Allmende-Kontor Community Garden (Tempelhofer Feld)
Berlin, Germany · Operator: Gemeinschaftsgarten Allmende-Kontor e.V.
Overview
One of Germany's largest community gardens, created on Berlin's iconic former airport field, Tempelhofer Feld. Cultivating public open space with movable raised beds, it embodies the idea of the urban commons (Allmende) and doubles as a knowledge and networking hub for urban gardening.
Citizen participation
Started in April 2011 on the field of the closed Tempelhof Airport, when around 20 people—initiated by 13 urban-gardening activists and researchers—built the first 10 raised beds. Today more than 500 citizens grow vegetables, herbs and flowers in some 250 raised beds. Anyone can join, an association (e.V.) was founded in 2014, and the garden also serves as a 'Kontor' (office) for networking and learning about urban gardening.
Operating model
A volunteer-run community garden operated by a non-profit membership association, funded through membership fees, donations and grants. The land lies within the publicly managed Tempelhofer Feld; harvests are for participants' own use, not for sale.
Impact
Internationally known as a symbol of citizen use of the former airfield, it drew attention in the context of the 2014 referendum that preserved Tempelhofer Feld from development. Through multicultural participation it fosters neighbourhood exchange and environmental learning.
Land tenure
Uses publicly managed Tempelhofer Feld under a use agreement; structures are limited to movable raised beds.
Crops
- vegetables
- herbs
- flowers
- fruit
Scale
5,000 m² — About 5,000 m² on the eastern side of the former Tempelhof Airport field; roughly 250 raised beds tended by more than 500 gardeners
Sources（2）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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