The federal center of the Bundesverband der Kleingartenvereine e.V. in Berlin will once again be the venue for numerous events on the subject of allotment gardening this year. The target group for the training courses are multipliers from associations and federations of the allotment garden movement organized by the BKD. In contrast to many other forms of urban gardening, the allotment garden movement with its organizational structure offers the guarantee of having real multipliers as participants in the training courses. They provide advice and support to the allotment gardeners inside and outside the associations and thus contribute to the welfare of society within the framework of civic engagement.
On April 25 and 26, 2025, representatives of the regional associations will meet at the Federal Center in Berlin-Neukölln to discuss current political issues and association topics at regional association level.
The BKD invites you to the seminar "Expert advice I" entitled "Designing living areas in allotment gardens" from May 16-18, 2025. The seminar is intended to provide suggestions and basic knowledge for the sustainable design of allotment gardens and allotment garden sites and to show how all areas of an allotment garden can be used, upgraded, designed and maintained in an ecological, sustainable and climate-friendly manner in the interests of promoting biodiversity and diversity.
The seminar Law I, from June 27-29, 2025 will focus on "The social and ecological importance of allotment gardening and its reflection in law".
The seminar Fachberatung II 2025 entitled "Allotment garden sites - values and functions for our society" will focus on the diverse social benefits that radiate from allotment gardening into society. The seminar will take place from July 04 to 06, 2025.
From October 10-12, 2025, the BKD and its guests will devote themselves to the "Fundamental court decisions on allotment gardening" in the seminar Law II for a better understanding of the legal basis.
The seminar on the environment entitled "Allotment gardens and health", which will take place from October 24-26, 2025, is intended to help promote health in and through allotment garden sites throughout Germany. In particular, it will strengthen the skills of board members, those responsible for specialist advice and valuation in environmentally and health-conscious federation and association management.
The BKD also offers regular online training courses, such as the online legal series for club chairpersons and, from fall 2025, an online training course for specialist advisors from clubs, district and city associations.
Sandra von Rekowski, BKD
Picture: BKD
On 27.08.2024, the Bundesverband der Kleingartenvereine Deutschlands e. V. (BKD), umbrella organisation of around 900,000 allotment gardeners in Germany, opened its new federal centre with the permanent exhibition "City | Nature | People" with invited guests from the allotment garden movement, the local authorities, science and European partner organisations from 9 countries.
https://stadt-natur-mensch.de/
Opening ceremony for the Federal Centre
BKD Association President Dirk Sielmann welcomed over 150 guests to the grand evening ceremony. He thanked the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) for funding the Federal Centre on the basis of a resolution passed by the German Bundestag, which made the building with its environmentally friendly timber construction possible in the first place.
https://kleingarten-bund.de/bundeszentrum/
International congress "Allotment gardens in Europe: Green for all"
At the international specialist congress "Allotment gardens in Europe: Green for all", the federation and the international umbrella organisation of the European allotment garden movement, the Fédération Internationale des Jardins Familiaux, showed that they are facing up to social and climatic challenges and are proactively seeking solutions for the allotment garden movement. Topics such as the sponge city, new garden forms, biodiversity and the opening of the colonies as allotment garden parks - not only for members - were discussed scientifically in lectures.
The guests from other European countries and from all over Germany, who met at the federal centre during the European symposium "Allotment gardens in Europe: Green for all", were delighted with the successful event and wished the BKD and the allotment garden movement every success with the launch of the federal centre.
Two associations under one roof
The BKD presents itself in a spirit of optimism, to which not least the German allotment youth federation contributes with its commitment. Two federations under one roof that convey a modern, open-minded image of allotment garden culture and show that they no longer stand for a retreat into the private sphere of the allotment. The "Green Classroom" in the outdoor area will also be a new contact point for education for sustainable development for school classes and other interested parties from spring 2025.
The BKD and the Deutsche Schreberjugend are looking forward to many visits from the allotment garden associations and all friends of allotment gardening!
Author: BKD, Sandra von Rekowski and Eva Foos
Source: BKD
Under the motto "Allotment gardens: Diversity that inspires!" many allotment gardeners all over Germany again celebrated the Day of the Garden on 11 June 2023 with open gardens, festivities and activities for young and old and with guests from politics and administration.
Apart from a great biological diversity, it is above all the social and cultural diversity that characterises allotment gardening in Germany. Many millions of people of different generations, social backgrounds and countries of origin get involved year after year. In the 13,500 or so allotment garden associations organised under the umbrella of the BDG, they ensure that these green oases remain places that are hard to beat in terms of diversity.
At the suggestion of the BDG, the day has been celebrated since 1984, always on the second Sunday in June. Traditionally, each year one of the 20 regional associations organised in the BDG takes over the organisation of the central nationwide kick-off event for the green holiday weekend. This year there were even two: the Rhineland federation of allotment gardeners and the Westphalia and Lippe federation of allotment gardeners. Special occasion: Both federations additionally celebrated their 100th federation anniversary!
In the "Bunten Garten" in Mönchengladbach the two chairmen of the regional federations, Rolf Rosendahl (LV Westphalia and Lippe) and Michael Franssen (LV Rhineland) opened the festive event. The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst gave his video greeting and his appreciation for the allotment garden movement: "The allotment garden movement in North Rhine-Westphalia has constitutional status. This position is unique in the whole federal state." Dirk Sielmann, president of the BDG, underlined the important role of allotment gardens for urban development and the mayor of the city of Mönchengladbach, Josephine Gauselmann, in turn emphasized the interactive power of allotment gardens in her greeting.
The numerous guests from all over Germany were offered a colourful programme for young and old with specialist information, a "market of opportunities" with partners of the organised allotment garden movement, musical entertainment and various hands-on activities. A special highlight: the donation of a red maple for the colourful garden by the two regional federations and the joint planting of the tree with guests from the federation and from regional and local politics.
An extremely successful celebration of the diversity and continuing invaluable value of allotment gardening!
Eva Foos, BDG
Pictures: Hans-Peter Reichartz
Read more:
bit.ly/Tag-des-Gartens-Rheinland
https://bit.ly/Tag-des-Gartens-Westfalen-Lippe
