After I discussed some examples of growing food in the cities, I think it is now time to look back. Not because I am such a traditionalist but because I think it is good to learn from the past. You join me?
This short history on (urban) allotment gardens is not
only about feeding the city. The popularity or need for gardens is strongly
related to political situations. You will see that in some cities the
development of allotment gardens was facilitated by the government while in
others having a place to grow food was the only way to survive.
The UK is famous for their garden city concept designed by Ebenezer Howard. This man developed the first suburbs
around London thereby leaving space for the people to grow their own food. Besides
that there was the national law forcing municipalities to have land available
for their citizens to grow food. The popularity for these allotments had a
short backdrop in between the wars and in the booming second half of the 21st
century but is rising again now food prices are going-up and food miles need to be decreased to stop
climate change.
On the other side of the canal, in Germany and Austria,
the industrialization and both World Wars were large catalysts for the
development of (urban) allotment gardens. During the 19th century
farmers came to the cities hoping they would have a more prosperous life there.
But it wasn’t easy to find a job so they had to find ways to feed themselves and
their family. Picking up their old profession was the only way to survive. In
gaining land they were helped by the municipality or the church. During and
after the World Wars these gardens helped the Germans to maintain a healthy
energy level.
In neighboring Austria - or more specific in its capital
Vienna - it was the socialist Otto Neurath who founded the Cooporative Housingand Allotment association (1921) to support groups who decided to become self-sufficient concerning
housing and food supply. IKEA like building kits enabled persons to create
their own houses depending on their family size and needs. On the plots there
was room for allotment gardens. Now Vienna has one of the largest allotmentgarden parks in Europe.
The Russian middle and upper class used the dachas (‘something
is given’) for relaxation in the weekend – as a second home. After the Bolshevik
revolution in 1917 they became communal so that at least everyone was able to
go there a few times a year. After WWII some the Russian governments changed
the legalizations a few times which lead to a high-popularity of the dachas in
the ’80. The gardens turned out to be the ultimate solution for cheap holidays.
After communism collapsed most dachas have been privatized. This is still the fact although the government is supporting those who want to
start an inner city garden again.
Further south - in the Italian city Milan there - have
been some ups and downs regarding the popularity of gardening. In the 17th
century the gardens where mainly owned by the rich. Like in other cities this
changed at the beginning of the industrialization. Then gardens were kept and
maintained by the new citizens who were used to grow food and now needed it to
provide in their daily energy intake: their salaries were not sufficient to buy
it all on the market. While in the WW II the gardening in the city had its peak
– with grain growing in the Piazza del Duomo – after this period the allotment gardens where pushed out to cheaper land out
of the city.
As you can see food growing can be fun but also might be
a need. Not only in the early days but also in the beginning of the 21st
century certain external causes make us want to be more self-sufficient. It is
not something to be ashamed of. No, you rather be proud of yourself. Next week
some new initiatives in the spot lights.
