It's the same here in Switzerland where allotments or 'Schrebergarten' tend to take on the form of a small community. In my own case the land we are on is common land and was handed over to the then newly founded local allotment society by the local council. The rest was up to us, we turned this land into what is is today - about 150 allotments all with adjoining main and auxiliary paths, access to water, general upkeep and so on. The only thing the council did for us was to erect the surrounding wire fence - something we need otherwise the plots would be visited daily by deer, foxes, rabbits and lynx.
Things are pretty strict and we have a set of regulations as guide lines. For instance no working on Sundays - although light garden work is allowed; no fires; sleeping overnight is allowed but only for one night at a time, no watering with hoses - although there is plenty of water;no radios and no fixed huts, houses or frames above a certain height without planning permission. According to our statutes we each have to do ten hours general work annually to do the upkeep, for the hours you don't work you have to pay 10 Francs per hour - this goes into the general kitty for expenses accrued and to pay the water bill.
We have a president - a woman at the moment - a vice-president, a treasurer and an actuary, all voted for and of course an AGM every November.
It all works, we have few problems, people who don't pull their weight have to leave if they don't take the chances offered and we all love it.
I'm one of the oldest and longest members - thirtyseven years now!!!!
