From 21 to 24 August 2025, the study conference of the Fédération Internationale des Jardins Familiaux took place in Tulln an der Donau. Representatives from ten European nations met for an exchange at the seminar centre of the Landesgartenschau "Die Garten Tulln" (Tulln Garden Show).
The theme of this year's study conference, organised by the Austrian association, was: "We are prepared – How we allotment gardeners can respond to today's crises."
Allotment gardeners are an important building block when it comes to climate protection (biodiversity, cooling cities, etc.). They have a broad knowledge of how sustainability not only protects the environment and resources, but also how they can be self-sufficient. All these skills are valuable when it comes to responding to today's crises.
The aim of the study conference was to exchange experiences with international organisations in order to learn from their findings and implement exemplary projects in their own countries.
In addition to intensive exchanges between participants, lectures by specialists from various organisations were also offered in German and English.
Of course, the supporting programme included a special guided tour of "Die Garten Tulln" with its 70 model gardens, so that participants could gain not only theoretical but also practical experience.
An invitation to the Krems an der Donau allotment garden association was also on the programme. During this visit, at which the international allotment garden family received an exceptionally warm welcome, several Austrian associations were delighted to receive international certificates of honour.
Thursday, 21 August – Arrival day
The guests were accommodated in a hotel located 15 minutes' walk from the venue. First, the Fédération Internationale held a board meeting and general assembly in the hotel's conference room. This was followed by a leisurely walk through the picturesque Au to a barbecue evening at the Gaumenweide restaurant in the "Garten Tulln".
Friday, 22 August – Study conference day 1
The study conference opened at 9 a.m. on Friday. The participants were warmly welcomed by the host of Garten Tulln, Managing Director Franz Gruber, MSc. (www.diegartentulln.at)
The first items on the agenda began immediately afterwards. During the "speed date," the nations exchanged views on the challenges and measures in their associations.
Furthermore, the head of the seed archive at "Arche Noah", Mag.a Michaela Arndorfer, presented her lecture "Plant Kingdom in a Small Area". (www.arche-noah.at)
After lunch together, the series of presentations, held in both German and English, continued.
The director of CITY FARM Vienna, Dipl. Ing. Wolfgang Palme, impressed with his presentation "4-Season Gardening" on the possibilities of year-round garden use. (www.cityfarm.wien)
Florian Binder, biodiversity officer at the Austrian Central Association, gave the audience an understanding of the "climate-friendly garden" through implementation ideas.
The final item on the agenda was a guided tour of "Die Garten Tulln". In Europe's first exclusively ecologically maintained and designed garden show, interested visitors can find practical suggestions, ideas and inspiration for designing their own gardens in the 70 model gardens.
A successful first day of the study conference ended with a joint dinner at the Gaumenweide restaurant. (www.gaumenweide.at)
Saturday, 23 August – Study conference day 2
The second day began at 9 a.m. with further presentations and subsequent discussions among the international guests.
Ms Margit Benes-Oeller from the Lower Austrian state association "Natur im Garten" gave a very informative presentation on "water management" in the garden. (www.naturimgarten.at)
Guido Beneke, managing director of the Lower Saxony Association of Gardeners, focused his presentation on allotment gardens as a meeting place for different generations, as well as the resulting challenges and solutions. (www.deutsche-schreberjugend.de)
After lunch together, Marius Monen from Avans University of Applied Sciences concluded the series of presentations with his analysis of "How allotment gardeners can contribute to innovative solutions for resilient urban green spaces."
Next on the agenda was a visit to the "Krems an der Donau" allotment garden site (www.kgv-krems.at). The international guests were warmly welcomed and invited to take a tour of the site. They were divided into two groups and were able to explore the gardens. This resulted in numerous personal conversations and insights into the lovingly designed plots.
The convivial setting at the clubhouse was also used to present the Fédération Internationale des Jardins Familiaux's certificates of honour to deserving clubs.
From Linz, the "Eisenbahner Kleingartenverein" association received the certificate of honour for nature-friendly gardening and the "Auwiesen I" association for social activities. Both honours were accepted by the president of the Upper Austrian Allotment Gardeners' Association, Josef Reisinger.
The "Groß Jedlersdorf" association was delighted to receive the international award for innovative projects. The award was presented directly to Ernest Kern, chairman of the association from Vienna Floridsdorf.
Last but not least, the ladies of the "Frauenfachgruppe Floridsdorf" (Floridsdorf Women's Group) were also awarded a certificate of honour for social activities. For many years, their commitment to good causes has made them an important part of the allotment garden family. The award was accepted by the visibly moved new chairwoman of the women's group, Gerda Grach.
On the way back from Krems to Tulln, the conference guests stopped at a typical wine tavern and were able to enjoy a cosy end to their last evening. (www.weinschenke-korntheuer.at)
Sunday, 24 August – Departure day
After breakfast and a general meeting at the hotel, it was time to say goodbye to Tulln. The visibly satisfied participants took many impressions and experiences back to their national associations with them to strengthen the international allotment garden family.
Small gardens – big impact
5th June is World Environment Day – a day that reminds us all how important it is to protect our environment. This year, we would like to highlight the important role that our allotment gardens play in this regard. Especially in times of climate change, species extinction and increasing urbanisation, allotment gardeners make an often underestimated contribution to environmental protection.
Allotment gardens are green oases in the middle of the city: they provide habitats for bees, butterflies, hedgehogs and many other animals. With natural planting, no chemical pesticides and the use of rainwater, allotment gardens are already real biodiversity hotspots.
In addition, allotment gardens are places of learning and encounter. Here, environmental protection can be experienced in a practical way – for children, families and older people. Those who grow their own fruit and vegetables learn first-hand how valuable healthy soil, clean water and functioning ecosystems are.
On World Environment Day, we call on everyone to see our allotments not only as places of retreat, but also as a responsibility. Every square metre counts. With our commitment, we can achieve great things on a small scale.
Allotments are more than just a hobby – they are environmental protection in action.
May 22nd is celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Biological Diversity. This commemorative day was established by the United Nations in 1993 and marks the signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The aim of this day is to raise awareness of the value and importance of biodiversity. This is because the loss of biological diversity threatens not only individual species, but entire ecosystems and thus our very basis of life. The day of action is intended to encourage people to engage with the issue and support concrete measures to protect biodiversity. It aims not only to draw attention to the problems, but also to highlight perspectives and solutions. Biodiversity is more than just an ecological term – it is an expression of our responsibility towards life on Earth.
Biodiversity also plays a central role in cities, although it is often underestimated there. Urban areas offer a surprising number of habitats for plants and animals – from green roofs to small parks and, of course, in our allotments. A diverse urban environment helps improve air quality, regulates the climate, and provides space for people to relax. Biodiversity ensures a healthier and more liveable environment, especially in densely populated areas. Insects, birds, and microorganisms are not only beautiful to observe, but also fulfill important functions in the ecological balance. Cities that focus on nature-oriented design create refuges for animals and promote better coexistence between humans and nature. Biodiversity in cities is not a luxury, but a necessity for sustainable urban development.
Allotment gardeners can do a lot for biodiversity in their own gardens. Even small changes, such as planting wildflower meadows or setting up an insect hotel, can have a big impact. Consciously avoiding chemical pesticides and peat-based soil also helps to protect species. Planting native trees, shrubs, and flowering plants creates valuable food sources and habitats for many animal species. Composting and leaving leaf piles on the ground over winter also helps small animals and insects. Structural diversity—a mixture of tall and short plants, open spaces, and shady corners—makes gardens particularly attractive to different species. With a little patience, attention, and love for nature, every small garden can become a little oasis of biodiversity.
It is essential to communicate the importance of biological diversity if we want to achieve long-term success. Biodiversity must not only be taught, but also consciously exemplified – in schools, associations, families, and neighbourhoods. Opportunities to get involved are needed: festivals, workshops, community gardens, or walks with nature guides can inspire people to take an interest in the topic. Such events create a sense of community and lower the threshold for getting involved. At the same time, it is important to make successes visible – for example, through information boards or reports on species that have been reintroduced. However, the consequences of a lack of diversity must also be discussed honestly in order to raise awareness of the problem. Only if biodiversity is understood as a common good can we preserve it together.
We allotment gardeners play an extremely important role here and have a responsibility that we must fulfill.
