How to choose an (allotment) garden?

Reasons for starting a garden

• Why do you want a garden?
  • Your goal and focus determine in part what kind of plants you would like for your garden.
• Is your main interest in harvesting?
  • Would you like to harvest mostly annuals?
  • Would you like to harvest mostly perennials (asparagus, rhubarb, some cabbage varieties, ...)?
  • Would you like to harvest mostly fruits or nuts growing on shrubs or trees?
  • Would you like to cultivate (decorative) flowers?
• Is your main interest socially?
  • Are you looking to make new contacts/friends?
  • Are you looking for an alternative to sitting at home?
  • Would you like to organize events?
• Is your main interest in gathering knowledge / learning?
  • Would you like to try out different techniques (traditional, bio-dynamic, Ruth Stout, ...)?
  • Would you like to learn from different gardeners?
  • Would you like to learn about the use and maintenance of different machines?
• Is your main interest in nature?
  • Would you like to help solitary bees and other insects?
  • Would you like your garden to be an oasis of biodiversity?
  • Would you like to restore the soil?
  • Would you like to garden in a way that works with nature instead of against her?
• Is your main interest in recreation / relaxation?
  • Would you like a nice place for your children to play in?
  • Would you like to barbeque regularly and have a beer with friends?
  • Are you looking for a quiet place to withdraw from the world?
• In the founding documents of allotment associations you can often find the specific reason for their existence: to promote allotment gardening where each member has their own plot where they can grow vegetables, fruit and flowers for their own use.
  • Does your reason fit within the stated goals of the association?
  • Is finding a place in a recreational park nearby possibly a better alternative?

Your experience with gardening

• What experience do you have with (pre)sowing, planting, transplanting, propagation by cuttings, weeding, pruning, composting, harvesting and conserving?
  • Do you know what these terms mean?
  • Have you done any of them (recently)?
  • Do you know when each activity can be done in a growing season?
• Can you make enough time available for maintaining a garden?
  • Maintaining a garden of about 100m² is a challenge. You will need to work the garden at least once or twice a week. If you have little experience gardening, the initial enthusiasm can quickly turn to disappointment.
• Have you experimented on your balcony, in your front or back yard?
  • Try a square meter garden
  • Try creating a herb spiral
• Are there communal gardens or gardens with shared maintenance in your area?
  • In Eindhoven there are:
    • Iristuin in Centrum;
    • Proeftuin Meerhoven in Meerhoven;
    • Samen-moestuin in Zeelst;
    • Kloosterbostuin (inactief) in Stratum;
    • Heempark Frater Simon Deltour in Stratum;
  • In Veldhoven is belevingstuin de BijenBerkt;
  • and in Nuenen is dorpsboerderij Weverkeshof.
• Follow a course in gardening, for example
  • at VELT,
  • LOI or
  • Aletta Buurma
• Follow a Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
  • as self study or
  • make contact on social media, search for Permaculture.

Time investment and help with gardening

• How much time a week can you free up to maintain your garden?
  • As mentioned above, once or twice a week is a minimum to properly maintain a garden to the standards (often) set at allotment associations.
• Who can help you in the garden and how much help can you expect?
  • partner
  • child
  • other family member
  • neighbor
  • friend
• Does your help have the same interest as you (see above)?
• What do you both agree to in terms of the chores and when to work at the garden?
• Who coordinates?

Activities and associations nearby

• Closer by is better: at walking distance is better than at cycling distance, at cycling distance is better that at (car) driving distance. The bigger the distance, the higher the threshold to (quickly) visit the garden.
• What associations are near you?
  • Check Google Maps, search for 'volkstuinvereniging your city'
  • Contact them, visit them and ask questions
    • Are they accepting new members?
    • Is there a waiting list? If so, how long is it?
    • Do you have a choice of different gardens?
    • Do they have a mentoring system in place for new gardeners?
    • Are there additional rules for starting gardeners?
    • Do they organize events or workshops? Can you learn through them about composting, making cuttings, etc?
    • What infrastructure is available? Is there a club house, watering points, the use of wheelbarrows, sale of seeds, fertilizer or other materials?
    • What other services are available?
    • How much does it cost to rent a garden? Are there extra expenses like administrative fees, contributions for waste removal, deposits for access keys and / or garden, etc.?

The garden itself

What to take note of in a garden?

• location and orientation in relation to the sun
• wind: where does it (primarily) come from and how protected is the garden from it
• availability of water
• existing structures like a shed, greenhouse, tool and materials box
• existing planting like trees and shrubs
• soil conditions: sand / clay / loam, acidic / neutral / alkaline, compacted or open, chemical composition, water permeability
• possible micro-climates
• water catchment