|
  |
|
|
Garten Anlagers
By Arthur Webster of Ask Old Coot
I suppose it was inevitable that old traditions would suffer as greed became the new religion of the west. It saddens me deeply that one of my favourite traditions of Germany is now under fierce attack. Garten Anlagers (garden sites/communities) have been a welcome diversion for Germans living cheek by jowl in apartment blocks. If you have never seen a Garten Anlager, picture, if you can, all the gardens that are attached to houses being amalgamated into one, large, green area - but without the houses. The Anlagers would be found in rather remote but surprisingly central locations in most major cities. Each individual garden would have a little summer house for the family members to use at the week-ends when they were working or simply taking time out from their weekly grind. The virtually open plan nature of the Anlagers meant that it was possible to go for a short stroll 'in the country' right in the heart of Dusseldorf, Kiel or Berlin. It was also more than likely that the wild life of the open countryside would be encountered. During the two world wars the Anlagers were instrumental in staving off the worst effects of starvation and bound the population together in much the same way as the shelter of the underground stations did in London. It seems that the Garten Anlagers are the latest facet of modern life to cause developers and town planners to salivate and slobber like the morons that they obviously are. Apart from the therapeutic aspects of gardening for the city dwellers, these Garten Anlagers were huge areas in which green plants fought against the smog and polution in the air. They provided locations in which neighbours could get together and share a valuable hobby, encourage their children to appreciate the value of living things (not just plants) and help to maintain the family structure. The UK has seen many of its allotments (a very poor equivalent) disappear under the developers machinery but they were nothing like the community treasures that the Garten Anlagers are. They did not provide pleasant oases of calm with enough grass/lawn cover for even the biggest group to enjoy their weekly get together. Germany is not the only country to use the Anlager system but they were perfected there. I find it unbelievable that such a national treasure should now be seen as a potential source of short term cash (and long term misery). If the Germans are unable to stem the flood of avarice and criminal stupidity, the rest of us have no chance. Berlin has already seen huge swathes of very productive land concreted over in the cause - let's hope someone will call a stop before the damage is terminal. If things continue this way, how long will it be before the developers turn their eyes to the grave yards and cemetaries in our towns. Believe me - nothing will be sacred. |
Garten Anlager - Mönchengladbach - Winter
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
Ask Old Coot
An open invitation to ask questions.
www.askoldcoot.info
|
|
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
|
 |
|
Thank you for sharing this interesting intel on community gardens in Germany, Arthur. I had no idea that it was such an activity in the inner cities.
The poor economy in the USA has led to an increase in gardening,sewing, and chicken raising on the home owner level. Back to the basics.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes.
Frederick
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi, Frederick,
Not so much an activity, more a way of life!
The Anlargers were the week-end gathering places for families and friends away from the cities but in the cities. Apartments not only lacked open spaces, they lacked room for large family gatherings.
Each individual plot was of 'show' standard with the extended family all being involved in the care and devlopment.
Shame. My parents used to have one of those gardens and it was a wonderfully calm oasis in the middle of the city, as you stated. In my region of Germany we call them "Schrebergarten", though. Best wishes,
Dirk
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Friends in Dusseldorf also used 'Schrebergarten' until they visited England and saw what an 'allotment' was, there.
The lack of community and generally sad outlook of British allotments combined with the 'old man's hobby' attitude gives them none of the joy and feel of a Garten Anlarger.
Most British allotments were out of town and few remain, today.
The copyright for this content entitled "Garten Anlagers" has been specified by the contributor as:
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0
Details 
This content may be copied and distributed (but not modified), as long as the original author is acknowledged with a link back to the content page.
If you use this content according to the license specified, you must link to the following URL:
http://theoldcoot.qondio.com/
|
|
February, 2012
| | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | | | | |
|
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
