This is a cultural phenomenon in some cities. A newer concept that cities have embraced by providing public garden space to residents. What is interesting is that in many older European cities this has been the way of life for decades. Once urbanisation kicked in with people living in tighter quarters and working close to their homes, the desire to escape the city became even more of goal as Friday drew nearer.
So let's use the Czech Republic as an example. There are Garden Communities everywhere. They are either right in the city or on the edges. Every city has a few scattered around the perimeter. If there is a river, you can bet that there is a garden community. That's prime waterfront real estate! (This is a landlocked country, so rivers and lakes are a big deal)
The rules are VERY strict. The city planning departments don't take kindly to someone requesting a change in land use from a garden property to a family home. These are designated for the sole purpose or growing food and relaxing.
During communism when everyone was moved into apartment complexes, these garden properties were a real refuge, especially during food shortages. Growing your food is almost a cultural expectation. They often have a greenhouse and the city provides water and in most cases electricity to the properties. People can build a garden cottage without a permit if it is within the limited area allowed.
With property prices and housing at record highs in the country, keeping these parcels of land restricted to gardening will be a challenge in the future. Today, some people are trying to make these their permanent home since they are generally accessible by public transit and affordable in an expensive city. Locals will complain quite loudly if you aren't actively growing things and making use of the land. Like I said, it's a cultural expectation. There is such a demand for them now the association classified page is filled with people looking to rent or buy space.
I grew up in an area filled with people from all walks of life. We had a large garden in the yard. Even though I didn't like going into the garden to get tomatoes when my mom sent me out, because there were always a million spiders, (not really, but I was a kid) I loved the fresh taste that you never get when you buy them in the grocery store. Many families brought their culture with them from their home country. It was always a treat to visit their house as a kid. If memory serves me correctly the most active gardeners that produced food were Italians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Germans, Czechs, Chinese and Vietnamese families. The Brits and French mostly grew flowers and herbs. I am sure I'm going to get slammed for generalizing, but I'm just writing from personal experience on this one.
I was impressed with the number of community gardens in Vancouver. Even some rental buildings on the North Shore offered a gardening box to tenants.
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