Halonen plants cherry tree as Marjaniemi allotment gardens turn 80

President Tarja Halonen planted a cherry tree as Marjaniemi allotment garden in Helsinki marked its 80th year, Yle reported. Halonen, who owns a cabin in the garden, said trees help cool cities and mitigate climate change.

Helsinki donated three cherry trees to mark the anniversary. They were planted for Mayor Daniel Sazonov, Halonen, who referred to her tree as being for “Haloska”, and Elisabeth Koch, a long-serving city gardening adviser described as the mother of Finland’s allotment garden movement.

Halonen said allotment gardens reflect the era in which they exist. She said climate change should be reflected in garden planning, including by planting more trees.

“Cities should have this kind of tree canopy, or greenery, which cools the climate,” Halonen said. “Trees help keep the local climate less difficult by cooling it.”

The University of Helsinki is measuring the climate effects of the Marjaniemi allotment garden.

A spontaneous purchase

Halonen said she bought her cabin from an acquaintance in 1978 in a fairly spontaneous decision. Because of her circumstances at the time and her later work as a member of parliament and minister, she said it was fortunate that the cabin was close to her home city.

“Perhaps in my case, and in our family’s case, we were able to combine work and leisure. If we had had a cabin in North Karelia, we would have got there much less often,” she said.

Allotment garden plot rents have been raised in recent times, and prices were even expected to increase several times over.

Halonen said she hoped the city would not become too greedy. She believes allotment gardens should remain affordable for the middle class.

She recalled that her own cabin cost 12,000 Finnish marks. Around the same time, she bought an 80-square-metre apartment in Kallio for 80,000 marks.

“The cabin was not exactly cheap even then, but a multiple of that amount has gone into renovation costs. In addition, plot rents have almost doubled,” she said.

According to Halonen, prices in Marjaniemi vary. Basic cabins can cost around 40,000 to 50,000 euros, while more extensively equipped cabins cost more than 100,000 euros.

“We have a completely basic cabin. There are no air-source heat pumps or solar panels,” Halonen said.

She said cabins should not be viewed as investments offering returns like stock market shares.

“If someone wants quick profits, they should not buy an allotment garden cabin,” she said.

Halonen also said the city had increasingly given associations responsibility for maintaining park areas that are part of the city’s green spaces.

For Halonen and her spouse, weeding the side of the bushes facing the paths is among the least pleasant gardening tasks.

“We both agree that it is number one on the list of things we dislike. The only benefit for us is that it looks tidier,” she said.

Community remains important

Halonen said she valued the neighbourly spirit among fellow Marjaniemi allotment gardeners. One example, she said, was that other gardeners did not reveal the exact address of her cabin to outsiders.

“The allotment garden friends have always been really good friends. I always say that the best advice has come over the raspberry bushes. They gave advice even when it was not requested, asking things like, ‘What are you planning to do with that?’”

Halonen said community had been an important part of allotment gardens and their shared spirit.

“That is the force that carries it. I hope the Ministry of Finance will be reasonable in its taxation ideas, because people should not have to pay for a spirit of voluntary work. It has helped keep this society a Nordic welfare society,” she said.

Halonen and her spouse also donated a cherry sapling from their plot in Karjalohja to the Marjaniemi allotment garden.