Allotment Gardens: A Lesson in Sustainable Urban Renewal

In most major American cities, the land adjacent to expressways and railroad tracks is more often than not peppered by low income housing, scrap yards, fast food restaurants, bill boards, porn shops, vacant lots and litter. That’s not the case in many European countries which have a legacy of allotment gardens.  An allotment garden is a piece of land leased from the local government on which city dwellers yearning to be outdoors can cultivate gardens.  Some of these gardens contain structures; some large enough to spend a weekend or even the entire summer.  The gardens are as varied as the gardeners who lovingly tend to them. 

Such is the case in the Netherlands where I visited Tuinpark Eigen Arbeid on the outskirts of The Hague[i].  Eigen Arbeid is sandwiched between major thoroughfares and open fields, where wild flowers bloom and cattle lazily graze. For an annual fee of 800 Euros, Eigen Arbeid offers its gardeners a large lot on which they can construct a shelter no larger than 20 square meters or 66 square feet.  While the shelters are more akin to cottages, overnight stays are not permitted at Eigen Arbeid, although that is not the case at all allotment gardens.

Eigen Arbeid, which also serves as a public park, evokes a feeling of peace, tranquility and being one with nature. There was a quiet buzzing around the garden’s beehives, the silent paddling of ducks around the reeds and lily pads in its corridors of canals, and the sing-song of birds merrily chirping.  Gardeners were seen biking through the Eigen Arbeid; pushing wheelbarrows bursting with plant material, riotous in color; quietly tending their vast array of plants; and relaxing or entertaining on patios made of pavers; some of which were elaborate in pattern. 

It was so charming that I felt as if I were wandering through an enchanted world.

Some of the gardens were dedicated to vegetables, others were more floral, with the majority being a combination gardens.  A few of the gardens were reminiscent of formal English or Italian gardens.  As unique as the gardens, were the cottages and their owners.  For instance, Gotfriedt and Anneke Meer had a floral garden, where the plant material included anemones, peonies, forsythia, daffodils, tulips, butterfly shrubs, coral bells, ferns, cherry and apple trees.  A focal point was the gently gurgling water fountain.  Behind their garden was a canal and across from the canal, was an open expanse where cattle were spotted grazing off in the distance. 

The Meer’s were gracious enough to not only show me around their garden but also invited me into their cottage.  Gotfriedt explained that such cottages cost between 2,000 and 20,000 Euros to construct.  The cottage’s interior was constructed of all natural, unstained wood and contained everything anyone would need for not only a pleasant but, a most comfortable day.  There was couch that opened into a bed, in case the need for a nap arose, cozy pillows, floral curtains fluttering in the breeze, a small table topped with thick novels, wicker arm chairs for guests, a small refrigerator, toaster oven, microwave, propane powered stove and a half bath.  All this without gas or electricity.  Rather, the cottage was powered by four solar energy panels, used rainwater collection, and had a propane stove.  I would be remiss if I did not say that it would mean the world to me to have such a haven to retreat.

After promising to return later in the year, I next met Harry and Reit Burgh.  While their garden and cottage differed, their willingness to share their private world and its history with me was equally humbling.  They acquired their allotment garden in 2006.  Framed on the wall of the cottage was a photo collage showing the garden as it existed in 2006 and the process by which the new cottage was constructed by Harry and their son.  It was rightfully a source of family pride.  The inside of Burgh’s cottage had many if not all of the same amenities as the Meer’s.

Their garden was divided between florals and vegetables.  Reit seemed to be in charge of the flowers, which as the pictures reflect, were already blooming profusely in early May. 

The vegetables were already in the ground and thriving due to a series of greenhouses and cold frames.  There was endive, Bibb lettuce, radishes, two kinds of beans, cucumbers, cauliflower and tomatoes.  Harry also had cherry, plum and apple trees; with the apple tree adorned with delicate white blossoms, a promise of the fruit to come. 

As the area receives an infinite amount of rainfall, moss and algae growing between the patio’s pavers is problematic.  I know, because my patio in The Hague suffers the very same problem.  Reit showed me how to eliminate the problem using only azijn or vinegar, as only organic gardening is allowed; commercial pesticides and fertilizers are prohibited.  Harry had used a bit of beer in a tin can, its edge level with the soil, as that’s how you catch plant devouring slugs!

At the back of the garden, the Burghs had two compost barrels guaranteeing a continuous supply of nutrient rich soil; a natural fertilizer.

The Burghs told me that during the summer months they often entertained friends and family at their garden oasis.

At Groenewoud Gardens in nearby Utrecht, office buildings are interspersed among the green surroundings of the allotment gardens; some of which are even maintained by the business owners.. The architecture of the shelters was specified to compliment that of the commercial buildings.  The combination created a better office environment and eliminated ground maintenance costs[ii].

Allotment gardens or volkstuinen are by no means new in the Netherlands.  In 1911 the Netherlands passed its first national law on allotment gardens.  There are now over 240,000 allotment gardens in the Netherlands covering 0.12 percent of the Netherlands’ total land area. The average size of an allotment garden is 2 hectares or almost half an acre[iii].  Allotments without a shed or shelter may be as small as 15 square meters or 7 x 7 feet.  Each allotment garden has its own rules, such as whether overnight stays are allowed.  Every spring, the Dutch queue for their chance at an allotment.  Once an allotment is leased, that lease continues indefinitely; a family death often results in the garden being passed down to the next generation.

Allotment gardens not only facilitate social cohesion but, research shows that spending half an hour in an allotment leads to a 22 percent drop in the stress hormone cortisol, twice the amount reading a book[iv].

Agnes van den Berg, from Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands, said: "Taken together, our findings provide the first direct empirical evidence for health benefits of allotment gardens. Having an allotment garden may promote an active life-style and contribute to healthy ageing[v]."

Allotment gardens can be found in many European countries, including Great Britain, Germany, Hungary and Sweden.

Allotment gardens are consistent with many of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and serve as a model for both developed and underdeveloped nations.  Goal 1 is to reduce poverty.  Allotment gardens provide a way to not only grow food but to sell any surplus.  Goal 2, Zero Hunger, is closely related.  The organic gardening techniques further Goals 14 and 15; 'Life Under Water' and 'Life on Land', respectively.  Groenewoud Gardens is an example of SDG 13, 'Sustainable Cities and Communities'.  The use of solar power exemplifies SDG 7, 'Affordable and Clean Energy'. The documented positive health effects further SDG 3, 'Ensure Healthy Lives and Well-Being for All at All Ages'.  SDG16 seeks to 'promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development'; a benchmark met by the social cohesion facilitated by allotment gardens.

About the Author

Cynthia M. Lardner is a journalist, holding degrees in journalism, law, and counseling psychology. Her blogs are read in over 37 countries.  As a thought leader in the area of foreign policy, her philosophy is to collectively influence conscious global thinking. Living in Den Hague or The Hague, she is currently looking for a challenging position in foreign policy, journalism, or social justice.

Endnotes

[i] https://translate.google.nl/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=https://eigenarbeid.nl/&prev=search.

[ii] Stekelenburg, Erik "Garden Shed as Architectural Assignment", June 17, 2003, as found on the www at https://www.archined.nl/2003/06/garden-shed-as-architectural-assignment.

[iii] "Over 200 hectares of allotment garden liquidations within a decade", September 17, 2009, as found on the www at https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2009/38/over-200-hectares-of-allotment-garden-liquidations-within-a-decade.

[iv] Adams, Stephen, "Allotments really are good for your health", November 23, 2010, The Telegraph, as found on the www atwww.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8151638/Allotments-really-are-good-for-your-health.html.

[v] van den Berg et al, "Allotment gardening and health: a comparative survey among allotment gardeners and their neighbors without an allotment", November 23, 2010, BioMed Central Ltd. 2010, as found on the www athttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1186%2F1476-069X-9-74#article-actions.

The Netherlands: A Leader in Sustainable Infrastructure

Sustainable infrastructure must be made available on a more equal basis though-out the world. It is the solution for many of the world’s most pressing problems, ranging from climate change to even the eradication of terrorism[i]. 

Our global community, especially those nations seeking to develop sustainable infrastructures, could learn much from the Netherlands.  Despite being Europe’s leading oil producer[ii], the Netherlands ranks as one of the world’s six greenest of countries and is by far the most sophisticated I have visited[iii]. 

Mass Transportation

The Netherlands has one of best-organized and the cleanest mass transportation systems in the world. 

The tram system operating in The Hague[iv]

There are no rush hour traffic jams like those experienced in other developed countries, such as, China, Italy, Japan and the United States.  Automobile traffic is lessened not only by the presence of excellent mass transit but by the absence of open roads in city centers and, if you find a place to drive, better luck finding a parking place. 

As a result, the majority of residents walk, bike or use the mass transit system.  Biking is facilitated by smoothly-paved asphalt bike paths running parallel to the sidewalks.  It is true that you more likely to be run over by a bicyclist that an automobile. 

Walking and biking result in less obesity and, ultimately, in lessened health care costs.  The Dutch’s reliance on walking and biking must be attributed as factors to its residents having some the longest life expectancy in the developed world.

The Netherlands promotes the use of clean energy and electric vehicles.  Owners of electrically powered vehicles can find recharging stations where parking is available. Even the tourist boats traversing its beautiful canals sport signs that they are powered by clean energy.

The reduced use of vehicles powered by fossil fuels results in less C02 being emitted into the atmosphere, the soil, and our oceans, other waterways and water tables.  In turn, this lessens the impact of the Greenhouse Effect whereby pollution has eroded atmospheric barriers resulting in more solar energy penetrating the earth’s surface ultimately creating global warming.

The Netherlands accomplished this while still being a leader in the production of fossil fuels[v].

Elder Care

This leads into the most unlikely subtopic – better elder care and healthier elders.  In many countries, the elderly are left homebound.  This is not the case in the Netherlands.  On every bike path, you can find elderly residents tooling around on motorized two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles.  Even those elderly who can no longer climb the steps to their homes or flats, have access to motorized lifts to carry them up and down their staircases.  It goes without needing a reference, that when the elderly are connected to the outside world, they are also more mentally active and agile and less prone to illness leading to reduced health care costs.

Health and Health Care

While the Netherlands has a national health care system, even without health insurance, medical care and prescription drugs are less expensive than for a United States citizen having above-average health insurance coverage.

Consumerism

The Netherlands has facially obvious less consumer spending than in many other nations.  This could only have come about as a result of cultural conditioning and not as a result of a now-past but recent economic downturn the Netherlands experienced.

Consumer dollars spent on everyday items tend to spent in small business. Despite my best efforts to find a superstore resembling Target, Meijer’s or Carrefour, I have been unable to do so.  At best, I am told that there is an IKEA for household items, as well as remodeling, 30 kilometers away. 

When you go to many grocery markets, you are offered the option of purchasing a bag if you have failed to bring your own.  Even those stores with gratuitous bags, first ask if you need one. 

Less packaging materials are used in the Netherlands.  A great example is cheese.  At the grocers, sliced cheese comes in a material with enhanced biodegradable properties[vi]. The packages are designed to be easily resealed whereas in the United States, if your cheese slices are not individually wrapped, as is the practice with some products, the packaging is such that the seal does not lock after opening.

Another example are prescription and over the counter drugs. In the United States and Canada, all medications come in plastic bottles, often topped with a thick foil or plastic seal, some even with cotton packed inside to disguise the fact that the bottle is only fractionally filled. In the Netherlands, medication comes in a thin paper box with pills or capsules in thin foil packs inside. 

A further example can be found in the use of bottled water.  Almost everywhere in the world I have visited, people have come to depend on bottled bottle even when potable.  In the Netherlands, the tap water tastes as good as or better than the bottled water.  It is rare to see someone in public with bottled water.  This is not function of cost as bottled water is no more expensive in the Netherlands than elsewhere.  This is great news as plastic bottles can take up to 600 years to naturally decompose.

Other Sustainability Initiatives

While popularly known for its historical use of harnessing the wind via windmills that was only the beginning of innovation in the Netherlands[vii].  By way of example, the Netherlands is seeking to power its train system with wind[viii], wind is being harvested off-shore[ix], tidal power plants are being built[x], it is researching and developing bladeless wind turbines, which are more ecofriendly[xi], and using advanced solar panel technology in hydroponic greenhouses[xii].

Other Observations

What follows are some other observations I have made during my five weeks in the Netherlands.

• Unlike the United States, where energy efficiency is equated with the dreaded “low flush toilet”, creating the necessity for a plunger to always be nearby, modern toilets in the Netherlands have a high and low flush option.
• There is a greater commitment to gifted education than in North America. The Netherlands takes pride in cultivating its brightest students and their teachers.
• Public Wi-Fi access is available in the most heavily visited areas.
• There is less litter on the streets and in other public areas. I have yet to spot a public building or residence defaced by graffiti. The Dutch take pride in their homeland.
• Homelessness, while it exists, does not exist in proportion to other developed countries I have visited, including Canada, Taiwan, France, Italy and Spain.
• There is a greater tolerance of the GLBT community with political asylum available to those individuals needing a safe haven.
• At the opening of Parliament this year, I had the privilege of witnessing King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima traverse a traditional route in a golden carriage. As they passed, the crowd was subdued, politely waving orange flags.  The one or two protestors carrying signs were silent as the carriage passed.  Even where there is disagreement, there is respect.   A critical part of any sustainable infrastructure is governance that is respected.

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References

[i] While tangential to this particular paper, the root cause of terrorism is inequality.  By creating greater equality across all stratums, we reduce and ultimately eliminate the disenfranchised and un-empowered who comprise IS army.  See gen Lardner, Cynthia, “ISIS Gone Corporate”, June 21, 2015, as found on the www at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/isis-gone-corporate-cynthia-lardner-deverouxcleary-1?trk=mp-reader-card.

[ii] “Towards a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system in the Netherlands”, Holland, as found on the www athttp://www.hollandtrade.com/sector-information/energy/?bstnum=4913 (“The Netherlands has established itself as a pivotal player in the European gas market. The country is not only a major natural gas producer and the source of advanced gas technology, it is also Europe’s leading gas broker. Fifty years of experience in organising public-private partnerships to manage the gas business turned the country into a European gas hub. The Dutch have unmatched capacity to cope with seasonal fluctuations in gas demand, providing north-western Europe with much-needed flexibility. Renowned institutes such as the Groningen Energy Delta Institute train people from all across the globe. In addition, the Netherlands is establishing itself as leader in green gas.”)

[iii]   Id. (“The (energy) sector contributes substantially to Dutch national income, exports and employment. The government has therefore opted for a modern industry policy aimed at making better use of the economic opportunities for both green and grey energy. The Netherlands has embraced a courageous vision: by 2050, the country will have a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system. As part of this, the Dutch aim to cut CO2 emissions by half to generate some 40 percent of our electricity from sustainable sources like wind at sea and biomass by that time. Carbon emissions will be reduced by a combination which involves increasing the portion of renewable energy, energy saving, nuclear energy and Carbon Capture and Storage. By 2020, the European Renewable Energy Directive sets the target of 14% renewable energy. Renewable resources will play an important role in the bio based economy. To stimulate renewable energy production, the government has earmarked an annual sum of € 1.4 billion from 2015, which represents a major step towards achieving the 2020 target.).

[iv] http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/article/public-transport-in-the-hague.htm

[v] Energy innovation in the Netherlands continues into the private sector. See “Shaping the energy future through innovation” Shell Global, as found on the www at http://www.shell.com/global/future-energy/shaping-future.html (“Shell continues to invest in developing innovative technologies to support new energy production. We are entering more challenging environments to unlock new resources and boosting production from existing fields. At the same time, we are using new technologies and an innovative approach to limit our impact on the environment and find effective ways to engage with communities near to our operations.

We are developing cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel. From the extraction of the fuel to the generation of electricity, natural gas power plants emit around half the CO2 of coal power plants. Natural gas complements wind and solar power, which need a highly flexible backup supply when the wind stops or the sun goes down.”).

[vi] Based on observation, the packaging on the cheese I purchase in the Netherlands may well be oxy-degradable.

[vii] “Wind Energy in Holland, Holland, as found on the www athttp://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/wind-energy-in-holland.htm “Wind power in Holland is seen as a renewable energy source. From the early windmills that provided an alternative to the water-powered mills of the time to the modern era where wind power is being harnessed both on and off shore, Holland is a leader in the field. Onshore wind turbines in Holland, especially in the north, were generating almost 2000 megawatts in 2009. Offshore, two windfarms have been generating about 250 megawatts. To compare, a typical coal power station can produce between 600 and 700 megawatts.”).

[viii] “Dutch Project Aims to Build a Wind Powered Rail Network”, September 28, 2015, The Horizons Tracker, as found on the www athttp://adigaskell.org/2015/09/28/dutch-project-aims-to-build-a-wind-powered-rail-network/  (“The project is part of a wider plan to make transport in the Netherlands much greener than it currently is.

“Mobility is responsible for 20 percent of CO2 emissions in the Netherlands, and if we want to keep travelling, it is important that we do this without burdening the environment with CO2 and particulate matter,” the Eneco team say.

The railway will be 95% powered by green energy by 2017, and 100% by 2018.  The project is notable both because it involves no government subsidies, so hopefully goes some way to showing that green energy can be economical, but it also shows that it can be a reliable source of power.

The network is responsible for roughly 1.2 million journeys a day, and they have a long history of making their operations carbon neutral.  They have already reduced the energy consumption for each passenger/kilometer by 30% since 2005 through energy efficiency techniques.”).

[ix] Steringa, Hendrik, "Large Energy Companies Taking Control Of Dutch Wind Energy Association NWEA", Clean Technica, September 4, 2015, as found on the www at http://cleantechnica.com/2015/09/04/large-energy-companies-taking-control-of-dutch-wind-energy-association-nwea/ (““Offshore wind energy has gradually become more important compared to onshore wind, not in the least because of the national energy agreement. Offshore wind is the playground of the big power companies. Only the larger members of NWEA (a private energy association in the Netherlands) are able to do offshore wind. It is therefore dominated by big money and big interests.”).

[x] Whitlock, Robin, "The Netherlands: Tocardo and Huisman install tidal energy plant in Dutch Eastern Scheldt", September 25, 2015, Renewable Energy Magazine, as found on the www at http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/article/tocardo-and-huisman-install-tidal-energy-plant-20150925 ("Tocardo Tidal Turbines designs and produces tidal and free-flow water turbines while Huisman is operating as a designer, builder and financial sponsor of the turbine’s suspension structure. The installation is the largest tidal energy project in the Netherlands as well as the world’s largest commercial tidal installation of five turbines in an array.

The plant has been engineered and developed in a record time of nine months. It consists of a structure 50 metres in length and 20 metres wide and was transported over water to its designated location on the island of Neeltje Jans. The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is the largest of the world-renowned Delta Works series of dams and storm surge barriers, designed to protect the Netherlands from flooding from the North Sea. The location will now be a combination of water defences and hydroelectric power.”

“This project marks an important step in the development of tidal energy” said Tocardo CEO Hans van Breugel. “Tidal technology is innovative and could grow into a significant Dutch export product. The export expectation of tidal energy is more than 200 Gigawatts. With our turbines in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, we can now show the world what tidal energy is all about: providing a clean and reliable source of energy that could fulfil 10-20 percent of the world’s electricity needs.”).

[xi] Grover, Sami, "Are bladeless turbines the future of wind energy?" October 2, 2015, as found on the www at http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/are-bladeless-turbines-future-wind-energy (""Bladed turbines kill kill kill birds, eagles and other raptors as well as small birds. They are the worst thing this country could do... ESPECIALLY when there are two kinds of blade less turbines available. The vibrational tower and the other one from the Dutch....

In prototype form, the turbine consists of a fiberglass carbon fiber cone that vibrates when wind hits it. At the base are rings of repelling magnets that pull in the opposite direction to which the wind is pushing. Electricity is then produced via an alternator that harnesses the kinetic energy of the vibrations."

[xii] "Thermal screens slash energy use, says Dutch trial", September 4, 2015, Horticulture Week, as found on the www at http://www.hortweek.com/thermal-screens-slash-energy-use-says-dutch-trial/edibles/article/1362051 ("Growing high-wire cucumbers in a glasshouse with four thermal screens reduced energy use by 44 per cent during the January to May period, while maintaining yield and quality comparable to conventional production with a single screen...").

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About the Author

Cynthia M. Lardner holds a journalism degree, she is a licensed attorney and trained as a clinical therapist. Her philosophy is to collectively influence conscious global thinking understanding that everything and everyone is subject to change given the right circumstances; Standard Theory or Theory of Everything.

Ms. Lardner has accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and LinkedIn, as well as accounts under the pseudonym of Deveroux Cleary, and is globally ranked in the top 1% of all account holders for her outreach and influence.

Having just relocated to Den Hague or The Hague, she is currently looking for a challenging position that will fully utilize her collective skill set.