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Meet the Germans
They might look like slums or homes for garden gnomes. Those peculiar settlements of tiny little houses with allotment gardens, known as the 'Schrebergarten,' are a typically German phenomenon.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Typically German
People visiting Germany for the first time might wonder why so many well-kept 'slums' appear to be scattered all over the country. Such sites are actually allotment gardens, a phenomenon known under various names in German, such as a 'Schrebergarten,' 'Kleingartenanlage' or 'Gartenkolonie.' Each small plot ('Parzelle') has its own hut, and people can rent these spaces to do their gardening.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Inspired by Dr. Schreber
In reaction to rapid urbanization in the 19th century, a Leipzig doctor and teacher called Daniel Gottlob Moritz Schreber started promoting the benefits of outdoor activities for urban youth. In 1864, four years after his death, his name was given to an association, the 'Schreberverein,' which organized fields where families could play. The gardens came later.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Gardens for the poor
Even before the Schreber movement was established, lords, factory owners, city administrations and charity organizations started allocating plots to allow impoverished families to garden, known in German as 'Armengärten,' or gardens for the poor. By 1826, such gardens existed in 19 cities. This illustration by Berlin artist Heinrich Zille goes back to 1909.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
A place to take a break
Beyond working in the allotment to put fresh food on the table, Germans also went out to relax in their gardens, as this picture from 1906 shows. The men are seen playing skat, a popular German card game.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Essential for survival
The allotment gardens allowed many people to survive during the wars, when agricultural products could not always reach the city markets. A year after the end of World War I, Germany passed a law protecting the small gardens, allowing the leasing fees to remain reasonable. This post-WWII picture from 1949 is of a garden on Hermannplatz, now a busy square in Berlin's district of Neukölln.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Keeping it green wherever it's grey
The allotment gardens were usually set up in areas where no one wanted to live, for example near railways. Many colonies were located on both sides of the Berlin Wall. This 1982 photo shows a West Berlin allotment. The East German authorities initially tried to collectivize them in the 1950s, but they soon encouraged the traditional gardens as a much needed source of fresh produce.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
National regulations
With the growing popularity of urban gardening, more and more young people are renting their own lot. They should know that these sites are regulated by the 'Bundeskleingartengesetz,' or national law on allotment gardens, which states that garden huts may not be used as a residence nor exceed a certain size. At least one-third of the plot must be used to grow fruits and vegetables.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Community rules
If you're considering renting such a garden, friends might discourage you by saying they're 'spiessig' – a very German term for square and bourgeois. In addition to national regulations, each colony has its own set of rules. How strict these conventions are varies from one colony to the other, and also depends on the people already there.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
A manual lawnmower might be more useful
If unkempt gardens are frowned upon, mowing the lawn on a Sunday or during the sacred 'Ruhezeiten' (resting times) is a no-go, and the same goes for loud music. These quiet periods are determined by the colony, but are typically set from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m on weekdays and after 7:00 p.m. on weeknights, as well as starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The entire Sunday is a quiet day.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
From Russian discos to the Schrebergarten
Author and DJ Wladimir Kaminer became an international best-selling author with his Berlin tales, entitled 'Russian Disco.' As a prototypical hip and younger Russian gardener in a Berlin gardeners' colony, he has also humorously analyzed the peculiarities of the German allotment garden culture in his book 'Mein Leben im Schrebergarten' (My Life in the Schrebergarten), available in German only.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
The garden gnome's paradise
Germany's small gardens are also renowned for hosting all forms of kitsch. The garden gnome - 'Gartenzwerg' in German - immediately comes to mind, but elaborate water fountains and plastic windmills are other popular accessories.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Out grilling
Although there's always gardening work to do on the lot during the summer, it's also a great place to enjoy a meal outside. A barbecue is definitely a must - but here, too, neighbors might complain about the smoke and smells. One good way to get them on your side is to invite them over for a perfectly grilled wurst.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Timeless idyllic scenes
Although this picture is from the 1970s, it still represents well the spirit of a 'Kleingarten.' The 150-year tradition has since been adopted by all German-speaking coutries, and there are now thousands of garden colonies in and around big cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Typically German
People visiting Germany for the first time might wonder why so many well-kept 'slums' appear to be scattered all over the country. Such sites are actually allotment gardens, a phenomenon known under various names in German, such as a 'Schrebergarten,' 'Kleingartenanlage' or 'Gartenkolonie.' Each small plot ('Parzelle') has its own hut, and people can rent these spaces to do their gardening.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Inspired by Dr. Schreber
In reaction to rapid urbanization in the 19th century, a Leipzig doctor and teacher called Daniel Gottlob Moritz Schreber started promoting the benefits of outdoor activities for urban youth. In 1864, four years after his death, his name was given to an association, the 'Schreberverein,' which organized fields where families could play. The gardens came later.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Gardens for the poor
Even before the Schreber movement was established, lords, factory owners, city administrations and charity organizations started allocating plots to allow impoverished families to garden, known in German as 'Armengärten,' or gardens for the poor. By 1826, such gardens existed in 19 cities. This illustration by Berlin artist Heinrich Zille goes back to 1909.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
A place to take a break
Beyond working in the allotment to put fresh food on the table, Germans also went out to relax in their gardens, as this picture from 1906 shows. The men are seen playing skat, a popular German card game.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Essential for survival
The allotment gardens allowed many people to survive during the wars, when agricultural products could not always reach the city markets. A year after the end of World War I, Germany passed a law protecting the small gardens, allowing the leasing fees to remain reasonable. This post-WWII picture from 1949 is of a garden on Hermannplatz, now a busy square in Berlin's district of Neukölln.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Keeping it green wherever it's grey
The allotment gardens were usually set up in areas where no one wanted to live, for example near railways. Many colonies were located on both sides of the Berlin Wall. This 1982 photo shows a West Berlin allotment. The East German authorities initially tried to collectivize them in the 1950s, but they soon encouraged the traditional gardens as a much needed source of fresh produce.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
National regulations
With the growing popularity of urban gardening, more and more young people are renting their own lot. They should know that these sites are regulated by the 'Bundeskleingartengesetz,' or national law on allotment gardens, which states that garden huts may not be used as a residence nor exceed a certain size. At least one-third of the plot must be used to grow fruits and vegetables.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Community rules
If you're considering renting such a garden, friends might discourage you by saying they're 'spiessig' – a very German term for square and bourgeois. In addition to national regulations, each colony has its own set of rules. How strict these conventions are varies from one colony to the other, and also depends on the people already there.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
A manual lawnmower might be more useful
If unkempt gardens are frowned upon, mowing the lawn on a Sunday or during the sacred 'Ruhezeiten' (resting times) is a no-go, and the same goes for loud music. These quiet periods are determined by the colony, but are typically set from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m on weekdays and after 7:00 p.m. on weeknights, as well as starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The entire Sunday is a quiet day.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
From Russian discos to the Schrebergarten
Author and DJ Wladimir Kaminer became an international best-selling author with his Berlin tales, entitled 'Russian Disco.' As a prototypical hip and younger Russian gardener in a Berlin gardeners' colony, he has also humorously analyzed the peculiarities of the German allotment garden culture in his book 'Mein Leben im Schrebergarten' (My Life in the Schrebergarten), available in German only.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
The garden gnome's paradise
Germany's small gardens are also renowned for hosting all forms of kitsch. The garden gnome - 'Gartenzwerg' in German - immediately comes to mind, but elaborate water fountains and plastic windmills are other popular accessories.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Out grilling
Although there's always gardening work to do on the lot during the summer, it's also a great place to enjoy a meal outside. A barbecue is definitely a must - but here, too, neighbors might complain about the smoke and smells. One good way to get them on your side is to invite them over for a perfectly grilled wurst.
Everything you need to know about German garden colonies
Timeless idyllic scenes
Although this picture is from the 1970s, it still represents well the spirit of a 'Kleingarten.' The 150-year tradition has since been adopted by all German-speaking coutries, and there are now thousands of garden colonies in and around big cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
While 'urban gardening' recently turned into every hipster's pastime, Germany has a long-established culture of city gardens, dating back to the period of strong industrialization and urbanization in the 19th century.
Today's gardeners are rediscovering the joys of digging the earth, making their statement against consumerism by growing their own vegetables. But when the allotment gardens were initially created, they aimed to combat urban families' extreme poverty and malnutrition.
First called 'gardens of the poor,' they are now known as 'Schrebergärten,' inspired by the 'Schreber movement' launched in 1864, which drew on the ideas of German physician Moritz Schreber.
During World Wars I and II, the food produced in those gardens became essential for many families' survival.
Today, for many foreigners, the fenced up garden colonies, with their tiny cottages lined up along railways or occupying former no-man's land, seem a little mysterious.
Click through the gallery above or watch the video below to learn more about these very German gardens, which become particularly busy this time of year.
Why the Germans love their allotment gardens
You'll find more from Meet the Germans on YouTube or at dw.com/MeettheGermans.
DW recommends
In her Aging With Geekitude series, self-professed “recovering technophobe” Erica Manfred writes about her adventures with technology and shares what she’s learned as she navigates the not-so-scary waters.
Everyone has been telling me how brave I am to rent a place in South Florida all by myself for three months this winter despite knowing nary a soul. I don’t feel brave, just desperate to escape the cold. But I was worried about finding friends here. I didn’t want to spend three months trying to start conversations with strangers at the beach or in bars (OK, if I could find a bar where the 65+ guys hung out I might just try it). Luckily, being an Internet junkie, I knew I had an ace in the hole: Meetup.com.
What is Meetup.com?
Headquartered in New York City, Meetup is all about building offline community in a digital world. The site launched after 9/11, when New Yorkers were coming together on the ground for solace and mutual support; Meetup’s founders saw a need – an an opportunity – for a site that would let people create groups and find one another around shared interests or concerns. The site got a huge boost in 2004 when Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean used Meetup for his local grassroots organizing.
Today, Meetup.com hosts groups in towns and cities around the world. Members can start or find groups in their area that match their interests – from politics or the arts, to urban adventures, crafting and writing. There are even groups for seniors, but it turns out that one of Meetup’s strengths is its easy intergenerational mix. Some groups meet weekly, others monthly or on a sporadic basis, but they all meet offline – in coffee shops and restaurants, members’ apartments and other local spots. To join, you fill out a simple profile and upload a picture if you want to (highly recommended). It’s a little like a dating site, except that instead of looking for your perfect mate, you’re looking for your perfect community.
While joining a group on Meetup is free, the site makes money by charging group organizers a nominal fee – currently $12 to $19 per month, depending on the payment plan. Some organizers pass on the costs by charging members dues of a few dollars a month.
How Meetup works
I checked out Meetup before I made the arrived in Florida and found a plethora of local groups where I was likely to find like minded peeps.
When it comes to finding new friends, the traditional wisdom is to join a group whose members share your interests – that’s what Meetup.com is all about – but like shopping online for a pair of shoes that’s going to fit comfortably or finding your perfect mate, there’s some hit or miss to finding the right Meetup for you.
To find groups in my area, I entered my zip code in the Meetup.com search engine, set a distance of 50 miles and added some interests: books, arts, culture, movies, writing. You can also search by distance or interest alone. Several options came up in the search results. I picked groups by looking at the number of Meetups they had hosted recently and member reviews – some groups are inactive or have very few members; the best groups have been around for a long time and have a lot of members. I checked out member profiles as well to see if the people sounded interesting. Once I’d picked a few groups, all I had to do was click “join” on the group’s page. Some groups require approval by the organizer; unless you’re a serial killer, you’ll get an approval by email in a day or two. Some also require that you fill out an introduction telling the group who you are and why you want to join.
Warning: The Meetup website can be confusing. Like other sites these days that assume you’re a digital native, instead of clearly labeled links, Meetup shows you little icons and you have to figure out what they mean. On the top right of your screen are a bell icon to see all your upcoming group meetings, three lines in a bubble to access messages from other members and group organizers, and three dots to find help and other stuff. There’s no telephone support; if you have a question, use this link to send an email to the support team.
My Meetups
Meetup #1: Coffee & Conversation, a wash
My first Meetup was underwhelming. A “Coffee and Conversation” discussion group was meeting each week to discuss various topics. This week’s topic was “The Seventies” – meaning the decade, not my age. I figured everyone would at least have to be 60-plus. Well, they were, and some were interesting, but the leader maintained such a rigid structure that I got bored and left.
Meetup #2: Book club success
Dating Meetup Near Home Gardens Las Vegas
There was no such problem with my second foray to the “The Fort Lauderdale Girl-Time Book Club.” I’d been wanting to join a book club near my home in upstate New York for a long time and even had tried starting one with no success, but this group had been meeting for many years and had over 100 members, 32 of whom showed up to the January meeting to nominate book choices for the coming year. They were mostly young women in their 20s to 40s with a few in their 50s. Despite the age gap (I’m 72), everyone was extremely friendly – nobody gave me the “invisible” treatment – and the book I nominated was chosen, which amazed me since no one knew me and it’s a pretty esoteric book (“The Golem and the Jinni“ by Helen Wecker.) I networked madly. I announced I wanted to move to Florida and needed a realtor, and of course there was a realtor in the group (every group has a realtor) who happened to be one of the older members and from New York.
Dating Meetup Near Home Gardens Fl
Meetup #3: Movie & dinner
My next Meetup was “The Women’s Movie and Book Club,” which had scheduled a screening of the movie “Selma” and dinner. If it weren’t for my trusty GPS I never would have found the place – it looked like a Moorish palace, not a movie theater, but the group was down to earth and dinner was great fun. Again, I was the oldest woman there. Most were in their 40s and 50s. I sat next to two Federal prosecutors from Palm Beach, one originally from Brooklyn, both of whom I never would have met any other way. We hit it off famously and are planning to go to the movies together.
Meetup #4: Writer’s group
My fourth Meetup was supposed to be a writers’ support group at Panera’s in Fort Lauderdale. It seems that Panera’s has become the go-to Meetup destination in this area, and probably in many other areas, too, because the restaurants are large, have plenty of tables and are welcoming to people who just want to hang out. I wound up in the wrong writers’ group by accident because I couldn’t find the right one. Even though I was an hour late for that group, I joined right in and had a good experience. They were happy to have me and asked me to come back.
Meetup #5: Another movie – and a good time
Yesterday I watched Johnny Depp’s latest comedy, “Mortdecai” with the “Intellectual Conversation” Meetup. The movie was supremely silly, but the group members – again, all women – were smart and represented all ages, including seniors. Conversation ranged from movies to televangelism, life after death and where to live in Florida. When I mentioned to the person sitting next to me, a pretty Latina woman in her early 40s, that I was surprised by how friendly young people in Meetup groups had been to someone my age, she explained that people join Meetups to meet people and make friends. They’re much less likely to discriminate by age, race or any other demographic than your neighbors or co-workers are.
As a movie and book buff I’ve found a good home in Meetup.com
If you can’t join one, start one
I love to swim, but I’m fearful of swimming alone in the ocean, so I wanted to find a swimming buddy. There were lots of scuba Meetups, but none for ocean swimmers, so I started Pompano Beach Senior Swimmers.
A few people have joined. We haven’t had a Meetup yet due to weather, but I’m hopeful.
- Check out Meetup.com by clicking here.
- See more Aging With Geekitude articles.
Have you ever gone to a Meetup.com group? What was your experience?
Erica Manfred is a journalist, essayist and humorist who writes about everything from dentistry to divorce to fantasy fiction. Friend her on Facebook.