This year, the Swiss Federation of Family Gardens (SFGV) is celebrating the 100th anniversary of allotments, but how can residents get hold of one?
In case you are unfamiliar with the term, allotment gardens are individual plots located on municipal land that are rented out to individuals or families to allow them to cultivate food, flowers, or other plants.
They are often found in clusters outside city centres, thus also providing social interaction opportunities for the gardeners.
In the beginning…
When they first began to be planted in June 1925, a large proportion of the population was poor, so the primary reason for these gardens was self-sufficiency — that is, growing enough fruit and vegetables for personal consumption, and perhaps to sell leftover crops to others.
With time, however, “allotments have also acquired social and integrative importance: they are a place where people from different social backgrounds can meet, build their community, and help look after their neighbourhood.
That’s according to the Living Swiss traditions website.
But even though the need for most allotment gardeners had changed over the past century — that is, the majority of people cultivating these plots of land these days do so for pleasure rather than survival — most core values and principles behind this practice have remained largely unchanged, the SFGV said.
They are:
- Gardening that respects nature, the climate, and the environment
- Preserving spaces for biodiversity
- Conscious consumption of agricultural products
- Promoting social and intercultural meeting and relaxation areas
There are also many ‘don’ts’ in place.
For instance, in Zurich the use of herbicides and pesticides is prohibited, as it the use of chemical/synthetic fertilisers — among other bans.
Other municipalities likely have their own rules for these gardens as well.
They may include what plants are prohibited (mostly non-native ones), and hot to dispose of your garden waste in an environmentally-correct way.
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Where are these plots of land located?
A clickable map on the SFGV site indicates wherein Switzerland allotment gardens are located, and how many there are in a particular municipal area.
Generally speaking the more populated cities usually have more plots than rural areas, where such allotments are not really needed.
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How can you find out about available allotments in your area, and what are the costs?
Eligibility criteria and availability vary from one city to another.
It is best to contact your municipality to find out the conditions for renting a plot, the application process, and the cost.
(In German, the name for the allotment garden is Familiengärtner, in French jardins familiaux, and in Italian giardini familiari).
If no allotments are available, you will be put on a waiting list, which may be long or short, depending on the sully and demand.
Alternatively, you can try to rent an allotment from one of the members of the SFGV; information is available on their website.
