Marjaniemen ryhmäpuutarha
Marjaniemen ryhmäpuutarha
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Marjaniemi Cottage Allotments
Marjaniemi garden allotments was founded in 1946. It was established on the old Puotila manor house grounds situated some 8 kilometres east of Helsinki's city centre, close to the sea. The gardens are a self-contained 'village' of 16 hectares bounded by the Eastern District Shopping Centre (Itäkeskus) and can be easily reached by metro from downtown.
There are 305 gardens in total in Marjaniemi, each with a small wooden cottage of about 33 m2 free-standing on the allotments. The average size of the gardens is approximately 406m2. The land is leased from the City of Helsinki, normally on a 30 year lease, currently until 2026. The gardens are open from the end of April through to the middle of October. It is not allowed to live permanently all year round. Electricity is available but the cold-water supply is cut-off usually at the beginning of October. Living conditions are rather primitive, in line with the general ethos of 'summer-cottage' conditions found in Finland. For example, there are no connections to the city sewerage system, and general-use wooden toilets are located at various vantage points throughout the area.
Living with nature is a central concept to the Finnish way of urban life. Having the possibility of being close to nature in the very heart of the city near to home has been part of Finnish urbanity for nearly a hundred years. The essential idea was created back at the beginning of the 20th Century for workers to have access to garden allotments near to where they lived. The allotment movement has developed somewhat since those early days. Allotments have grown in size and the cottages have become almost small wooden 'villas'. In recent years, the cottage allotment idea has undergone a renaissance as more and more city-dwellers become aware of the possibility of having the countryside on one's doorstep without necessarily experiencing the long drive most Finns have to put up with to far-off summer residences.
The new upsurge in interest in Marjaniemi allotments has come about due to many of the original owners from the late 1940's passing-on. This in turn has prompted major renovations to take place to these cottages and in a growing percentage of cases, completely re-built. Despite these major changes, the concept of living in a parkland paradise in the heart of the city has been retained. The small narrow lanes, the dense greenery and foliage of trees and shrubs, the closeness to nature, and the varied wildlife all live in harmony. There are no asphalt roads. Cars are prohibited, so children can play safely. Neighbours live cheek-by-jowl, but this only helps create a sense of togetherness. Neighbours offer help and advice on gardening, and the Finnish idea of 'talkoot', giving one's own spare-time and mucking-in with the general up-keep of the village, is alive and well.
So, a cottage allotment offers a village life-style, close to nature and a social community belief connected by 100 years of history. These are the very reasons why more and more city people are opting for Marjaniemi garden allotments as a way of life.
Marjaniemi cottage allotments is located in East-Helsinki, near Eastern District Shopping Centre (Itäkeskus).
Sivua päivitetty 3.1.2010