The smell of smoke and shashliks is floating in the air over the outskirts of Poznań. It means that a great spring outing has begun on the allotments.

A time to barbecue and to feast in gardens and by the Warta river.
The inauguration of “one big barbecue party” begins in Poland during the first days of May. Eating in the open air will last until September – as long as the weather permits.
Pork neck, trout, loin of pork and poultry disappear from shops. In our country there are many connoisseurs of exquisite meat, meaning beef tenderloin as well as of less refined, but very tasty dishes like roasted sausage and blood pudding. Some people like pickled meat, others prefer dry seasoning, but they all love to feast in the bosom of nature.
Barbecue is “the new Polish tradition” and it’s here to stay. Nowadays it’s hard to imagine any other way of spending one’s free time. And it all began like this…
State owned industrial plants in times of the People’s Republic of Poland used to give allotments to their most deserved employees. These allotments were usually located on the outskirts of cities. The allotments had to be kept in accordance with norms determining the height of a fence, the size of a garden house and the kind of plants that can be planted. It was forbidden to sow grass and to plant any pine trees. All kinds of vegetables, fruit and flowers were allowed.
On very small plots of land surrounded by low fences all lovers of nature planted vegetables and fruits that were not available in shops back then.
A suburban garden used to be the only place where one could get fresh carrots, parsley or a celery. There was also so-called “plastic tunnels cultivation”. It was thanks to this that we could taste some spring vegetables: early lettuce, radishes and later – tomatoes. Fruit trees provided shade in gardens. Almost every middle-aged Pole remembers the taste of cherries, apples, pears or plums from their grandmother’s or aunt’s garden.
Also many flowers were planted in these gardens. They were mainly tulips, hollyhocks, marigolds, zinnias and dahlias, but also irises and lilies.
Most of their free time the allotment holders devoted to growing things they could not buy in shops. One of the benefits of owing a garden was the possibility of making preserves: juices, jams or pickled cucumbers. There was lard and home-made cold meats from illegal slaughter meat in garden larders. The sauvoring of delicacies lasted throughout the whole summer. Neighbours, family and friends were usually invited to join the meals in the open air. By tables laden with food and drink Zofia’s, Anna’s, Jan’s and Marian’s name day parties were held.
Today, a dozen or so years after the fall of communism, these allotments changed beyond recognition. Well-kept lawns took place of vegetable and fruit growing. In place of garden flowers all kinds of exotic plants are planted. Small garden houses have been rebuilt into holiday houses with fireplaces. The owners still spend their free time here but they don’t devote so much time to growing plants anymore. They leave cities to rest, spend some time with their friends with a pint of beer and barbecued sausages. Only a small group of housewives serves meat with lettuce, tomatoes and herbs grown in their own gardens.