Gardening in Viherkuja

Summer 2024 

The Viherkuja Community Garden was established in the summer of 2022. The garden is divided into four sections: one-year, one-year organic, multi-year, and box farming sections. The box farming section has not yet been opened. The Viherkuja Community Garden is administered by the city of Oulu in cooperation with Yritetään yhdessä ry.’s Sustainable Development Centre.  

KEKE ShowCase allotments 

Yritetään yhdessä ry. has reserved multi-year allotments as KEKE ShowCase allotments. The KEKE ShowCase allotments can be used for guidance and inspiration. The allotments serve as examples of functional gardening, and you can check them out for good tips for success! 

General terms and conditions 

The size of one allotment is approximately 10 m x 10 m (1 are), the true size may vary slightly. The size of one allotment is approximately 100 m2 and they are marked by the city. 

Passages are located between the allotments. The edges of the allotment (30 cm) must be left uncultivated, forming a 60 cm passage between allotments. Passages are marked between red poles. Items must not be placed on the passages. 

In 2024, the width of the passages was extended based on feedback. The large number of enclosures makes moving in the garden difficult. The width of passages are now 35 cm + 35 cm = 70 cm.  

Soil can be collected to your allotment from the soil pile if there is clearly too little soil on your rented allotment. The dirt pile is located in the north end of the Community Garden. 

Water points can be used by all gardeners. Please use the water moderately and consider the needs of other gardeners. We recommend cultivating under cover. Using an organic cover reduces the need for water and prevents water from evaporating from the soil. If water runs out, the gardener is responsible for delivering the water they need independently. 

Water hydrants in Hietasaari: there are water hydrants near the Viherkuja Community Garden. Gardeners may collect a key to use the water hydrants from the Oulu10 Service Point, Torikatu 10. 

Approved structures: maximum size of pallet collars is 1 m x 1,20 m; maximum height of protective veils or fence structures is 120 cm. Placing fences on the passages is prohibited. 

You may place a garden waste compost bin on your allotment. The compost bin must be small and must not cause harm to other gardeners. 

Other buildings or structures must not be built on the allotment. 

Felling trees on the allotment or delivering soil from the allotment is prohibited. 

Farming potatoes. Only certified seed potatoes are permitted to be farmed at the Community Gardens. Officially certified seed potatoes can be recognized by the blue certificate. Certified seed potatoes are found in the agriculture sections of different wholesale businesses and some gardening retailers. Normal ware potatoes are not certified and are not suitable for allotment gardening. 

Plant waste must be placed in the allotment’s compost bin or the shared compost bin in Viherkuja. The renter must keep their allotment in good condition. All other waste must be removed by the renter if there is not mixed waste collection at the Community Garden. 

Weeds must be rooted out before they blossom. Growing invasive species is prohibited. 

Allotments are available from the spring, once the Community Garden has been cultivated and allotments have been marked, until September 30. After the rental period, all plants and plant waste must be removed from the allotment for the next renter. 

Driving a car in the Community Garden is prohibited. You may park your car in the parking area near the Viherkuja Community Garden. 

Special conditions 

One-year rental 

Allotments for one-year rentals are cultivated in the fall and spring. One-year allotments may be used from the spring, once the Community Garden has been cultivated and allotments have been marked, until September 30. The harvest must be collected during the rental period and renter’s equipment must be removed from the allotment before the end of the rental period. Once the rental period ends, the allotment returns under the city’s control without separate notice. 

One-year ORGANIC rental 

One-year ORGANIC allotments are cultivated in the fall and spring. Only organic farming methods are permitted in the area. The use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is prohibited. 

Multi-year rental 

The city does not cultivate multi-year allotments. Allotments may only be used for gardening purposes; growing potatoes, root vegetables, vegetables, herbs, flowers, berries etc.  

Growing dwarfing apple trees or berry bushes with trunks is permitted and their maximum height is 2 meters. The height is maintained by cutting the exceeding height. The tree must be placed at least 4 meters away from the border and passages. The trees must not hamper gardening on other allotments. Dwarfing apple trees have small roots and do not hamper gardening on other allotments. It is permitted to grow a maximum of 4 dwarfing apple trees or berry bushes with trunks in a square shape with two-meter gaps. All plants and plant waste must be removed from the allotment before the rental period ends for the next renter.