Record high prices – more and more people want to grow food

– Food prices have definitely made the issue more acute – a lot of people want to grow their own food, says Ulrica Otterling, Secretary General of the Colonial Garden Association.

Today there are around 50,000 allotments in Sweden, just over half with cottages on, the rest pure cultivation plots.

But the number of lots in the country's municipalities has not increased for decades, the prices of an allotment cottage have shot through the roof and the waiting time for a cultivation plot can be many years. Many associations have already been forced to close their queues because there is no reasonable chance of getting a ticket in the foreseeable future.

The Allotment Garden Association brings together 229 member associations and over 23,000 allotment owners across the country. Now the union demands that the municipalities arrange more places for those who want to farm.

– How hard can it be? Help people farm, build more allotment areas! says Ulrica Otterling.

Stockholm goes against the flow

The City of Stockholm has very high land prices, but is now going against the tide.

SVT Nyheter's team stands on a strip that looks like a common in Skarpnäck. It is managed by Skogskyrkogården, but is located outside the cemetery wall, on the border of an already existing allotment area in the district.

"This is one of three or four locations we have identified so far. Frankly, I think completely new cottage areas will be difficult to find land for. But I am quite sure that we can shake out more places for pure allotments, says Sara Stenudd (V), second vice chairman of the Stockholm City Council.

It's not just about growing your own vegetables, but just as much about contributing to people's well-being and cohesion – and not least to the city's biodiversity.

"We know that allotment areas have the best biodiversity in Stockholm and more green spaces are also an important issue for the climate. I advise more municipalities that are interested to look for new, smart solutions, if a completely new allotment area is difficult to make room for.