Czech Gardeners' Union

The Czech Gardeners' Union (Český zahrádkářský svaz, z.s., ČZS) is a registered association of garden owners, tenants and friends of gardening, entered in the public register at the Municipal Court in Prague under file number L 1147. It is the largest non-political association in the Czech Republic, with nearly 125,000 members in 2,300 basic and 14 specialised organisations as of 2023. The union traces its roots to the interwar gardening and nature-lovers' associations and to a gardening tradition reaching back almost to the Middle Ages. It was formally established on 29 September 1957 at its first founding congress as the Czechoslovak Union of Gardeners and Fruit Growers (ČSSZO), with František Machala elected as its first chairman. Over the decades it underwent several name changes, becoming the Czechoslovak Fruit-Growing and Gardening Union (ČSOZS) in 1961, then the Czech Fruit-Growing and Gardening Union, and finally adopting its current name, Czech Gardeners' Union, on 24 November 1979. At its peak in the late 1980s it had over 400,000 members, and including family members it directly influenced at least one tenth of the Czech population, earning the country its reputation in Europe as a nation of gardeners. Today the union's mission is to defend the interests of its members, create conditions for gardening and meaningful leisure, provide advisory services, participate in education, and organise lectures, exhibitions and competitions. It publishes the monthly magazine Zahrádkář and runs a youth commission organising the National Round of Young Gardeners, a competition dating back to 1981. The union faces challenges including an ageing membership base and pressure from municipalities and private owners to convert garden plots to other uses. It was a member of the European Union of Gardeners (European Gardeners' League), which groups 14 national associations with 3.5 million members. A Gardening Museum was founded in Hradec Králové in 1999 to preserve written documents about the union's activities.

The Czech Gardeners' Union (ČZS) traces its heritage to the interwar associations and to a gardening and horticultural tradition reaching back almost to the Middle Ages. From the end of the 19th century, various local and regional beautification associations and nature-lovers' societies were founded, often including gardeners. During World War II, such local associational activity was restricted, and on the instruction of the (Protectorate) Ministry of Agriculture some existing associations were dissolved or merged into a single Union of Gardeners. In the 1950s, regional organisations first emerged, such as the Unity of Gardeners in the Pilsen region. On 29 September 1957, at its first founding congress, the Czechoslovak Union of Gardeners and Fruit Growers (ČSSZO) was established, with František Machala elected as chairman. It was a typical monopolistic socialist interest organisation into which existing local, regional and professional associations were incorporated; for example, the Union of Czech Cactus Growers was forced to join. At the second congress on 8 April 1961, the name was changed to the Czechoslovak Fruit-Growing and Gardening Union (ČSOZS), and Václav Kovanda was elected chairman. At that time the union had over 3,000 organisations with more than 215,000 members. In 1968, ČSOZS became the publisher of the magazine Rádce, which however ceased at the end of that year, and the union began publishing the magazine Zahrádkář as a monthly with a print run of 120,000, and a second magazine, Krása zahrady, as a quarterly. At the fourth congress, in connection with federalisation, the union changed to the Czech Fruit-Growing and Gardening Union, with Václav Kovanda remaining chairman. At the fifth congress, Vlastimil Ježek was elected chairman; after the separation of the Slovak union, the Czech union had 294,272 members in 3,312 basic organisations. The last name change occurred at the sixth congress on 24 November 1979, to the current Czech Gardeners' Union, which continues to publish the magazine Zahrádkář. In 1979 the Czech Gardeners' Union was placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture. At the height of its fame in the late 1980s, ČZS had over 400,000 members, and including family members it directly influenced at least one tenth of the population of the Czech Republic, which is why it is said in Europe that we are a nation of gardeners. From the 1980s until 1990, a group called 'Friends of Natural Nutrition' operated under the Czech Gardeners' Union, bringing together experts and laypeople interested in healthier diets and the influence of diet on human health; after 1989, many professional promoters of healthy nutrition and lifestyle, authors and publishers of books on healthy eating, and producers, sellers and importers of health foods emerged from its members. After 1989, gardening was affected by restitutions, political changes and changes in lifestyle and social structure, but the Czech Gardeners' Union as a unified nationwide organisation persists and continues to operate. In March 1974, the Central Gardening Academy (ÚZA) was established in Velké Losiny; its activities have now been discontinued and replaced by specialised training in regional centres. In 1999, the Gardening Museum was founded in Hradec Králové to preserve written documents about the activities of ČZS. The union was a member of the European Union of Gardeners (European Gardeners' League), which groups 14 national associations with 3.5 million members. As of 2023, it unites nearly 125,000 members in 2,300 basic and 14 specialised organisations, making it the largest non-political grouping in the Czech Republic. Its goals are to defend the interests of its members, create conditions for gardening and meaningful leisure, provide advisory services, participate in education, and organise lectures, exhibitions and more. Among its problems are an ageing membership base and pressure from towns, municipalities and private owners to convert gardens to other uses. A major challenge is that the organisation was founded more than fifty years ago and entered the market atmosphere without major changes to its organisational structure; as a result, membership is declining and the union lacks the respect of state administration bodies and gardeners themselves. Gardening activity itself has shifted from growing scarce fruit and vegetables to recreational use. The union sees its future significance in advising and teaching gardeners how to grow and care for crops. A nine-member Commission for Work with Youth was created within the Republican Council of ČZS, organising events such as the National Round of Young Gardeners, the culmination of a competition for pupils in grades 4–9, Young Gardener clubs and Young Naturalist clubs, whose beginnings date to 1981.

• 2023

  The union has nearly 125,000 members in 2,300 basic and 14 specialised organisations.

• 1999

  The Gardening Museum is founded in Hradec Králové.

• 1981

  The National Round of Young Gardeners competition begins.

• 1979

  On 24 November, at the sixth congress, the name changes to the current Czech Gardeners' Union; the union is placed under the Ministry of Agriculture.

• 1974

  In March, the Central Gardening Academy (ÚZA) is established in Velké Losiny.

• 1968

  ČSOZS becomes publisher of Rádce magazine, which ceases at year-end; the union begins publishing Zahrádkář monthly (120,000 copies) and Krása zahrady quarterly.

• 1961

  At the second congress on 8 April, the name changes to Czechoslovak Fruit-Growing and Gardening Union (ČSOZS); Václav Kovanda elected chairman. Over 3,000 organisations with more than 215,000 members.

• 1957

  On 29 September, the Czechoslovak Union of Gardeners and Fruit Growers (ČSSZO) is founded at its first congress; František Machala elected chairman.

The largest non-political association in the Czech Republic, dedicated to gardening, leisure and community.

• Zahrádkář magazine

  Monthly magazine published by ČZS since 1968.

• Rádce magazine

  Published by ČSOZS in 1968, ceased at year-end.

• Krása zahrady magazine

  Quarterly magazine published by the union.

• Floristry courses

  Autumn floristry courses with themes such as All Souls' Day, Advent, Flower Ball and Christmas.

• BOZP training

  Occupational health and safety training for leaders of children's gardening clubs.

• National Round of Young Gardeners

  Competition for pupils in grades 4–9, Young Gardener clubs and Young Naturalist clubs, dating to 1981.

• Gardening Museum

  Founded in 1999 in Hradec Králové to preserve written documents about ČZS activities.

1. 1Český zahrádkářsky svaz, z.s. – official websitezahradkari.cz
2. 2Český zahrádkářský svaz – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Český zahrádkářský svaz – Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org