Hello from Germany

[Trisho]

Hello from Germany. I've only just found you, but would like to introduce myself. Having finally officially become a senior citizen, which even for women doesn't happen in Germany till you're 65, I've now got time for myself, my little garden and my search for as much self sufficiency as possible. That'll do for now, but I'll certainly be in touch again.

[Millymollymandy]

Hello and welcome! Are you an anglophone living in Germany, or a German with very good English? We already have a member from Germany called Ina, who writes English better than a huge percentage of English native speakers! - oh and not forgetting our Dutch members who write excellent English as well.

[Trisho]

Thank you for your warm welcome. Yes, I am a Brit living in Germany, been here over 20 years, but still getting used to having a German garden, as up to 4 years ago I lived in a little flat. The one thing I really miss is the Horticultural Societies and Flower Shows and the fact that most German gardens are square pieces of lawn surrounded by evergreens. I'm trying to spread the word that it's possible to plant fruit trees instead of conifers and that there is no law against planting runner beans against the fence between the herbaceous plants. I'm still trying to pluck up courage to open my tiny town centre handkerchief-size plot on Open Garden day, just to show what can be done - but I wouldn't want to frighten the frogs and toads.

[ina]

Hiya Trisho - I'm the one mentioned by MMM above...

Yep, my countrymen and -women don't go in much for all that society stuff. But I do have an issue with you saying that the German gardens are all lawns and conifers - a lot of them are, but where I live in Britain almost all gardens are - you may guess it - lawns, conifers, and lots and lots of gravel! Actually, I'm glad when I see a garden here that's at least green...

Back in Germany, we never even had the smallest bit of lawn in our garden(s). The large garden behind the house was all veg, fruit and a few flowers; and at one time we also had two allotments - all fruit and veg. And back in the late 80s/90s, my statistics prof got into trouble with his neighbours for planting potatoes in his front garden, and my two balconies were full of veg in containers. As everywhere - not everybody is the same.

Another thing that's definitely different in Germany is garden centres. They are not at all like the British ones - last time I was over there, they were even closed on Sunday...

[red]

welcome

[Millymollymandy]

Another thing that's definitely different in Germany is garden centres. They are not at all like the British ones - last time I was over there, they were even closed on Sunday...

Good grief, we've even got one here in France which is open all day Sunday, and doesn't shut for lunch either (shock horror!!!). It may be a one off though.

Thanks for the clarification, Trisho.

[ina]

Good grief, we've even got one here in France which is open all day Sunday, and doesn't shut for lunch either (shock horror!!!). It may be a one off though.

Probably for all the British ex-pats!

[Gert]

Hi Where are you in Germany ?

[Trisho]

I'm right in the middle of Monchengladbach, a little oasis.

[Gert]

Very nice too

[SarahJane]

Hi and welcome from me too.

I spend quite a bit of time in Germany ( my partner lives/works out there in a villiage not far from pforzeim.) He doesnt have a garden but a balcony and this year has started with window boxes and hanging baskets. I only have a small garden here in the UK but its surprising just how much you can cram in. (My theory is trying to grow upwards rather than outwards!)
Most of our friends in Germany seem to be in apartments, so I havent really seen many gardens. Those I have seen tend to be more into flowers than veggies.

Enjoy your garden now that you have the time.

[ina]

This article is a bit older - but at least it's in English, and it proves that us Germans don't all just sit in apartments without gardens! And seeing that the recession has hit Germany just as well as Britain, I'm sure most German gardeners will be growing more veg now than flowers, too... Gravel gardens, like they are common here, I'd never seen before I came to Britain. Blimming awful.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1 ... 99,00.html

[Millymollymandy]

That's interesting and I had a bit of a giggle when I saw this article about shops being closed on Sundays as we had just been discussing it!

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1 ... 14,00.html

[ina]

Well, yes - shopping is not quite the leisure pursuit in Germany it's seen as in Britain..... Must admit, once I get used to it again whenever I go "home", I rather like it.

Another thing you shouldn't do in Germany, if you want to be on good terms with your neighbours, is mow the lawn (or any other noisy work) on Sundays! In some areas that is a lot more dangerous than in others (there are areas where you shouldn't put your washing on the line on Sundays, either). It does make for a lot more peace and quiet, and a real Sunday feeling.

[Millymollymandy]

Same in France.

Sorry I typed out a longer reply and lost the whole thing cos something went strange.