Allotments: Why the Germans love their garden colonies | Meet the Germans

Meet the Germans presenter Rachel Stewart takes a peek inside a German "garden colony" to talk nature, gnomes and the all-important rule book.
Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. As a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. Every two weeks she explores a new topic - from beer to nudity to complicated grammar. This week it's all about Germany’s hobby gardeners and their allotment gardens.

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[pierrebuffiere]

When I became a German citizen, I was presented with a garden gnome by our friends.

[felixxdenolo]

It would not be a German garden without a bunch of rules lol

[rsrs]

when i was in highschool me and my friends were allowed to use the schrebergarten of an old lady that died, because her children didn't want it. these summers tending the garden, barbecuing and drinking beer are among my best memories from my youth

... also, there were a bunch of asbestos plates in there that we very carelessly removed, which is why we'll probably all die in a few years

[em]

It's extremely popular in Denmark, too. And you're allowed to live in (as in move your address to) whatever tiny house you have in your allotment garden from mid-spring until mid-autumn if you want - it's actually popular with students to sublet their apartment for half the year and live in their allotment garden instead. It saves a LOT of rent money and you get to enjoy a garden during summer instead of a small city apartment, so it's a win-win.

[hiimain]

My mom is obsessed with plants, she turned our rooftop into somewhat like a mini babylonian garden 😅

[zdocc]

My mates rented one so we could chill out and drink there xD

[neharana]

How interesting ! I used to travel to Frankfurt pretty often and see these small cabins with green gardens on the way from the airport to the hotel. I assumed they were low income housing, oh boy ! I was wrong.

[christophmensch]

What a huge kaleidoscope of information and entertainment about Schrebergärten in less than 4 minutes, i'm blown away!

[geraldmcmullon]

All the families I met had wooden cabins and a garden near a body of water (large pond small lake). These homes were fully kitted out with oven, washing facilities, bed rooms and laid on electricity for portable TVs and lighting. In the garden a high tech barbeque. Some preferred these homes to the brick and mortar of their main home. Originally they only had a tent, lock up cabinets and a place to park their campervans. The small wooden homes came quickly.

[helenepidon]

If you don't want a queue, come to Quedlinburg! The town has at least 5 communities garden for 20 000 inhabitants. And a lot of gardens are free in all communities

[Camel]

In Polish cities we have gardens as those as well... and the same mentality :D

[ejaaz]

I really enjoy these videos. Wish every country had a series like this. Just so I could know about them.

[Isthatyoudear]

What a brilliant series this is. And kudos to you, Rachel, for presenting it in such refreshingly entertaining way!

[YashSharma-wukr]

Ohh Rachel, your videos are always amazing but you make us wait so much. I know making good content takes time, quality over quantity. You are awesome :)

[deep.space.]

3:05 Her shirt means "wishes one good fortune" with a picture of a wealth-attracting kitty.

[cookingandlive]

Nice video! I like the urban gardening movement more as it cultivates places not fenced parcels. Our city plants tomatoes and vegetables in Pots all around oldtown as well as some flowers. Veggies are free to use.

[PMS]

Excellent presentation again. I really enjoy your informative but light hearted features, which give such a fascinating insight into the German way of life and culture.

[ricardo.fontanelli]

I just can't stop to watch these videos, great job!

[isabellacampos]

Sehr schönes Video 🌷 Vielen Dank. Sogar die Gärten brauchen Gesetze, weil dadurch man lernen kann, was zu pflanzen, das die Natur des Gebietes nicht schadt. Zum Beispiel: es gibt pflanzen, die zu gross erwachsen oder zuviel Wasser brauchen und anderen drücken können. Auch wirkt der Gesetz aus, um die Vielfältigkeit der Flora zu schützen.

[o_o]

well delivered as always Rachel, keep up the good work.