Map of all the urban gardens we visited in Stockholm
Barnängens Koloniträd-gårdsförening
An allotment garden located in east Södermalm
The start of allotment gardens
Anna Lindhagen played an important role in establishing colonial gardens in Stockholm. She was a nurse before being elected to join the Stockholm City Council for social democrats.
How they work
They are privately-owned public spaces. The garden spaces are available for Stockholm residents that are members of the colony garden association (Föreningen Stor-Stockholms Koloniträdgårdar, FSSK).
Members make a one-time payment to buy the plot and a monthly membership fee.
The FSSK regularly inspects gardens (beginning and end of summer) to ensure they are well-kept and uphold sustainable agricultural standards. Poorly kept garden plots risk repossession by people on the wait-list.
Uses & Activities
- Originally created to curb food insecurity in times of crisis
- Currently a space for outdoor recreation
- There were a lot of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown on these plots
Gooseberries (top) and red currants (bottom) were among one of the many fruit found throughout the garden plots.
Comfort & Image
On the outside
- Visitors or community members walking by the Barnängens garden cannot easily see the inside
- The garden is only open to the public when at least one allotment owner is in the space
The entirety of the Barnängens garden is enclosed with a red fence
A look inside
- The gardens provide stretches of green and bright colors from fruits and flowers
The private garden spaces have shorter fences for more visibility
- FSSK ensure the gardens are both productive and an aesthetically pleasing place for people to pass through and see
Seating area
- Each private garden plot had a seating area for the owners enjoy their green space
- There are no seating area for the general public to rest; the place was designed for people to walk through only
Access & Linkages
Barnängens is located near residential area and large stretches of outdoor green space (e.g. parks and playgrounds).
A large path through open space to Barnängens
Not wheelchair accessible
- Passageways with the gardens are too narrow
Limited open hours
- Garden is locked when allotment owners are not available
- General public cannot enter privately own plots
Difficult to get a spot
- A Stockholm local named Monika noted the increased popularity of allotment gardens and the dreadful wait time for up to 20 years to get a garden plot
- Garden plots can be passed down to younger generations
Sociability
- Proximity of garden plots facilitate social interactions between owners of these plots
- Public can stroll through and enjoy the greenery
- Seating area within private plots can be used for owners to host gatherings
Sustainability
- Compact layout of gardens maximize land use
- Productive use of green space
Vegetables growing in a private plot inside Barnängens
- Garden association enforces plot owners to uphold sustainable practices (e.g. rain water systems, compost, growing flowers for pollinators, etc...)
Learn More
Tanto Norra koloniträd-gårdsförening
An allotment garden located in south Södermalm
privately-owned public space
Key Differences to Barnängens
- Also an allotment garden- uses, sustainability features similar to Barnängens (see above)
- Differences: Bigger garden overall, wider roads, no gate but higher fences for the private gardens, part of a more populous park (Tantolunden)
Ingna's garden
Aesthetically pleasing gardens
Higher fences
Learn More
Olda Ihop
An open-access garden located in Södermalm
Purpose: “promote the dissemination of knowledge and practice in biodiversity and sustainable, organic farming and resource management based on the basic principles of permaculture"
History
Started by Karin Saler who lives in Tanto
With Jenny Salmson: presented to Södermalm's district council
Result: 5000 square meters, a small storage room, and 10,000 SEK to build a "permaodling"
Saler and others started an association called "Growth"
Digging the earth: January 2015
Uses & Activities
nonprofit organization
Permaculture
- course in forest gardening (full-time/ eligible for study grant): design, soil, plant, water collection, wind protection, etc.
- raised beds with using tree branches
- compost/ three compartments
- collecting rain water
- greenhouse/tunnel
Goals:
- work practically and locally
- cooperate locally with activities and people to be inclusive
- work for improved food safety and social security through collaboration between residents, organizations and businesses locally
Greenhouse with a lot of zucchinis
compost area
Comfort & Image
Aesthetic
- variety of plants
- engaging structure
Coffee shop: Fika Ihop
Geting Skramma
Oyster plant (Mertensia maritima)
Fika Ihop in the background
Artificial wasp nest to scare the wasps away
Access & Linkages
open-access/ people sign up to be volunteers
Wheelchair accessible
Activities: sunbathing, picnicking, barbecuing, doing yoga
Surrounding areas
- playground, volleyball court, Tantolunden allotment garden, outside gym, waterfront
- playground: key factor of inability to integrate beehives for pollination
Sociability
Trying to be more inclusive
According to Åsa (one of the garden volunteers), no special skills needed to come and participate
social space/ sunbathers to the right
Sustainability
Hügelbäddsanläggning
- the beds will give plants carbon and moisture for a long time
- possible to grow in any location
Goal: to become a food forest that requires low maintenance
Pedagogical sustainability
Learn More
"its more than just gardening, its for people to gather" - åsa
Summary
- Two types of gardens: Allotment gardens and open-access gardens
- Allotment gardens: provide an opportunity for residents to have access to their own garden and relax when most people live in higher density buildings, but there is a long queue to get a plot of land and they do have to buy it + pay a monthly fee, public and private space simultaneously
- Open-access gardens: Highlights inclusivity, pedagogical sustainability (encourages outsiders to stop and interact + learn more about community gardening)
