Have you stumbled across the term "allotment garden"? Where it comes from and what it's all about - all the details here!
They are coveted places of retreat, places to create, harvest and relax. Allotment gardens are particularly popular where there is a lack of green spaces. In big cities there are long waiting lists and families with children are particularly happy to have conquered a parcel. There are over a million allotment gardens across Germany, covering an area of more than 46,000 hectares. Allotment gardens are part of an allotment garden and have a maximum size of 400 square meters. In the following we will reveal how the allotment garden got its name, what makes an allotment garden and what future tenants have to consider when purchasing and maintaining it.
How the allotment garden got its name
The allotment garden is also called an allotment garden for a reason. This is due to Daniel Gottlob Moritz Schreber. It is not known whether the doctor and teacher, who was born in Leipzig in 1808, was a plant lover.
Schreber probably didn't farm any land himself. He was interested in children with physical and he alth disadvantages and their integration into sports. The founding of the first Schreberverein was not allowed to be witnessed by the namesake.
It wasn't a typical allotment garden association, but a school and educational association. In the middle of the 19th century, children romped around on the first allotment place. In order to expand the activities, the gardening aspect was included a little later. Families got together and tilled the beds. These were divided into plots and the first allotments were created.
A look into the history of the allotment garden
The development of the allotment garden also had a historical and socio-political background. The population grew in the early 19th century. At the same time, poverty increased.
So-called poor gardens were laid out by we althy citizens. There, people should grow their own fruit and vegetables, suffer less from hunger and be able to work. This practical and not entirely unselfish idea led to the creation of more allotment gardens. Even today, many are happy to become self-sufficient and value growing their own fruit and vegetablesecological point of view.
The importance of the allotment garden today
There is a lack of green spaces in the big cities. Anyone who does not maintain their own garden at home longs for relaxation in the countryside and the cultivation of decorative and useful plants. People should have access to nature with allotment gardens. Allotment gardens have a high recreational value, especially for families with children.
Recreation is not the sole cornerstone of an allotment garden these days. The allotment garden use is also in the foreground. The allotment garden ordinance regulates which plants and shrubs may be grown in the allotment garden.
Legal information about the allotment garden
Allotment gardens are not sold like a house or vehicle. The allotments are leased. If you want to lease a garden, you have to become a member of the respective allotment garden association. The area can be used, planted and built upon in accordance with the specifications in the garden regulations.
Tip: The Federal Allotment Garden Act applies as a national body.
For example, it is common for garden owners to choose between a tool shed or a summer house. There are still certain requirements regarding overnight stays, the keeping of animals or the organization of festivals. The tenants of an allotment garden are also bound by the municipal regulations for lunch, night and public holiday rest.
The sense of unity in the allotment garden
In an allotment garden, many people come together in a small space. A small community is formed. Harmonious coexistence is encouraged. Club life is actively organized through meetings and festivals. You exchange ideas and take an active part in club life.
To what extent someone gets involved in the community and becomes active in the club is ultimately a question of attitude and character. An allotment garden should primarily offer its users the desired rest and retreat, so that the recreational value is not neglected.
Lease an allotment garden, what should be considered?
Anyone who is considering leasing an allotment garden should familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations in the plot.
This includes the following points:
- Every tenant must become a member of the allotment garden association.
- Allotments may not be larger than 400 square meters.
- The garden shed must not be larger than 24 square meters.
- The allotment has to be closedat least a third of which is used for growing fruit and vegetables.
- Cultivation of crops may only be done for personal use.
Allotment gardens are scarce in big cities. If you are interested, you can register in the respective allotment association. Long lists are often kept. Young families or pensioners are often awarded the contract.
The membership application can be submitted via the association's homepage or during local office hours. The form asks for personal data, age, number of children or occupation. If a garden becomes available, several interested parties are usually given an appointment to view it. The board then makes the final decision in one of its meetings.
How much do allotment gardens cost?
First of all, the transfer fee is relevant. There are big differences here. Depending on the region and the condition of the plot, the costs for the garden house and the planting can be in the low three-digit to five-digit range.
The running costs for an allotment garden should not be underestimated. The lease is cashed annually. The regional differences can also be felt here.
Tip: The rent for an allotment garden may not exceed four times the rent for commercial fruit and vegetable cultivation.
On average, allotment garden owners pay between 200 and 400 euros per year for the use of their plot.
Further costs for maintaining an allotment garden are given in the following overview.
| Cost Center | Cost per year | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Club Contribution | 20 to 100 euros | In addition to the annual association fee, there may be costs for the maintenance of the facilities used by the garden members. |
| Water and electricity costs | 50 to 100 euros | The water costs are often calculated as a lump sum. Since not everyone often has their own meter, the claims are shared among the tenants. |
| Planting costs | from 50 euros | Expenditure varies widely. If you already have a large inventory of ornamental plants, expenses are limited to seeds and seedlings of crops. |
| Cost for Garden Tools | 50 to 400 euros | Existing gardening tools have to be replaced occasionally. Purchasing new gardening tools is expensive. |
You are allowed in the allotment gardenlive?
An allotment garden may not be used permanently as a dwelling. An allotment garden is listed as a recreation area in the municipal planning law. Anyone who spends the night in the garden at weekends in summer will not face any consequences. However, anyone who stays in the garden house permanently must expect to be fired.
Animals in the allotment garden - is that possible?
The federal allotment garden law reveals some gaps when it comes to keeping animals. The horticultural use of the plot should be the focus. If you want to keep animals in the allotment garden, you should first talk to the board about it.
As long as animal husbandry does not get out of hand and nobody feels disturbed, animal husbandry in the allotment garden is not prohibited. Mutual consideration applies. Dogs must be on a leash in the garden area.
A special feature in the new federal states is the permission to keep free-ranging chickens in the allotment garden, provided this was already done in GDR times (§ 20a Paragraph 7 of the Federal Allotment Garden Act).