Rent-a-garden in the

21st century> Nothing new, but different(iated)…

> From philanthropy to partnership

Jeroen van Schaick

TUDelft & weekend child of the allotment garden

j.vanschaick@tudelft.nl

Johan van Schaick

Former board member ‘Bond van Volkstuinders’ & active gardener

vanschaick@planet.nl Harvest in the 1980s…and anno 2009

Since 13th century ‘coelghaerden’(cabbage gardens) in NL

1909-1942 Committee for allotment gardens AmsterdamElite initiative (national movement since18th century)

Social-cultural welfare of citizens

Garden-for-the-urbanite

During WW I (and later WW II) the management and development of these and other new terrains focused on food security

Part of a international movement:- Charitative, utilitarian and recreational gardens

- First Dutch allotments 1838 in Franeker

- International congresses

- Linked to the garden city movement

…nothing newThe first urban allotment gardens pre-WW I (1910-1913)Allotment parks Tuinwijck (East), Hofwijck (South), Nieuw-Amsterdam (West)(location and size on the map are approximations)

Three kinds of gardens:

A. Kitchen gardens, the smallest gardens in which the gardeners grow their own vegetables, potatoes and fruits. Only small barnsare allowed.

B. Allotment gardens with a small wooden home without permission for overnight stay

C. Allotment gardens with wooden home and permission for overnight stay (increasingly done since 1931)

1918 – nowAmsterdam Association of Allotment gardeners (BVV)- Prolonging the park-based organisation of gardeners after food crisis of WW I was over and the municipality wanted to stop municipal-garden-exploitation for food production

- Looking after interests of gardeners, e.g. in light of urbanization (e.g. in relation to municipality and other land owners)- Propaganda for the relevance to exploit allotment parks- Increasing knowledge of horticulture amongst gardeners

1929 – nowNational association

InterbellumThe underlying map (1931) is the analysis on which the AUP (Amsterdam extension plan) is based

The AUP granted ‘Allotment garden parks’ a separate land use status

After WW II this led to a shift from land-by-chance to “permanent”locations

ALLOTMENT-GARDEN PARKS nowadays

Municipality of Amsterdam

41 parksof which 24 BVV

and 16 other clubs/associations (17 parks

6.000 allotment gardens

ca. 150 m2 - 400 m2

- kitchen gardens (9x)- gardens with day-time cabin (5x)

- gardens with overnight cabin (27x)

-The map is based on a compilation of data from 2003 and 2006from the municipality of Amsterdam and Ministerie VROM

The rise of the metropolis…and a new desire to go back to nature and ‘pure’ food

Diversification of users and uses of the allotment garden…trendy! But also just growing food…

…and emergence of new organisation forms

The map is based on a compilation of municipal data (2003) by Ministerie VROM

- A strong history of community organisation

- Allotment garden development hand-in-hand with urban development?

- Influencing municipal policy (social & urban development) to secure land for gardens by :

- partnering up with other stakeholders

- raising the degree of organisation amongst gardeners

- connecting to grassroot initiatives

from philanthropy …to partnership

Challenges for associations of gardeners

- Getting recognition as an equal partner for other stakeholders to stand strong in debates with the municipality

- From aiming for ‘draagvlak’ (basis for support), to aiming to become a desired partner for municipalities

- Scaling up to regional level, while incorporating grass-root initiatives

from philanthropy …to partnership

Further readingHistoric studiesJansen, L. (1968) Oorsprong en ontwikkeling van het volkstuinwezen in Amsterdam. Amsterdam: Dienst der Publieke werken van de gemeente Amsterdam/Bond van Volkstuinders Amsterdam.

Zantkuijl, F. (1974)Van coelghaerde tot vrijetijdstuin: een empirisch-sociologische studie over het volkstuinwezen. Amsterdam: Algemeen Verbond van Volkstuinders Vereenigingen in Nederland

Vermeulen, P. (1980) Enkele aantekeningen over de volkstuin als recreatievorm aan de stedelijke periferie. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit

Policy studies Amsterdam

DRO (2004) Ruimtelijke inventarisatie – Tuinparken Amsterdam. Amstyerdam: Gemeente Amsterdam

DRO (2004) Van volkstuincomplex naar tuinpark - Ontwerpverkenningen naar modernisering van volkstuincomplexen in Amsterdam. Amsterdam: Gemeente Amsterdam

Vries, S. de & Schöne, M.B. 2004. Volkstuinen in Amsterdam; de sociaal-culturele dimensie.Wageningen, Alterra, Research Instituut voor de Groene Ruimte. Alterra-Document

Other:DVD-video World Report Foundation, FAO & ETC “Small urban producers organizations – Key partners for susteainable development (contribution to better cities - successful examples and lessons learned –empowerment)”