RE: c.g. or allotment?

**"Betsy Johnson" b*@bgjohnson.com**

Because no two community gardens are the same and no two allotments are
the same, it is impossible to generalize differences.  Based on the
allotments I've visited in Berlin, an allotment may be generally larger
than most community garden plots.  As a result, these allotment had
small cabins on the plots as well as garden space.  While a community
garden may have a gazebo, tool shed, or even a small building, each
individual plot does not.  In terms of government involvement, that
varies as much among community gardens as it does among allotment.

Others can add more.  Best to hear from the European perspective. 

Betsy Johnson
Interim Executive Director
American Community Gardening Assoc.
877-275-2242  betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org

-----Original Message-----
From: community_garden-admin@mallorn.com
[community_garden-admin@mallorn.com] On Behalf Of Kristin Faurest
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 5:01 AM
To: community_garden@mallorn.com
Subject: [cg] c.g. or allotment?

Dear everyone,

I know i can always count on this listserver for brilliant answers, so
here goes. I am in the process of finishing a dissertation on community
gardens, and am trying to come up with an intelligent but simple
explanation of what distinguishes a community garden from a European
allotment. Some distinctions that I have read suggest that the
difference
is that allotments are individual parcels and community gardens are not,
but I know that that isn't at all accurate, either. There's no
distinctive socioeconomic group that either serves more than the other,
as far as I know, and European allotment gardens often function as
social
centers or to help new immigrants become part of their new home just the
way community gardens do.  

I know that allotment gardens are more government-supported and less of
a
bottom-up grassroots effort than community gardens, which is a subtle
difference but the only really consistent distinction I can figure out.

I would be very grateful for anyone's insights. Is the government's role
the only real difference? Or should they be considered two different
entities, or one a subtype of the other?

thank you so much.

best,

Kristin Faurest, Budapest

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of
ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and
to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden