REPORT

Integration takes root in the allotment

Catharina Söderström wanted to work with Aktiva Mammor to do something to promote integration in Skellefteå. No sooner said than done. In 2025, she collaborated with the Aktiva Mammor association on a study group focused on gardening. And the effort bore fruit—in the form of new knowledge, new friendships, and several pounds of delicious potatoes.

“That’s what integration is all about: not thinking in terms of ‘us and them,’ but getting to know one another,” says Catharina Söderström.

Right in the heart of Anderstorp, nestled between car dealerships, electronics stores, and the paddle tennis hall, lies the Anderstorp allotment garden area. For decades, people have come here to garden and socialize. Here you can hear the sound of hoes hitting the soil, small talk between the plots, and, these days, the laughter of a group of women from the Active Moms association.

A new community has begun to take root here, thanks in large part to Catharina Söderström, 76. She is an experienced gardener who enjoys growing onions, squash, and raspberries on her plot. In the spring of 2025, she led the ABF study circle “Gardening for Beginners” in collaboration with the Active Moms association, where a group of newly arrived women learned more about gardening.

“I had met the Aktiva Mammor association at Bidagen, which we organize here on the garden plot to benefit bees and pollinators. Those were very pleasant and lively meetings. When they expressed interest in collaborating on integration through a gardening circle, I thought, ‘I’d love to be a part of this!’” says Catharina.

Natural Language Training

In early spring, the group gathered at Medlefors Folk High School. A dozen evening sessions were filled with gardening lessons, coffee breaks, and laughter. They pre-cultivated cabbage and cauliflower, planned garden beds, and chatted. For some participants, the language practice came completely naturally.

“They kept asking, ‘What’s this called in Swedish?’ about seedlings, wheelbarrows, and shovels. It was so much fun,” says Catharina.

The allotment association in Anderstorp is small, with only garden plots and no cottages. Anyone who wants to garden usually gets the chance fairly quickly, although there may be a waiting list. The annual fee is 300 kronor.

When the gardening circle’s meetings moved from the classroom to the garden plot, things were a bit slow at first.

“It was so cold last spring. Interest dropped a bit, and I thought, ‘What am I doing wrong? How can I get the group more excited?’ At first, the group didn’t want to go there unless I was there,” says Catharina.

But over time, they got into the swing of things and started digging, tilling, and weeding the soil together.

Harvested potatoes

The big breakthrough came one day at the end of summer.

“When we harvested the potatoes!” says Catharina. “That’s when they got excited. All our hard work had actually paid off. They each got a kilo and a half to take home. There was laughter and pride. It meant so much.”

For some of the women, rhubarb was something completely new. Catharina brought homemade rhubarb juice to the group.

“It opened their eyes to what you can make from what we grow here,” she says.

For Dhabo Ragow Abdi, one of the participants, gardening on the plot was a very positive experience.

“It was great!” she says. “Good to practice Swedish, fun to meet others and hang out and have coffee.”

What was the most fun?

“The potatoes! They were really good,” she says.

Dhabo hopes that the Aktiva Mammor association can continue to grow crops in some form.

Active Association

Aktiva Mammor is run by women with immigrant backgrounds and has become an important association in Skellefteå in recent years. They focus on language, community information, parenting, and gender equality. They recently moved into new premises in central Skellefteå. Outings, ski trips, gym classes, and educational programs for mothers are just a few examples of the activities on the schedule. In 2025, the association received Skellefteå Municipality’s Diversity Award.

Hibo Gaalib is the chairperson. She hopes that gardening circles can become part of the association’s activities and that more of their members will discover the joys of gardening in Skellefteå.

“The collaboration has been very positive for our association. Here we’ve found new avenues for connection, diversity, and integration, and we believe the gardening circles are one of the experiences we’ll carry with us,” she says.

The gardening circle has been a great way to meet people, and now Hibo is hoping for more collaborations.

“Our members have different backgrounds and interests, and we hope to continue developing collaborations with local associations and find new partners in the field of integration in Skellefteå,” says Hibo.

Catharina Söderström has made friends for life.

“When I run into them around town, I get really happy. We’ve learned a lot from each other,” she says.