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- End of the year 2011 NEW !
- The European allotment gardeners give support to their Polish colleagues
- Diplomas - 36th international congress
- 36th congress of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux
- A new diploma has been created
- Hundredth anniversary of the allotment garden federation in Bremen and European Day of the Garden
Dear allotment gardeners
2011,
Year of the 85th anniversary of the International Office,
Year during which we have organised our 36th international congress with a very symbolic and adequate subject during this anniversary year : "The allotment gardens of the future".
The 3.000.000 European allotment garden families can be proud of the valuable past of their movement and can build on established core values in order to achieve an even more successful future.
Our activities in the social, ecological and economic areas remain the basis of our success, but we still have to increase and develop them.
We have to do even more than in the past. We have to use and develop our best realisations everywhere without forgetting, however, to take into consideration the changes in our society and the new needs and wishes of our members and of the citizens.
We have to take up the challenges and move with the time in order to transmit a movement with a valuable heritage to our successors. This movement nonetheless has also to remain young and up-to-date. It must always remain ready to serve its members and society and to protect nature and the environment.
We have to ensure that the principles of a good governance will be applied everywhere and at all the levels of our movement.
We have to put forward our expertise in such a way that our members, the authorities and society can take advantage of it.
We have to increase our efficiency and visibility by a good use of the new means of communication and by cooperation with other stakeholders.
However we also have to strengthen the real contacts between the individual allotment gardeners at all the levels of our movement in order to take advantage of the personal added value of each one of them.
In order to guarantee the future of our associations we have to sensitise children and young people to our ideas. We have to really integrate them in our associations by transferring responsibilities to them, by allowing them to fix their marks especially when they try to go new ways.
Let us support the innovative projects developed in our associations, make them known. Let us find new ideas in order to enable our associations to become better and more efficient.
The changes and the diversity are the essence of every associative movement. Not moving forwards means going backwards.
Today the allotment garden movement is more than a hundred years old and the unification of the national federations in the International Office moves as well towards this centennial.
During the coming fifteen years let us meet the new challenges, face the opportunities, let us make the necessary changes and prepare for what lies ahead in order that our Office in 2026, even being a hundred years old, will remain young, dynamic and up-to-date.
Our values are not only simple symbols. They are real tools of management. They are capable to mobilize the federations, the associations and the individual allotment gardeners.
As stated in the conclusions of the workshops during our international congress: communication, cooperation and coordination must be the keywords for the future.
Let us hope that the 3.000.000 allotment garden families throughout Europe, which are affiliated to the International Office, will each one personally feel concerned and will be ready to help.
3.000.000 small steps in the same direction, that means towards a more human society in a nice and healthy environment, will help our important movement to become even bigger, better and more efficient.
The visibility of our movement will increase. Our movement will then become an unavoidable element for the well-being of all.
I hope to be able to rely on each one of you to reach this aim and wish you, as well as your family, a Happy New Year 2012, a good health and much success in your garden.
Malou WEIRICH
Secrétaire générale
The European allotment gardeners give support to their Polish colleagues
On 6th October the letter below, has been sent to :
1) Mr Sz. P. Bronislaw Komorowski, President of the Polish Republic
2) the Prime Minister of the Polish Government
3) the Minister of Infrastructure
4) the Speaker of the Senate, (Higher House of Parliament)
5) the Speaker of the Sejm, (Lower House of Parliament)
6) Mr Sz. P. Stanislaw Dąbrowski, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
7) Mr Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Rzepliński, President of the Constitutional Court
OPEN LETTER - Luxembourg, 6th October,2011
The Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux asbl (International Office of Allotment and Family Gardens) based in Luxembourg is an organization of 15 national allotment and leisure garden federations with more than 3.000.000 affiliated leisure gardeners from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, The United Kingdom and Japan.
A delegation of our Organization and national federations from Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United Kingdom participated in the deliberations of the II Congress of the Polish Allotment Garden Federation, held on 22th September 2011 in Warsaw. We witnessed a huge dedication of four thousand representatives of family gardens coming from all over Poland. We also listened with interest to the views on allotment gardening presented by the representative of the Polish President, members of the Government, members of Parliament, senators, local politicians, as well as the political parties, trade unions and social organizations.
During the Congress the Polish gardeners spoke with a united voice in favour of the need for the existence and development of allotment gardens in Poland. They appraised the current law (legislation) on family allotment gardens as the best legal document in the 110 year history of the Polish allotment movement. The participants of the Congress positively assessed the activities of the Polish Allotment Garden Federation (PZD). During the Congress the participants referred with great respect, sympathy and recognition to the achievements of the Polish allotment gardeners, their gardens and organization. The allotment gardening system created in the law (legislation) on family allotment gardens was highly praised and the legal validity of this Act was confirmed. All the participants of the Congress declared their full support for the PZD and their willingness to defend the current law (legislation) and the rights of the Polish gardeners associated in the PZD.
The International Office of Allotment and Family Gardens highly values the Polish allotment garden movement. The Organisation of Polish allotment gardeners has been member of our International Office since 1927. During the last 21 years, after returning to join the International Office, the PZD has significantly contributed to the development of the allotment garden movement in Europe, sharing their traditions and experiences. The European appreciation of the Polish movement was demonstrated by the appointment of the PZD President as President of the International Office of Allotment and Family Gardens from 2005-2008.
Therefore, the International Office does not understand the present situation of such a renowned Polish allotment garden movement.
We cannot understand why the public authorities do not appreciate the Polish Allotment Garden Federation, which in the times of the Polish crisis from 1981-1989 built new gardens on a surface area of 14 thousand hectares, which allowed to allocate allotments to 360 thousand families.
We are not able to understand why the law (legislation) on family allotment gardens, which is esteemed by the European movement, as well as welcomed by the gardeners and implemented in the gardens, is subjected to control by the Constitutional Tribunal and recognized by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in its entirety as an unconstitutional act.
We cannot understand how such a legislation can be rejected, considering that during the II Congress this law was met with a full support and acceptance by allotment gardeners, parliamentarians and local officials.
The International Office followed the preparation for the enactment of the law on family allotment gardens, was satisfied with its acceptance in the Parliament and also tracked the implementation of its provisions. In Europe this act is widely considered to be one of the best laws governing the functioning of national allotment gardening. We are aware that the act takes into account all the experiences and traditions of the 110 year history of the Polish Allotment Garden movement. It sanctions the gardeners’ rights which have been established throughout the decades. The solutions of this legislation, after the difficult years of 1949-1981, have secured self-government for the Polish gardeners, autonomy and democracy and their very own organization – the Polish Allotment Garden Federation.
The PZD as a massive social organization is - alongside the German Federation - the largest national allotment organization in Europe. The PZD is seen as an efficient organization, serving the Polish gardeners, as well as the European movement.
Therefore, the International Office appeals to the President of Poland, the Prime Minister of the Polish Government, the Speaker of Sejm and Senate, the Minister of Infrastructure and also the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Tribunal to take a stance, which will preserve the rights of Polish gardeners, their family gardens and the PZD that are codified in the law on family allotment gardens. We also appeal to recognize the positive meaning of this Act and the PZD, that should be credited that in Poland there are nearly 5,000 efficiently managed allotment gardens, serving almost one million families, which makes the Polish Allotment Garden movement generally prominent in Europe.
The International Office profoundly hopes that the voice of the European allotment gardeners will be positively taken into consideration and the initiative of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be withdrawn. This will allow for the further development of the Polish Allotment Garden movement which will be in the best interest for one million families benefiting from family gardens, for all Polish families in need of an allotment, as well as for local communities, cities and the Polish State.
The International Office, on behalf of the entire European allotment garden movement, grants the Polish Allotment Federation its full support in the struggle to preserve the law on family allotment gardens, which guarantees the rights of Polish gardeners, the existence of allotment gardens in Poland and the essential right to possess a strong national, self-governing and independent organization.
With kindest regards,
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| Chris ZIJDEVELD President |
Wilhelm WOHATSCHEK Chairman |
Malou WEIRICH Secretary General |
Diplomas - 36th international congress
1) The Golden Rose was given to the town of Gradignan (F) |
 Extract from the dossier of candidature |
2) The diploma for an ecological gardening was given to:
a) the association "Freiheit e.V. in Berlin (D)
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Project : ecological gardening : A nature trail through the city |
b) the association "Falan in Falun (S)
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Nomination for the diploma concerning ecological gardening |
c) the association "Zonnehoek" in Amsterdam (NL)
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dutch nomination |
3) The diploma for social activities was given to:
the association "Heideland" in Braunschweig (D)
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Intercultural project : A common point : The love for gardening |
36th congress of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux
The representatives of the 3.000.000 allotment garden families request protection and support in the countries and by the European Union
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Resolution Congress |
The representatives of the European allotment gardeners support their colleagues in Stockholm to safeguard their allotment gardens.
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The representatives of the European allotment gardeners support their colleagues in Berlin to safeguard their allotment gardens
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Resolution Berlin (German) |
Video-message of Mrs Viviane REDING,Vice-president of the European Commission
Dear allotment gardeners
Success is a sum of well considered decisions taken at the appropriate moment.
Therefore, the national federations and the International Office are discussing the subject concerning the future of the allotment gardens.
Three facts cannot be denied.
Since its foundation the allotment garden movement has changed and has adapted itself to the new requirements. New aspects have been added over the years to the aim to preserve the family unity and the function of food security, like for example a meaningful leisure time occupation, the contribution to physical and mental health, nature and environment protection as well as the contribution to a sustainable development.
Similarly to many other benevolent movements the allotment garden movement is confronted with unsolved problems. One can mention the aging of its members, the image of the movement, the difficulty to make members participate in associative works, the competition of numerous other leisure activities, the professional burden and stress.
Finally, one has to mention that the authorities often underline the beneficial effect of the allotment gardens for the whole society and nature, but are hesitant to transpose these words into deeds. They retire more and more from their responsibilities and one has to acknowledge the loss of allotment gardens in favour of more profitable projects.
Therefore, the allotment gardeners are not allowed to hesitate and to loose time. They have to continue to evolve and to offer future perspectives to the citizens and society. Following facts should be considered:
1) The allotment gardens must be, or have to remain legally protected. The establishment of allotment garden development plans are absolutely necessary in order to take the needs of urban development into consideration and to protect the allotments as an element of a social and urban environment with a high living quality.
2) The voluntary work is confronted with great challenges because of the new professional conditions and family burdens. One has to be flexible and the participation of the members in associative work has possibly to be planned differently. Short/limited participation (project oriented participation) could possibly replace long term participation.
3) The authorities are withdrawing more and more from many areas and the financial support is reduced. These facts have to be seriously considered. The cooperation with the authorities and their reciprocal obligations might possibly have to be redefined. Our aim is a structured and regulated support.
4) The contact with the garden, with the earth, with nature is no more evident today. The experienced members should pass their values on the new and/or young allotment gardeners, involve them and help them. The latter should possibly get a formation so that gardening will be enjoyable for them and that they will not abandon due to disappointments. The exchange of experience and the maintenance of an important know- how remain significant advantages of our movement.
5) The usefulness of the allotment gardens for the citizens, society and nature have to be more and more publically demonstrated. By the conclusion of partnerships the sites should for example on one hand be opened to infants, schoolchildren, elderly people, disabled persons and on the other hand beekeepers and bird protection associations.
6) The allotment gardeners must create attractive allotment garden sites taking into consideration the expectations of young allotment gardeners without, however, renouncing to the fundamental values of the movement. The gardens must become a place of great creativity, so that the site becomes an area of discovery for the people walking through it. Flexibility and open minds are required. Our offer must be as wide as possible.
7) The opening of the allotment garden sites for people living in the neighbourhood is a “Must”. So all the neighbours can profit of their benefits and this will create a feeling that allotments are an integral part of the residential area. This contributes in an important way to the protection of allotments.
8) Positive public relations are essential. The allotment gardeners must underline the services they provide society with: i.e. integration, health, quality of life, nature protection. They have to sensitize the population to the numerous innovative projects realized within the movement.
At the occasion of the international congress, all these problems will continue to be discussed. Interesting lectures, discussions and an exchange of experiences and thus learning, seeing and understanding in an agreeable fellowship are only some of the advantages of an international congress. During this congress the successes of the past will certainly be considered, but above all will the delegates try to build on these successes and to plan a successful future.
Join us, your ideas are welcome too!
Already now I wish you and your family a happy New Year 2011, a good health and much pleasure in your garden. Malou
WEIRICH Secretary general
From August 26th till August 28th the delegates of the 3.000.000 affiliated families of allotment gardeners dealt with the future of allotment gardens.
The subject on the physical lay-out of the sites as well as the problems: “who is the future allotment gardener” and “how can the movement comply with his needs” were discussed.
Read below the summary of the workshops and the conclusions of the meeting:
Summary of the German speaking workshop: "The layout and design of sustainable allotments" (pdf)
Summary of the English speaking workshop: "The layout and design of sustainable allotments" (pdf)
Summary of the German speaking workshop: "Future allotment gardener" (pdf)
Summary of the English speaking workshop: "Who is the future allotment gardener?" (pdf)
Conclusions of the study session (pdf)
A new diploma has been created
The Office International has created a diploma aiming at encouraging and at rewarding social activities within the allotment gardens.
The activities can be very far reaching and varied and can concern for example elderly people, children, disabled, unemployed people, immigrants.
At the occasion of the study session in Birmingham the diploma was awarded for the first time.
The Cold Barn Farm allotments (Great-Britain) received the diploma for their activities with young people.
description "Cold Barn farm allotments" part 1
description "Cold Barn farm allotments" part 2
Hundredth anniversary of the allotment garden federation in Bremen and European Day of the Garden
I Celebration of the 100th anniversary
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As souvenir of both ceremonies a lime tree was planted on the cathedral place near the town hall.
From left to right : Hans Ulrich HELMS, president of the allotment garden federation in Bremen, Malou WEIRICH, secretary general of the International Office, Achim FRIEDRICH, president of the Germany allotment garden federation , Wilhelm WOHATSCHEK, chairman of the executive board of the International Office, Christian WEBER, president of the Parliament Bremen
II Celebration of the European Day of the Garden
On the occasion of the European Day of the Garden the International Office du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux has awarded the diploma for an ecological gardening :
- „Ons Buiten“ from Amsterdam (NL)
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application as pdf |
- „Eigen Arbeid“ from Den Haag (NL)
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application as pdf |
- „Am Anger“ from Vienna (A)
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application as pdf |
- „ KGV Wardamm-Woltmershausen“ from Bremen (D)
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application as pdf |
III Some quotations and suggestions for the future
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Preben JACOBSEN, president of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux |
« Our goal must be not to celebrate the Day of the Garden once every two years, no every day should be the day of the garden ».
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W. WOHATSCHEK, chairman of the executive board of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux |
«The European Day of the Garden aims at reminding all the European allotment gardeners that they are part of an important community acting jointly for all in both good and bad days.
The European Day of the Garden should as well convey the message to all politicians in the European countries that it is worth to stimulate and strengthen the allotment garden movement».
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M. WEIRICH, secretary general of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux |
«It is very important that all of us politicians, citizens and allotment gardener appreciate the allotment gardens and recognize their value i.e. health for the allotment gardeners, quality of life for society and protection of the biodiversity for our descendants. We have to protect the allotment gardens here in Bremen, in Germany and all over Europe. We have to create new sites whereever necessary. We can’t hesitate, nor lose time and then our successors will thank us that we have recognized the value of the allotment gardens and have protected them sustainably».
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A. FRIEDRICH, president of the German allotment garden federation |
«The allotment gardeners have to react to the changes in/evolution of society by for example adapting their way of functioning and the lay out of the garden plots. They also have to discuss the important subjects flowing from society’s requirements and then work out relevant offers».
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H. U. HELMS, president of the allotment garden federation in Bremen |
«The allotment garden movement is not a closed club. We work for the benefit of all and prove this on an every day basis in our associations by the services we provide in the social and ecological fields. And we do even more: By educating people and by our projects for environment protection we try to give a greater security to our future and to our community. These projects are supported by the town authorities, a fact which we highly appreciate».