Schrebergärten

    All over Germany and Austria there are these little plots of land subdivided into gardens with a little sheds in every plot.  I've seen them throughout every town on the train rides between cities, and they almost resemble well-maintained shantytowns or communes with gardens and there's always one or two flagpoles in the center with the German flag and another flag.  I couldn't figure out what they were until today. They are called "Schrebergärten" (literal translation: Schreber garden) which are alotments of land for people to use for a small annual fee that allow them to grow fresh crops or flowers, and the little shacks are simply tool sheds.  These types of gardens are common and popular all over Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  The first originated in Leipzig during one of the World Wars as a form of food security for people, but were also known for the poor using them to grow their own food. These little Schrebergärten are so darn CUTE and they are everywhere.

   Wikipedia on Schrebergärten:  socio-cultural and economic functions of allotment gardens: "offers an improved quality of life, an enjoyable and profitable hobby, relaxation, and contact with nature. For children, gardens offer places to play and to learn about nature, while for the unemployed, they offer a feeling of doing something useful as well as low-cost food. For the elderly and disabled, gardens offer an opportunity to meet people, to share in activity with like-minded people, and to experience activities like planting and harvesting."  Ill try and get a pic of one of these as I pass by them again on the train.