly aware that the new
4) Preserving and promoting genetic housing policy, which is necessary,
diversity requires a compacter building, espe-
cially vertically, in order to keep green
5) Review of financial incentives spaces to preserve biodiversity and
the diversity of species.
6) Collection of ecosystem services
The Swiss Family Garden Federation
7) Generation and distribution of tries to maintain a close contact with
knowledge the politicians and tries to get involved
in the revision procedures of the spa-
8) Promoting biodiversity in tial planning regulations. It is only
settlement areas in this way that we can propose our
ideas and not only when everything
9) Reinforcement of international has already been decided and deter-
engagement mined. In two cities, votes were also
held concerning the building on al-
10) Monitoring changes in lotment sites. Unfortunately, despite
biodiversity all our efforts to influence this cam-
paign, both votes were lost. In other
The following main objective has to words, this means the construction
be achieved with the ten mentioned projects can be realized and more
objectives: than 300 plots will disappear. In the
city of Zurich, around 500 plots will
disappear for school buildings and
„Biodiversity is rich and responsive to housing constructions over the next
change. Biodiversity and ecosystem five years. We hope that a double aim
services are sustained in the long can be reached, i. e. the preservation
term“. of biodiversity and the allotment sites
together with the creation of the set-
With the revision of the town planning, tlement projects.
especially in the settlement area of
Hyphen 61 | 2017 22INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERATIONS
Allotment gardeners’
contribution towards saving
a good working soil
Peter Paschke
president of the BDG
Describing soil in a simple way is not quarter of all living species on earth. ban areas – i. e. inhabited areas.
an easy task, because if you hold soil Soil and its inhabitants are a compo- These areas are characterised by
in your hands, you won’t notice its var- nent of essential circuits for nature’s dense soil, a considerable degree of
ious qualities at a first glance. Many balance, such as metabolism and the cementing and high pollution. There-
things remain hidden in its dark mass. balance of energy and water in all eco- fore allotment gardens have a special
We aren’t aware of many of its ele- systems. Thanks to its qualities as a purpose in densely populated areas,
ments. Only an in-depth analysis can filter and buffer zone, soil is extremely because the soil used for horticultural
allow us to discover its numerous important, especially for the protec- purposes fulfils its primary functions
qualities. And in spite of everything, tion of the ground water. as water storage and a source of nour-
soil is the substance of human exist- ishment. It also forms a habitat for an-
ence – our life. The United Nations proclaimed 2015 imals and plants.
to be the international year of soils.
Soils are a very complex group, made The 5th of December is world soil day. And it is only in these precise plac-
up of mineral elements and organic Germany is one of the richest coun- es that soil can fulfil its purpose. It is
substances. They store water and tries in the world, whilst also having a obvious that the new trend towards
carbon. Soil shelters very precious good attitude towards farming. Due urban gardening must be appreciat-
biotopes and can also be used for to the western way of living, we use ed. More and more people recognise
agricultural, forestry and additionally more agricultural land per person than the value of greenery in cities and the
horticultural purposes. At the same the average worldwide availability per joy of growing one’s own produce. But
time it shelters a large number of person. This is why we have a huge re- what is the point of tomatoes grown in
living organisms: micro-organisms, sponsibility to protect the land. barrels or trays, marigolds in barrows
plants and animals. Currently we have or potatoes in blue bin bags? These
only identified around 1 % of species Protecting allotment gardens means probably do very little to help the soil.
living within the soil, but scientists es- protecting the soil. Why? Allotment In trays and containers, plants grow
timate that soil harbours more than a gardens are above all situated in ur- off substrates, industrial produce,
Hyphen 61 | 2017 23INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERATIONS
wrapped up in plastic that can be eas- eration regarding the environmental
ily bought in discount supermarkets value of allotments.
or gardening centres. Soil in contain-
ers doesn’t povide any surface water; The issue of soil is fundamentally im-
it offers even less habitat for species portant for allotments and the suc-
living within it. The soil in question cess of their cultivation. Following the
represents a closed system, fragile, international year of soils in 2015, it
which will quickly topple without hu- is clear that we must approach this
man care. At the end of the season, problem more deeply. The German al-
the trays and containers are emptied lotment garden federation has there-
and next year new products will be fore created a brochure on this topic.
bought. This certainly does very little It can be used as part of all interna-
to contribute to a sustainable outlook. tional allotment garden movement ac-
tivities and should be incorporated in
The situation is very different the work of all our allotment garden
in an allotment garden: federations.
Obviously, on allotments the soil is
worked in order to be able to grow The soil’s purpose is of primary im-
plants, to achieve harvests and to portance in inhabited zones and their
relax. It is unquestionable that the surroundings as a place for cultivation
soil loses a lot of its natural charac- and balance and for the water cycle.
ter through intensive and continuous Protecting working soil is an impor-
growing and usage. However, despite tant element in climate change and
that, the soil has many positive quali- for the sustainable development of
ties that a transformed soil, especially towns and cities.
in urban areas, cannot offer, and that
you can sum up with the phrase „soil On allotments we leave room for
fertility“. Allotment gardeners not only growth and we are conscious of the
guarantee the soil’s fertility but also value of the soil; we use and protect
its efficiency as a habitat and reservoir the soil’s climate function. With allot-
of water and carbon. ment gardens we limit the sealing of
surfaces and we contribute to water
This is why allotment gardeners, management. The soil on allotments
member of the German allotment gar- is protected against pollution.
den federation have been tending their
gardens in an environmentally friendly We, the allotment gardeners, are you
way – or at least following good gar- and I.
dening practice – for a long time. Ac-
cordingly, this personal commitment By protecting allotments, we all con-
is logically laid out in a memorandum tribute to the successful protection of
of the German allotment garden fed- the soil in urban areas.
Hyphen 61 | 2017 24You can also read
