Allotment gardens: Put an end to outdated prejudices

Allotment gardens, plots, and allotments don't enjoy the best reputation everywhere. You hear about strict regulations, meticulously landscaped gardens, and stuffiness behind the garden fence. But allotments are so much more than that! For city dwellers, they're the piece of nature they long for amidst the noise of cars and exhaust fumes. The result: wild oases, colorful vegetable gardens, and beehives. We wanted to know: Is there really still any truth to these prejudices, or have we long since done away with them? To this end, we spoke with Carolin. Carolin lives with her family in Swabia and has had her own allotment since mid-2018: Parzelle_14. Carolin regularly reports on life as an allotment gardener on Instagram and in her blog . Read for yourself:

Young family in the allotment garden - Put an end to the prejudices

From a dream to an allotment. How does it work?

Carolin: The first 'nudge' towards a plot actually came from our neighbor. She had always admired our balcony and simply asked us if we'd be interested - her mother was in a gardening club there that was looking for new members. At first, we dismissed it as a complete crazy idea and, after a brief text, wanted to just take a look at the plot. Then everything happened very quickly. A few days later, we were allotment gardeners. In this case, we were probably just lucky that a plot was available. Normally, there are waiting lists. We had a brief meeting with the previous owner of our plot, during which we determined what would stay and what he would take with him. The purchase price was also negotiated there. The plot itself is leased to us by the club. Everything on the property, such as the shed, terrace, etc., was purchased by us from the previous owner.

Have you discovered any treasures?

Carolin: Not really. Apart from countless wild and haphazardly planted garlic and onions, as well as a small apple tree, the previous owner left us almost nothing that was unusable. The shed on the property is actually quite solid and will last for many years, but we first had to completely empty it and remove all the rubbish. This took us several weeks. The only thing that has actually survived from that time is an old oil lamp that's so rancid that it's regained its charm.

Conclusion: Leave the old or make everything new?

Carolin: It's actually primarily a financial matter. You have tons of ideas at the beginning. But you quickly realize that not everything can be done at once. So, we first took care of a new interior paint job for the cabin, and we also leveled and re-laid a large part of the terrace. We also installed two raised beds. We love the stone borders around our large beds. Thanks to them, the snail infestation has been kept to a minimum. We're really grateful to the previous owner for that.

Was the start difficult?

Carolin: Actually, not really. We just started, and some of our neighbors helped us along the way. We were able to ask a lot of questions in the beginning. To this day, we live by the motto "Practice makes perfect."

Are there many rules/regulations in the allotment association?

Carolin: There are a few rules. But we're lucky to have landed in a complex that's generally quite relaxed. As long as the lunchtime and nighttime quiet times are observed, most of the neighbors are happy and even forgive the occasional barbecue.

What does your plot mean to you?

Carolin: Our plot has become a small anchor point in our everyday life and we can relax there with our little daughter and fulfill our dreams.

What have you already learned?

Carolin: One of the first lessons was learning not to let setbacks unsettle us. For example, in the very first few days, we spontaneously and enthusiastically bought and set up an insect hotel. We were excited by the idea of ​​being able to offer insects a home. We hadn't researched the topic in detail, and of course, not a single insect moved in. Over the year, we were able to learn a lot, and looking back, we now know what the problem was. The wrong location, a poorly made hotel, etc. - learning by doing.

Hand on heart: What are the neighbors like?

Carolin: Most of them are really nice. Allotment gardeners are a small, unique group, but the shared hobby creates a good connection between different age groups, nationalities, and personalities.

Garden tools you couldn't live without?

Carolin: I never thought I'd say this, but a well-made, high-quality spade is truly worth its weight in gold. Sturdy, strong garden shears are at least as important. We initially opted for cheaper options and quickly regretted it. There's nothing worse than being slowed down by broken equipment.

Overrated garden tools you can really do without?

Carolin: We bought many tools, like our lawnmower, secondhand. Things don't always have to be new and expensive. Many people sell really high-quality tools and are happy to have buyers. Gardening gloves have actually turned out to be rather unnecessary for us. We simply like the feeling of dirt between our fingers.

What do you grow?

Carolin: In the first season we just tidied up, this year we simply tried out what the different light conditions and soil types would produce. In our raised beds we had chilies , lettuce , chard , mini cucumbers, yellow zucchinis and tomatoes . From one strawberry there seems to have grown 100, and we have already given off cuttings to friends and acquaintances. We have also planted gooseberries and currants. A few weeks ago we sowed green manure, which will nourish and maintain the soil over the winter months. We have now become better acquainted with our garden and are really looking forward to next season when we want to try out older, more unusual varieties.

What motivated you to dedicate an Instagram page and a blog to your hobby?

Carolin: One thing led to another. This project, just like our garden, began with a crazy idea. Now, the two simply belong together, and I really appreciate the exchange there. It's great to share experiences and ideas with others. Above all, my blog , like the garden, is intended to be a little haven of peace—a place where people can linger, gather ideas, and perhaps even learn from our knowledge and mistakes. I simply want to show others how easy and varied it can be to use seasonal fruit and vegetables in the kitchen.

How much work does a garden like this require?

Carolin: We also have days when, due to our jobs, we can't go into the garden, or we can only manage a quick watering. Of course, a garden like this requires a lot of work, and you don't always feel like it. But seeing everything grow and thrive quickly makes up for all the hard work. Plus, you sleep exceptionally well after a day in the garden! A garden like ours—it measures about 350 square meters—isn't just a weekend project. A garden like this requires a lot of attention.

Are you, as young gardeners and plot owners, accepted by older veterans?

Carolin: We also had some preconceptions and had already prepared ourselves for one or two situations and discussions. But they were completely unfounded. In fact, most of the older club members think it's great that younger families are joining their club again. And we'll convince those who are more skeptical of us ;-)

We say THANK YOU for the nice chat! Finally, she left us the recipe for her delicious apple sugar, which you can see here and, of course, try yourself. Be sure to check out her blog or follow her on Instagram —it's worth it.