Amstelveners who would like to grow fruit and vegetables in a vegetable garden are often on a waiting list for years. The vegetable gardens on Nesserlaan, for example, have a waiting list of no fewer than 75 people.
“If you consider that 10 to 15 gardens are released every year, many interested parties will have to wait for years,” says Marjo Jansen, chairman of Tuinvereniging Nesserlaan. AT! Amstelveen.
The increase in the number of interested people mainly came around the corona time. However, the waiting list does not seem to be decreasing yet. Jansen: “Occasionally, an assignment is rejected because people have been given less time again. On the other hand, that is also very sensible. Maintaining a vegetable garden takes time. Because in addition to fruit and vegetables, weeds also continue to grow. Despite this, so people have to wait three or four years.”
The complex of Tuinvereniging Nesserlaan in Middenhoven currently contains 244 small gardens, which are maintained by 185 members. The complex has grown over the years, for example because the adjacent pony meadow became available in 2017.
Expansion
Jansen does not reject a possible expansion in advance, but the board does want to guard against growth. “Our complex requires maintenance. For example, by dredging the adjacent ditches. The work must remain manageable for the board and volunteers. But it might be an idea to establish a (small) petting zoo here as well. Can the animals enjoy the apples and vegetables that don’t go home.”
The Amstelveen faction of GroenLinks has asked the council questions about long waiting lists for the vegetable gardens. The party would like to see a new location in Amstelveen. “The gardens promote biodiversity and water resistance in the municipality. In addition, it is good for the mental health of the gardeners and it provides locally grown food,” GroenLinks member Ilika Polderman wrote to the college.