In Germany, allotment gardens are very well-liked. An area of rented land with a tiny house, a garden, and other amenities make for a stress-relieving haven for many people. In Germany, there are more than a million allotment gardens, the majority of which are found in and around urban areas. In a manner resembling a colony, garden, and recreation place all in one, the plots are arranged closely together. As is so often the case in Germany, living together – or gardening together – is organized by clubs.

The origin of the allotment gardens can be traced back to the small northern German town of Kappeln. In 1800, the local nobility of the time provided small plots of land for those in need. The goal was to provide them with a basic food supply. The concept of using gardens for recreation came 50 years later in Leipzig. Originally, a large playground for factory workers and their children was built. From this grew a complex with individual gardens.

Even though Leipzig physician Moritz Schreber did not come up with the idea, it was named after him. Today, allotment gardens are often called "Schrebergärten" in Germany. And the original clubhouse in Leipzig is now home to the German allotment garden museum.