Allotment gardens in the Cronenbourg district of Strasbourg.

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G. Varela / 20 Minutes

  • Strasbourg is full of allotment gardens.

    Almost 5,000 in total, 4,950 precisely accessible for rental, and requests for one are numerous.

    They have doubled in one year.

  • Once obtained his garden, rules must be respected.

    They are specified in internal regulations of around 40 pages.

  • "The inescapable rule is to maintain your garden and that it is exploited", summarizes Philippe Bambis, head of the allotment garden department at the Strasbourg town hall.

The sun, the beautiful days (almost) are back… and gardening with them.

In Strasbourg, practice in the open ground is not reserved only for tenants or land owners.

Without being a French exception, the Alsatian capital has many allotment gardens.

Nearly 5,000, 4,950 precisely on its communal ban, which represents 162 hectares to be allocated to voluntary green hands.

And they are many !

“Before Covid-19, we must have had 1,000 pending requests.

It exploded, today we have 1,800 individuals waiting for land.

It now takes a minimum of 4 to 5 years to obtain one, ”explains Philippe Bambis, the head of the allotment garden department at the town hall.

“I would like to point out: you have to reiterate your wishes every year, be of age, live in Strasbourg and not have land elsewhere.

"

Otherwise, the plot, on average "150 to 180 m²" will therefore be allocated to someone else, always against a sum ranging from 30 to 128 euros per year, depending on the equipment of the place.

An award for life and transferable to a member of his family.

Unless you are chased away first!

"75% of the plot must be destined for the vegetable garden"

Garden removal procedures are not uncommon.

"Maybe fifty a year," said the manager, admitting to having already gone to court with tenants.

“Until the Court of Appeal in Colmar but I always won.

The opposing party's lawyer even told me that my forty-page rulebook was shielded.

»With his list of obligations and prohibitions.

They are numerous but can be summed up in one sentence: “The essential rule is to maintain your garden and that it is exploited.

"Not only half," at least 75% must go to the vegetable garden. "

There is therefore no question of transforming the place into a grassy football field… “If you get a plot, it's not just to sit in it.

We must cultivate it without pesticides and we do not have the right to sell its production, it is for food ", supports the secretary of the Association of the gardens workers of Strasbourg-West (Ajoso), one of the five organizations to which the city has left the management of approximately 1,700 gardens.

allotment gardens on 23 04 06 - G.

VARELA / 20 MINUTES

Under these conditions, it is impossible, for example, to transform your rental into a field of cabbage or corn.

Monoculture is banned, as are plantations that could lead too high.

This is also why the hedges should not exceed 1.50 m in height.

"That way, we can control what is happening inside", sums up Philippe Bambis, recalling old stories of the cultivation of… cannabis.

“But it's very rare, eh!

"

"Tolerated" barbecues

What it is less is the complaints for bad behavior, in particular at the noise level.

“A garden is not a place of reception,” continues the city employee.

Currently, it is limited to two people, or four with children, and ten during the non-Covid-19 period.

It's the same, you have to respect the rules of decorum.

This is no place for a rave party!

"

Barbecues are "tolerated on condition that the fumes are not too annoying", as are the very small swimming pools.

Those for children.

“But there is no question of using the garden as a dumping ground or of enlarging your shed without authorization.

You know, I've seen things ... People have vivid imaginations!

", Laughs Philippe Bambis, at the head of teams which pass in each housing estate" once a month ".

To check, recall good practices or denounce abuses.

The offenders will then be notified by mail.

Once, twice… then they will no longer be gardeners.

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