Allotment gardeners are peaceful and hardworking people, happy when capricious weather does not play tricks on them, delighted by every blossoming flower bud and greening garden bed. They have their own intimate little world, shunning publicity and praise; patient and consistent, they absorb the joy of life through contact with nature, rarely doing anything for show—for publicity and glory. And they have much to be proud of, as their children and grandchildren know best...
Few people know that the president of the “GWAREK” Allotment Gardens in Bolesławiec is city councillor and member of the City Board STANISŁAW ANDRUSIECZKO, who is also secretary of the Provincial Board of PZD in Jelenia Góra. But surely no one knows that Bolesławiec’s “GWAREK” won the National Allotment Gardens Competition for exemplary development of the plots, cleanliness and aesthetics, the appearance of beds, plantings and garden houses, as well as exemplary financial management. This is a tremendous success, worthy of the highest recognition. Let us add that it is the only award winner in the Jelenia Góra Voivodeship. And since successes come in pairs, a plot belonging to Mr. ZIĘBA from “GWARК II” also received a distinction at the national level. Not only the miners, but the city too, can be proud of this... Our heartfelt congratulations!
Meanwhile, proverbial black clouds have gathered over the allotments. Let us quote excerpts from a letter dated 3 January this year, addressed by the provincial authorities of PZD to deputies and parliamentarians:
“PZD has lost confidence in the implementation of the programme for municipalisation of allotment gardens, because the Act of 10 May 1990 and the provisions introducing the Act on territorial self-government introduced unfavourable changes for the Polish Allotment Garden Association. (...) Allotment gardens have existed since 1897. We were usually given wasteland, dumping grounds, rubbish tips, and the poorest class V and VI soil for cultivation, on which only weeds grew. Today, thanks to the work of often several generations, these are green areas—most often equipped with utilities—with soil that has been worked and enriched, possessing a good structure and highly productive for vegetable and fruit cultivation. They are the green lungs of many Polish cities.
The convenient location of the gardens on the outskirts of cities and their particular practical value encourage various wealthy investors to take away and wrest this achievement from poor people, most often retired and disabled pensioners. The Sejm passed a bad law, and its provisions determine the municipalisation of POD land, which was not clear when the regulations came into force. The Supreme Administrative Court found the law justified, and many municipalities have already acted heartlessly and ruthlessly, depriving us of our assets and property.
/.../This problem causes social discontent, undermines trust in the reforms being introduced in Poland, and provokes criticism of successive governments. The December PZD Congress, attended by officials, calmed the union members’ concerns and gave hope that our autonomy would be preserved. SLD and PSL deputies did not take much notice of the need to amend the municipalisation act, and at the request of deputy Z.Gorzelańczyk the prepared draft amendments were rejected. This causes bitterness among allotment gardeners, whose number in the country reaches one million.” Gardeners from Jelenia Góra—and therefore from Bolesławiec as well—are protesting against the destruction of PZD’s 100-year legacy and tradition. They point out that allotment gardens existed even during the occupation, and that the partitioning powers did not dare abolish them. In free Poland, they all the more wish to defend their property.
And it is difficult to deny that they are right. Human achievements cannot be destroyed with impunity, nor can lifelong passions and accomplishments be erased. Such action is deeply unethical and short-sighted. If rational arguments do not reach those in authority—it is worth reminding them of the electorate and the allotment gardeners’ lobby, who have already demonstrated their consistency and determination more than once. It is sad that in the YEAR OF TOLERANCE one must resort to the argument of force and blackmail...
MA P.S. The protest was sent to parliamentarians. We will inform our readers of the outcome.