GREEN VILLACH: ALLOTMENT GARDENS, COMMUNITY GARDENS & URBAN GARDENING
Villach is a city where gardening is possible even in the heart of the urban landscape. The concept of "urban gardening" is gaining increasing importance. Raised beds and green spaces are used by individuals and initiatives to cultivate edible plants right in the middle of the city. Whether it's allotment gardens, community gardens, or public green areas – anyone who wants to grow their own fruits and vegetables or simply relax in nature will find plenty of opportunities here.
ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN VILLACH: A PIECE OF NATURE FOR YOURSELF
Allotment gardens (“Schrebergärten”) are the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and create your own green oasis. Here, you can not only grow vegetables and flowers but also unwind and connect with like-minded people. Villach has several allotment garden sites managed by associations such as the ÖBB Agricultural Association and the Kleingartenverein Drautal-Auen. The allotment garden site in Villach-Auen is particularly popular, offering leased plots for hobby gardeners. Due to high demand, it’s recommended to inquire early, as waiting lists are often long.
COMMUNITY GARDENS: GROWING AND HARVESTING TOGETHER
For those who don’t have their own garden, joining a community garden is a great option. These gardens provide a space for people to plant, maintain, and harvest crops together. In addition to promoting sustainable resource use, they also foster social exchange and offer families and children a wonderful opportunity to experience nature up close.
Villach provides several community gardens for shared gardening:
- St. Magdalener Straße: 18 rentable plots (24 m² or 40 m²), available from mid/late April to early November.
- Grünes Eck Perau: Ten raised beds, including two wheelchair-accessible ones, at the corner of Burglandstraße/Auer-von-Welsbach-Straße. Additionally, freely accessible herb and fruit beds are available.
- Wirth-Park: Four raised beds, four fruit trees, and berry hedges are open for community use. The city’s gardening department provides basic maintenance, however everyone is welcome to participate.
- Wasenboden: Twelve plots are allocated to hobby gardeners at the beginning of the season, who can cultivate them for one year.
- City Wall: The Alpine Club’s community garden at the old city wall also invites residents to join in.
EDIBLE CITY: SELF-HARVEST LOCATIONS IN VILLACH
As part of the "Edible City Villach" initiative and the urban gardening project, numerous publicly accessible harvest locations can be found throughout the city. Scattered across Villach, there are orchards with apple, walnut, and sweet chestnut trees, as well as "gourmet pots" and green spaces where everyone is welcome to harvest. Currently, there are more than 15 orchards with over 100 fruit trees available for public picking. The harvest troughs, seasonally planted with herbs or vegetables, can be easily identified by the distinctive "Villach gartelt" signs. The official website of the City of Villach provides exact locations of these troughs and trees.
Villach offers many ways to enjoy the joy of gardening – whether in your own allotment, in a community garden, or by harvesting in the "Edible City." Here, gardening is not just a hobby but an integral part of urban life.
