Changes

In the [[United Kingdom]], an '''allotment'''  is a small area of land, let out at a nominal yearly [[renting|rent]] by [[local government]] or independent allotment associations, for individuals to grow their own food.  This could be considered as an example of a [[community garden]] system for [[urban area|urban]] and to some extent [[rural]] folk.

In the [[United Kingdom]], an '''allotment'''  is a small area of land, let out at a nominal yearly [[renting|rent]] by [[local government]] or independent allotment associations, for individuals to grow their own food.  This could be considered as an example of a [[community garden]] system for [[urban area|urban]] and to some extent [[rural]] folk.

The allotment system began in the [[18th century]]: for example, a 1732 engraving of [[Birmingham, England]] shows the town encircled by allotments, some of which still exist to this day.  Following the [[Inclosure Act]]s and the Commons Act of 1876 the land available for personal cultivation by the poor was greatly diminished. To fulfil the need for land allotment legislation was included. The law was first fully codified in the Small Holdings and Allotment Act of 1908, it was modified by the Allotments Act of 1922 and subsequent Allotments Acts up until 1950.

The allotment system began in the [[18th century]]: for example, a 1732 engraving of [[Birmingham, England]] shows the town encircled by allotments, some of which still exist to this day.  Following the [[Enclosure Act]]s and the Commons Act of 1876 the land available for personal cultivation by the poor was greatly diminished. To fulfil the need for land allotment legislation was included. The law was first fully codified in the Small Holdings and Allotment Act of 1908, it was modified by the Allotments Act of 1922 and subsequent Allotments Acts up until 1950.

Under the acts a local government is required to maintain an "adequate provision" of land, usually a large allotment field which can then be subdivided into allotment gardens for individual residents at a low rent. The rent is set at what a person "may reasonably be expected to pay" (1950), in 1997 the average rent for a statutary 10 square [[rod (unit)|rod]]s (250 square metres or one-sixteenth of an acre) plot was £22 a year. Each plot cannot exceed 40 square rods (1012 m²) and must be used for the production of [[fruit]] or [[vegetable]]s for consumption by the plotholder and their family (1922), or of flowers for use by the plotholder and their family. The exact size and quality of the plots is not defined. The council has a duty to provide sufficient allotments to meet demand. The total income from allotments was £2.61 million and total expenditure was £8.44 million in 1997. In 2000 [[metrication]] legislation made it illegal to use square rods as a unit of pricing, which must now be priced in square metres.

Under the acts a local government is required to maintain an "adequate provision" of land, usually a large allotment field which can then be subdivided into allotment gardens for individual residents at a low rent. The rent is set at what a person "may reasonably be expected to pay" (1950), in 1997 the average rent for a statutary 10 square [[rod (unit)|rod]]s (250 square metres or one-sixteenth of an acre) plot was £22 a year. Each plot cannot exceed 40 square rods (1012 m²) and must be used for the production of [[fruit]] or [[vegetable]]s for consumption by the plotholder and their family (1922), or of flowers for use by the plotholder and their family. The exact size and quality of the plots is not defined. The council has a duty to provide sufficient allotments to meet demand. The total income from allotments was £2.61 million and total expenditure was £8.44 million in 1997. In 2000 [[metrication]] legislation made it illegal to use square rods as a unit of pricing, which must now be priced in square metres.

The aspect of [[food security]] provided by allotment gardens became particularly evident during [[World War]]s I and II. The socio-economic situation was very miserable, particularly as regards the nutritional status of urban residents. Many cities were isolated from their rural hinterlands and agricultural products did not reach the city markets anymore or were sold at very high prices at the black markets. Consequently, food production within the city, especially fruit and vegetable production in [[home gardens]] and allotment gardens, became essential for survival (''[http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/.Pictures/Corbis%20Photos/39Berliners.jpg  Berliners cultivate vegetables by the ruins of the Reichstag] in June 1946''). The importance of allotment gardens for food security was so obvious that in 1919, one year after the end of [[World War I]], the first legislation for allotment gardening in Germany was passed. The so-called “Small Garden and Small-Rent Land Law”, provided security in land tenure and fixed leasing fees. In 1983, this law was amended by the “Federal Allotment Gardens Act”[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bkleingg/index.html ''(Bundeskleingartengesetz)'']. Today, there are still about 1.4 million allotment gardens in Germany covering an area of 47,000 ha.<ref>Gröning, G., Wolschke-Bulmahn, J., 1995. Von Ackermann bis Ziegelhütte, Studien zur Frankfurter Geschichte, Band 36. Frankfurt am Main, Germany.</ref>

The aspect of [[food security]] provided by allotment gardens became particularly evident during [[World War]]s I and II. The socio-economic situation was very miserable, particularly as regards the nutritional status of urban residents. Many cities were isolated from their rural hinterlands and agricultural products did not reach the city markets anymore or were sold at very high prices at the black markets. Consequently, food production within the city, especially fruit and vegetable production in [[home gardens]] and allotment gardens, became essential for survival (''[http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/.Pictures/Corbis%20Photos/39Berliners.jpg  Berliners cultivate vegetables by the ruins of the Reichstag] in June 1946''). The importance of allotment gardens for food security was so obvious that in 1919, one year after the end of [[World War I]], the first legislation for allotment gardening in Germany was passed. The so-called “Small Garden and Small-Rent Land Law”, provided security in land tenure and fixed leasing fees. In 1983, this law was amended by the “Federal Allotment Gardens Act”[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bkleingg/index.html ''(Bundeskleingartengesetz)'']. Today, there are still about 1.4 million allotment gardens in Germany covering an area of 47,000 ha.<ref>Gröning, G., Wolschke-Bulmahn, J., 1995. Von Ackermann bis Ziegelhütte, Studien zur Frankfurter Geschichte, Band 36. Frankfurt am Main, Germany.</ref>

Nevertheless, the importance of allotment gardening in Germany has shifted over the years. While in times of crisis and widespread poverty (from 1850 to 1950), allotment gardening was a part time job, and its main importance was to enhance food security and improve food supply, its present functions have to be seen under a different point of view. In times of busy working days and the hectic urban atmosphere, allotment gardens have turned into recreational areas and locations for social gatherings. As green oases within oceans of asphalt and cement, they are substantially contributing to the conservation of nature within cities. What was previously a part time job is nowadays considered as a hobby where the hectic schedule of the day becomes a distant memory, while digging the flowerbeds and getting a little soil under the fingernails. However, in

Nevertheless, the importance of allotment gardening in Germany has shifted over the years. While in times of crisis and widespread poverty (from 1850 to 1950), allotment gardening was a part time job, and its main importance was to enhance food security and improve food supply, its present functions have to be seen under a different point of view. In times of busy working days and the hectic urban atmosphere, allotment gardens have turned into recreational areas and locations for social gatherings. As green oases within oceans of asphalt and cement, they are substantially contributing to the conservation of nature within cities. What was previously a part time job is nowadays considered as a hobby where the hectic schedule of the day becomes a distant memory, while digging the flowerbeds and getting a little soil under the fingernails. However, in situations of weak economy and high unemployment rates, gardens become increasingly important for food production again.[http://www.kleingarten-bund.de/fachthemen/details.php?action=showArticle&articleNr=277 (''Schrebergärten voll im Trend'')]

situations of weak economy and high unemployment rates, gardens become increasingly important for food production again.[http://www.kleingarten-bund.de/fachthemen/details.php?action=showArticle&articleNr=277 (''Schrebergärten voll im Trend'')]

== Allotment gardens in Sweden ==

== Allotment gardens in Sweden ==