By chance, I came across few articles about community gardens in Denmark, garden colonies to be exact, called kolonihave. Although I am not really a gardener, and my family swears that the plants cry when I approach, I was charmed by the photos and the community feel they project: colorful, cute structures, from tool sheds to small cottages, in the middle of lovely flower or edible gardens, smiling gardeners sharing a glass of ice-tea… They bring immediate association with the smell of fresh earth and the hum of the bees- oh, wait, but then there are the blood-sucking bugs and flies and creepy-crawlies (“sweet remembrance of the things past”)!
With a long tradition of allotment gardening, today, Denmark claims to have the biggest percentage of allotment gardeners per person, in total more then 60,000. The concept was created in the era of industrialization to allow factory workers a chance to get away from their unhealthy and cramped living spaces. The government made enclosed and subdivided parcels of land, 100-200 m2 in size, in the proximity of the city and available for leasing.
The parcels were too small as housing lots, but were able to house a tool shed, some garden furniture enclosure, even a small structure that provided temporary shelter from the inclement weather. The pride and love for this temporary escape, a slice of heaven, pulled their owners into beautification of these small structures, which gave each one its own special identity. In Danish, they are called “kolonihavehus”.
The government owned land is leased with the running water connection. The structures erected on the parcel are in the tenant’s ownership, and can be sold or moved. Very early there was a determined practice that if government needed the land for building, the notice would be given 3 months ahead, with usual termination by November 1, to allow tenants to harvest their lots and organize removal of their property.
”The motorways were extended to make space for cars. It was the fate of many allotment garden areas that they ended up being situated in a motorway interchange. Many more were afflicted with noise and lead pollution. Now it could be dangerous to eat one’s home-grown vegetables.” After the debates during the late 70’s, the Danish parliament made a decision to protect the gardens, and with the the city extended around them, gardens are left as green spaces. An increase in demand and shortage of allotments makes the green gardens very valuable and hard to get by.
“Vennelyst” Kolonihave, 10 minutes from the center of Copenhagen, was founded on government leased land in 1892. The lease has recently been extended to 2025. The waiting list for a Kolonihavehus in Vennelyst is ca. 25 years.
