Schrebergärten

What is a Schrebergärten?

If you have been to Germany, you may have noticed little patches of land along the roadsides and usually on the edge of town.  They usually have a cute little hut on the property and possibly a chair or two.  What they all have are little gardens.  When I first saw them, I thought I have finally found the homes of my gnomes.  These little pieces of land with their tiny huts and small gardens are not for the gnomes, but for residents wishing to have a garden, but not always having the land to plant one.  Many Germans live in apartments without land.  The little gardens give them the opportunity to plant a little garden and most importantly, enjoy outside time.  They are known as Schrebergärten or Kleingärten. 

There are approximately one and one half million of the little gardens in Germany.

Whose great idea was this?  It was the ‘brilliant idea’ of Dr. Moritz Schreber.  Dr. Schreber was a University Professor at Leipzig University.  His specialty was children’s health and his primary fear was city children were not getting the fresh air and play time they needed, which in turn affected the children both physically and emotionally.  Dr. Moritz did however, had an ‘odd’ sense of parenting and relied heavily on some very harsh disciplinary practices.  We can thank him for the ‘fresh air’ practices and the ‘Fitness’ movement of the 1800s.

After Moritz’s death in 1864, the principal at the Ernst Innozenz Hauschild established the first Schrebergärten.  It was used as a playground and was located on the outskirts of Leipzig.  Soon vegetable gardens were planted and families got involved.  The families planted family gardens, fencing them in made them the families domain. 

The movement (Schreber) spread throughout Germany and to other countries in Europe.  Specific land was zoned strictly for Schrebergärtens.  The gardens were then leased to a family.  The plots were almost 100% converted to family garden plots by the beginning of WWI.  It wasn’t uncommon for the gardens to prevent starvation.  Rules and regulations were established in 1919.  By the time WWII rolled around the Schrebergärten was a necessity for city families to survive the war. 

As time progressed, the gardens took on another plus when families that could not afford a vacation, began to use their little piece of heaven as a respite.  Grills were added so meals could be served as you watched the world go by.   The plots became part of German culture.  Here the children could play while Papa grilled, Mama planted her flowers and Oma and Opa relaxed and enjoyed the open air and beautiful weather.

Some of the current generation, just like that in the U.S., cannot see any benefit in the Schrebergärten.  You can walk in any grocery store and get what you need, you can buy flowers at the florist or the home and garden store.  Why would you want to waste your time.  The gardens are just too much work and families are just too darn busy.  What a shame. 

The government is also making it hard to plot a garden by over-burdening those who wish to with ‘red tape’ and extensive regulations.  As in the past, the gardens are leased.  The Bundeskleingartengesetz (Government Little Garden Act) governs everything from the size to what you can and cannot plant and to what happens when the renter dies.  On top of the government regulation, you have what I like to refer to as the ‘HO Association’.  You all know what I am referring to.  The Association of busy-bodies in your neighborhood who tell you what you can plant, what you can do, what color your garbage can must be, if you can own a grill, what flag to fly, etc.  The goal of the HO is to keep things clean, safe and orderly, but it isn’t uncommon for them to go a little too far.

I truly think that Schrebergärtens are a great idea.  The U.S. has a similar concept with community gardens.  It is great to plant, to get your hands dirty and then to sit back and enjoy the most beautiful results, whether it be through a beautiful bouquet or a nice vegetable salad…straight from your efforts.