Small country houses in the suburbs of Stockholm
Germany: Three Hundred Square Meters of Special Regime
The first garden communities appeared in Germany back in the 17th century. It is the Germans who have the honor of being called the progenitors of the dacha lifestyle.
Numerous garden communities (kleine garten) are located literally a five-minute drive from large cities, and some of them are within the city limits. Due to the high cost of land, most German dacha owners are forced to squeeze onto three hundred square meters, which they either rent from the state or buy as property.
Dacha life in the country is regulated by numerous codes and rules, the strictness of which might surprise even seasoned Soviet gardeners. All owners or renters (shareholders) of suburban plots must sign a collective agreement that specifies the rules of dacha communal living. For example, there are garden communities where all members must grow vegetables. Thanks to this provision, dacha owners pay much less for land rent than those who acquire plots solely for recreation.
Any construction work, including the erection of a house, installation of a greenhouse, or even cold frames, must be coordinated with the management of the kleine garten. One cannot rent out one's garden or use it for any kind of production, including growing vegetables or flowers for sale. Even behavioral norms are stipulated: one cannot play music loudly or celebrate holidays boisterously at the dacha, and all garden work must stop at a certain time. Compliance with these rules is monitored by a special commission that has the right to fine violators of peace.
Almost all plots have small houses of up to 25 square meters. Next to the dwelling, as a rule, there is a barbecue area. Since dachas are used mainly in the summer, electricity is generated by solar panels installed on the roof.
Plants are also planted in accordance with strict German laws. No more than half of the plot is allowed for gardening and vegetable growing. The size of a greenhouse for growing cucumbers or tomatoes must not exceed six square meters.
By the way, a German dacha owner is unlikely to treat you to an apple or a pear. In most kleine garten, it is forbidden to plant fruit trees taller than two meters, so Germans prefer cherries and plums.
Owners of dachas are obliged to take care of their garden plantings and maintain order on their plot themselves. Any hiring of hired workers in garden communities is prohibited. Only voluntary help from neighbors is allowed, and only a specified number of times.
The owner cannot freely transfer or sell his plot to any person. Usually, an appraisal commission first calculates the value of the plot and checks its compliance with all norms and rules. Only after eliminating all discovered deficiencies does the community itself put the share up for sale and transfer the money to its former owner.
Scandinavia: A Quarter of a Century Waiting for a Dacha
Residents of Scandinavian countries are no less passionate dacha owners than Russians. Since the structure of garden farms in these countries is similar, let's focus on the most active lovers of dacha – from Sweden.
Dacha life was borrowed by the Swedes from the Germans more than 100 years ago. Initially, garden plots – colonies (kolonitrаdgаrd) – were allocated in the province of Skåne to poor families on favorable terms so they could grow vegetables and fruits for sale. Gradually, dachas turned from a place of labor into a recreation area, and whole dacha agglomerations grew up in Sweden, similar to those found in the suburbs of Russian megacities. Personal garden farms became so beloved by Swedes that they became an integral part of picturesque Scandinavian landscapes.
The largest dacha center in the country is Stockholm. Numerous garden communities are located both within the city and in its nearest suburbs. It is practically impossible to buy plots there: almost all residents of the Swedish capital own dachas on a leasehold basis. To rent a dacha, the size of which rarely exceeds two or three hundred square meters, one must have permanent registration in the city. The cost of rent depends on the prestige of the area, but in any case, not every Swede can afford to maintain their own small garden. By the way, some plots can be rented immediately, while the waiting list for others (in elite capital districts) can extend to 25 years. Getting a dacha for rent is often more difficult than getting a municipal apartment.
On all rented dachas, any construction is prohibited, as the tenant receives a plot with an already built house and a small shed for garden needs. The identical one-story cottages in the dacha colonies have no more than two or three rooms, furnished with garden furniture from the nearest IKEA. At the same time, the shower and toilet are usually located outside, as Scandinavians rarely consider the dacha as a place of permanent residence.
In spring and summer, kolonitrаdgаrd are awash in flowers: Swedes love to grow flowers and flowering shrubs. Almost every plot has lilacs, peonies, roses, clematis. A local dacha "feature" is elderberry. Juice is squeezed from its berries, which is offered to guests during barbecues.
Unlike Germans and Russians, Swedes show little interest in greenhouses, preferring to grow plants in open ground. It is problematic to meet a Swede with tomato seedlings in the spring. Among the favorites of Scandinavian gardeners are asparagus, beans, pumpkin, and leeks.
Those Swedes who are not particularly interested in fruit and vegetable crops often go on vacation or for a weekend to their seaside dachas – sommarstuga. In essence, these are the same three hundred square meters, but located either on the coast or near the sea. Mainly, sommarstuga are bought or rented by lovers of fishing, hunting, and mushroom picking. In Scandinavia, mushrooms are loved to be collected no less than in Russia.
Balkans: What Grows, Grows
Cheerful residents of Balkan countries also quite often acquire country houses. At the same time, the tradition of dacha recreation in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina differs significantly from the Russian or German understanding of country life. Vikendice (a Serbian word, actually meaning 'weekend house') are bought by residents of large Balkan cities mainly with the aim of having a good time in nature.
Purchasing a vikendica does not at all mean that every weekend its owners will go to the dacha for mandatory weeding of beds or mowing lawns. First and foremost, a country house is a place for hanging out, where you can have a picnic with friends to lively Balkan music.
By the way, Serbian dacha owners never follow the rule of purchasing or building their houses in the closest proximity to their permanent residence.
The priorities when choosing a country plot are, first of all, beautiful nature and convenient access. Therefore, numerous dacha villages are located in the Balkans near famous mountain resorts (Kopaonik and Zlatibor in Serbia, Jahorina in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and near rivers (Danube, Tara, Drina).
The first trip to the dacha, as a rule, coincides with the May holidays, which are loved in Serbia no less than in Russia. Owners of vikendica usually invite numerous relatives and friends for a barbecue, so dacha groups turn out to be large and noisy. In addition, during the summer holidays, Serbs use the dacha as a recreation base for family and numerous guests.
Serbs and Croats very rarely use their country plots for growing vegetables or creating gardens. This is due not only to the remoteness of dachas from cities, but also to the local mentality. Balkan dachas exist on the principle of 'what grows, grows', given that the climate is favorable and fruit trees and grapes grow on their own. Why burden yourself with hard agricultural labor when you can drink wine in pleasant company.
Sofia MALININA.
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