I finished reading Urban Allotment Gardens In Europe this morning. It’s been a most interesting read, and given me a more in-depth knowledge about the history of allotment gardening. I also learned about the modern day challenges allotment gardening is facing, from developers, politicians, and environmental challenges. The book made me reflect more about the three levels of sustainability; economic/social/environmental, that I am so familiar with from my work as a teacher, that these could easily be translated to the world of allotment gardening as well. Most of all the wide benefits, beyond my personal benefits of having an allotment, became much clearer to me.

The book also intensified my sense of gratitude for my own allotment garden and the allotment society behind it. We are a certified organic allotment society, and the allotment itself is part of UNESCOS World Heritage Site around Falu Copper Mine. The Swedish State has the responsibility for the care and preservation of places in Sweden that are on UNESCOS list, that makes it difficult for anyone to make changes to the area, which is good for an allotment society that wants to be there permanently. Our allotment society started in the 1960 and is well established. I am very grateful to be a small part of the cultural history of our allotment.

What are you grateful for today?

Maria