Non-commercial urban food cultivation in Lithuanian and Swedish cities
thenineteenthcenturyduetofreshfood scarcityduringtheshiftfromagrarianto urban-industrial societies. It gained further momentum during the 1930s economic depression and world wars. UFChasbeenmoreprevalentinSweden, especially in larger cities, while in Lithuania,itpeakedduringthepost-war Sovietreoccupation.
Sweden is among the countries that pioneered UFC during early industrialization.As early as the 1830s, factory workers, prison guards, and military personnel could grow food in employer-established cultivation areas, though these were not public or municipality-organised.Anna Lindhagen (1870-1941), a Social Democrat politician, was a key promoter of the Swedish allotment garden movementto improve working-class living conditions. The first allotment gardens were established in Malmö in 1895,followed byStockholmin1904.By1916,37cities had allotments, and by 1945, most Swedish cities and larger communities
allotment gardens, covering 1 980 ha, some of which even have a status of cultural-historical significance. Since 2010, urban gardens on public land have emerged in densely populated neighbourhoods of larger cities, with groupsgardeninginsmallerspaces.UFC continues to evolve, with such experiments as the marine allotment in Gothenburgthatstartedin2022.
UFC systems in Lithuania were developed during the second Soviet occupation (1944-1991) along with forced collectivisation and urbanisation tocombathungerandunemploymentin growing cities. The first allotment gardens appeared in Kaunas in 1949, established bypaper factoryworkers.In 1961 City Executive Committees were mandated to allocate vacant state land to companies and organisations, which then distributed plots to their employees. Over 228 500 allotment garden plots were established in Lithuania,coveringover20500ha.After independence in 1991, a complicated
land ownership restoration process started.By2016,over70%oftheseplots becameprivatelyowned,withanunclear number converted into single-family homes. Cultivation areas,createdduring the same process, disappeared from legaldocumentsafter1991,eventhough peoplecontinuetousethemtillthisday. There are no statistics and information about these sites. Urban garden on public land concept is being tested through different types of experiments intwomainwaves,thefirstonestarting in2013andthesecondstartingin2019.
UFChasdevelopeddifferentlyinSweden and Lithuania due to their distinct histories.Despite both countries having weak regulations on UFC, Malmö has established an effective UFC system.In Sweden, UFC is traditionally integrated into urban life and well-maintained, whereasinLithuania,allotmentgardens and cultivation areas have been systematically dismantled since 1991. The system in Malmö city gave the foundationforfurtheranalysis.
Malmö is the third biggest city in Sweden, with a well developed UFC system that has 3 categories: allotment gardens or colonies (kolonier), cultivation areas (odlingslotter), and urban garden on public land or urban farming/cultivation(stadsodling).1881Society for the Preservation of Cultural HeritageandGreenParkswasfoundedin Malmö that introduced allotment gardens after the Danish model on the 1,96hectaresofleasedland.Thesociety ranthefirstfourcoloniesinthecityuntil each formed their own association. Currently,atleast175hectaresoflandis dedicated to the UFC system in Malmö municipality.The first urban community garden was established in 2011 with a 245 000 kr (around 20 000 Eur) budget fromthemunicipality.
5000+ allotment garden plots spread over 13 locations
1800+ cultivation plots spread over 25 locations 10 urban gardens on publicland
ESLÖV MALMÖ
It is a small town with ~284 allotment gardens in 5 locations, taking up 13,5 hectares. Municipality is not actively working on developing the UFCsystem. There are plans to remove the oldest and smallest allotment garden in 2025 thatwasestablishedin1947.Thenewest areawascreatedin1982.
10 500+ allotment garden plots spread over 11 locations under conversion
Unknown number of unregulated cultivation plots spread over at least 8 locations 3 urban gardens on publicland
Kaunas, Lithuania's second largest city, has an unmonitored UFC system facing systematic destruction and low municipal priority. All three UFC categories are present within the city boundaries.It is likelythat the majority allotment gardens have been privatisedandconvertedtosingle-family homes.It is extremelyunlikelythat this trend will change; therefore, allotment gardenswillceasetoexist.Themajority cultivation areas have disappeared, andtheremainingfewareplannedtobe cleared out to make way for new municipal parkdevelopments.Currently, preservation of the last historic sites of the UFC system and 3 experiments of urban gardens on public land are initiated by a small local NGO. From hundreds of hectares in the 1980s,the UFCsystemnowshrunktoaroundtwo.
KAUNAS TAURAGĖ
It is a small town with a UFC system madeupoftwo allotment gardens that areoutsideofthecityterritory.Thereare at least 7 cultivation areas. Both of these categories are under the same development trajectory as in Kaunas. There are no urban gardens on public land.
Individual plot 200 m2
20 m2
CULTIVATION AREAS
An individual cultivation form on public landwherethe municipality leases land to individuals. The purpose of use in these areas is for beginners or experienced gardeners to grow vegetables and flowers mainly, as building a cottage is not permitted and onlysomeareasallowplantingalimited numberoffruittreesperplot.Malmöcity has an electronic system to register for cultivation lots, distributed based on queueduration.
Each day in line counts as a point,and the person with the most points who accepts the offer receives the available plot.Itisrecommendedtoinspectthelot before signing the lease with the municipality. If not cancelled, the agreement automatically extends yearly on December 31st, with a three-month noticerequiredforcancellation.
The rent depends on the size and location. Cultivation lots are inspected yearlyandtherearemanyrulestofollow related to waste, irrigation, pesticides, grilling,structures,surfaces,etc.
Individual plot 300 m2
200 m2
ALLOTMENT GARDENS
The municipality leases outtheland to associations, which in turn lease out land to members of the associations. There are two different types of allotment gardens in Malmö: garden colonies and animal (rabbits and pigeons) colonies.All plots are between 200-300 m2. Most plots have a tiny cottage which is a light structure on poles, easily removable, built by the renter with a building permit and sold from plot renter to plot renter.It is not permitted to use the cottage as permanent residence. Renter must maintain the plot,the cottage and half thefootpathoutsidetheallotment.Every plot has access to water during the months of April-October. Multiple measures set in place to control the aestheticsoftheallotmentgardenareas helpedtopreservetheoriginalcharacter of the cottages and prevent distortions of the overall atmosphere of the areas. This has led to some areas for example in Stockholm even being recognised as culturally-historically significant environments. There are two museums onallotmentgardens,oneinStockholm andoneinLandskrona.
Minimum 10m fromthe nearest building
Urban garden 150 to 2250 m2 and more Minimum5mfromapublicroad
URBAN GARDENS ON PUBLIC LAND
The municipality signs management agreements for cultivation on public land with associations or organisations, not individuals or companies. Urban gardensmustalwaysbeopentovisitors as they are on public land and part of parks, squares, and green areas. Urban gardens are an important parts of the cityscape, offering benefits like strengthening communities, enhancing biodiversity, improving public health, fostering a connection with nature,and increasing attractiveness and security. Cultivation on public land must be non-commercial,atleast5mfromaroad and10mfrombuildings.
Themunicipalitymusttakesoilsamples to ensure the area is not contaminated; if samples are not taken or the soil is unsuitable,cultivationmustbeinraised beds with a separating soil cloth. All physical changes, objects anchored in the ground (bushes,fences,sheds up to 3x2 m,seating,etc.),and activities like composting must be approved by the municipality. Each garden ends up unique in its layout, activities, and numberofpeopleinvolved.
Keshavarz, N., Bell, S., Zilans,A., Hursthouse,A.,Voigt,A., Hobbelink,A., ... & Gogová, Z. (2016).A history of urban gardens in Europe. In Urban allotment gardens in Europe (pp. 8-32). Routledge. Kurtinaitytė,A. (2016). Condition of gardeners communities territories and development trends (Doctoral dissertation,Vytautas Magnus University). Malmö stad website section “Colonies and cultivation”. https://malmo.se/Uppleva-och-gora/Fritidsaktiviteter/Kolonier-och-odling.html
Šiupšinskas, M. (2021). Urban and socio-cultural aspects of the collective garden phenomenon.The case of Soviet Lithuania. (Doctoral dissertation,Vilnius University).
The Society for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Green Parks in Malmö. https://planteringsforeningen.se/in-english
Special thank you to Petra Bengtsson and Shoshana Iten from Malmö municipality, and Alice Petersson from Eslöv municipality for interactions and provided information.
