Stewardship Gardening:A Values-Based Guide
SHAWN JAMES
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MASTERS THESIS
2011
Contents
About---------------------------------------------------- 2
The Movement --------------------------------------- 3
Historical Context ------------------------------------ 4
Typologies---------------------------------------------- 6
Using this Guide ------------------------------------- 8
Survey--------------------------------------------------- 9
Analysis of Results ------------------------------- 14
Results ----------------------------------------------- 13
Prototype - Community Garden -------------- 15
Prototype - Permaculture Garden ----------- 16
Prototype - Cultivation Garden --------------- 17
Prototype - Environmental Garden ---------- 18
The Sacred Garden ------------------------------- 19
Details on the Particular------------------------- 20
Works Cited ----------------------------------------- 21
Resources -------------------------------- Back Cover
About Thisguideistheproductof athesisinlandscapearchitectureandisbasedonthecommunitygardeningprocessof GoodGroundGardeninitiatedbyFirstPresbyterianChurchinsouthwestChampaign,IL.Itismeanttoaidfaith-basedgardenersinunderstandinganddeterminingtruemotivationsinordertorealizethegarden’sfullpotentialbothforthechurchandthegreatercommunity.Thisguideisn’tsolelyforthosewithreligiousbeliefsasitcanbeusedbyanyonewhovaluestheirinteractionwiththenaturalenvironment.Itenablesa“bigpicture”approachforsituatingthegardenwithinthegreaterschemeof urbanagriculture,communitycapacitybuilding,andecologicalhealth.Thepurposeof thisguideistohelporganizationsdefineenvironmentalstewardshipforthemselvessothattheeffectsmayfulfillandendure. Theresearchassumesthatfaith-basedgardensareunlikeothercommunitygardensinthattheyhaveanelementof spirituality.Thatisnottosaythatothergardenshavenospirituality.Spiritualityistheonethingthatallfaith-basedgardenshaveincommon;itmightberegardedasasearchforthesacred,anaction-orientedtermforthesacred.Aderivativeof spiritualityin
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DesignGestalt
Center
C
onnectedness Particularness Natural Boundar
y
Environment
Production
Community
Food
Food
Health
Exercise
Socialization
Learn
ing
AgrarianNostalgia
Environmental
Concern
Comm
unity
Activ
ism
Economics
Experimentation
FamilyActivity
MalawiExperience
Aesthetics
98
76
54
32
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gardensisstewardship.Eachstewardshipgardenstudiedhassomeelementof givingorothernessthatisn’tnormallyfoundinacommunitygardenwherepeopleworkindividuallyandof theirownpurpose.Thoughtsaboutone’srelationstoothersformtheessenceof stewardship.Anoutlineof varyingconsiderationsof stewardshipandtheirimplicationsfollows.
Thisimageservesasanoutlinefortheguide.Thetoplayerandfirstpartof theguideisaboutunderstandinggardeners’individualmotivations.Themiddlelayersynthesizestheseintodifferenttypes.Thebottomlayerorganizesthestewardshipgardeningmovementintoacoherentwholebasedonthecommondenominatorof sacredness.
The Movement Thereareincreasingnumbersof stewardshipgardensthroughouttheU.S.InChampaign-Urbanaalonethereareatleastten,asof 2010,thatwereeitherinitiatedbychurchesorbyfaith-basedorganizationsfornonreligiousaffiliations.Forexample,FaithinPlaceconstructsgardensthroughouttheChampaign-Urbana.RecentprojectsincludethegardensharedbytheMennoniteChurchandIslamicMosqueandthegardenattheWomensShelter.Overall,FaithInPlacehelpsspreadthe
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Anomalies & Gifts
Land & Environment
Inputs/Outputs
Institutions Associations
messageof environmentalconcernandjusticetovariousreligiousorganizations. Stewardshipgardensaretheresultof religiousgivingefforts.Sometimesthereisasharedcommonsplot,inwhichallof theproduceisdonatedtoafoodbankorsoldtobenefitmissionfunds.Inotherinstances,thegardenhelpstobuildasenseof communitywithinachurchorwithnearbyneighbors.Allof theseareinsomewayaboutaconnectionwiththeenvironment,ratherGod’screation,whetheritbeaconcernforlocalfoods,foodquality,naturalaesthetics,orproperuseof land. Religiousinstitutionsaretheidealsettingforacommunitygarden.Manyowngreenfieldssuitedforgrowing.Churches,mosques,andtemplesareoftenlocatedintheheartof citiesornearmajorpopulationcenters.Mostsignificantly,theseinstitutionsalreadyhaveafunctioningcommunityinfrastructure.Withinanycommunitythereexistsampleknowledgeandskillstodevelopgardens. Somegardensaresmall,supportingafewfamilies.Othersarelarge,withseveralplotscomparableinsizetoacommunitygarden.Asanevolutionfromthelandscapingof religiousbuildings,thegardensaremoreofteninvestedwithasharedmeaningandpurpose.Whetherthisinvolvesgrowingfood,buildingasenseof community,orprotectionof naturalresourcesisatopicthatwillemergeinthecomingpages.Thesearen’tmutuallyexclusive,buttheydohave
divergingpurposes.Forinstance,agardenthatsolelyfocusesonfoodproductionwillmorecloselyimitatemodernagriculturalsystemswiththegoalof highyields.Thisinvolvesspecializedknowledge,scheduledtasks,andtheinputof resourcessuchasfertilizers.If foodistheprimaryconcern,thencommunityandenvironmentalissuesaresetsecondary.
Historical Context Theinteractionof religionandgardeningisfoundwithinthelargercontextof religionandecology.ThehistorydescribedinthissectionisfromaWesternperspective,butparallelsarefoundwithinEasternreligionsaswell. TheGardenof Edenistheprototypefortheperfectgarden.Sincehumankind’sfallfromEden,twoconflictingmessagesabouthumans’appropriaterelationshipwithnaturehaveemerged.OnestatesthatGodprovidednatureforustouseandexploit,thathumanshavedominionovernature.ThissentimentissupportedbythenotioninChristianitythatone’slifeonEarthistemporary,andthatthesecondcomingof theMessiahwillsaveallfromruin.Inthiscase,there’slittlereasontoconcernoneself withenvironmentaldegradation.Theothertranslationteachesthatwehaveanonhierarchicalrolewithinnature,areciprocalrelationshipwithoursurroundings.Thisrecognizesthatweareonecreatureof themanycreatedbyGod.Both
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dissentingideasarebasedonthenotionof findingone’swaybacktoEden. FromtheMiddleAgestothepresent,philosophershavewritten,spoken,andmademanifestthroughconceivedutopiastheirideasabouttheappropriateroleof humansinnature.SaintFrancisof Assisi,thepatronsaintof animalsandtheenvironment,wasoneof thefirsttorepresenttheecocentricside.Ontheother,anthropocentricside,werethosesuchasJohnCalvin,FrancisBacon,JohnLocke,andReneéDescartes.Theystressedthat“torestorehumanitytothestatethatGodhadoriginallyintendedforit...(then)scientificresearch,”1wasnecessary.Itwasnotthroughfaithalone,butwithreasonthathumanscouldreestablishEden. ThesesentimentsevolvedgraduallyuntiltheEnlightenment,whichspurredfurtherdiscernmentof ecocentrismandanthropocentrism.Ecocentrismstatesthat,“Theideaof thesublimeasareligiousexperiencebecameanimportantcomponentof theEuropean
http://www.phil-hum-ren.uni-muenchen.de/GermLat/Acta/Berschin.htm (Abbildung 2)
Andrea’s Christianopolis
Bacon’s New Atlantis
http://www.santa-coloma.net/voynich_drebbel/utopias/utopias.html
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Historical ContextEnlightenment.NaturewasnowCathedral,Temple,andBible.”2Outof thiscamethethoughtsof RalphWaldoEmerson,HenryDavidThoreau,JohnMuir,MirceaEliade,andasrecentasThomasBerry.TheU.S.NationalParksSystemisbasedonthenotionthatnaturalsystemsaresacred.3 Anthropocentricbelieversfeelthat,“Weare‘abovenature’inthesenseof beingabletomanipulateandeffect
it...butwearealsopartof it,dependentonitforfoodandairandenergy-frombothfossilandrenewableresources.”1ThosewiththesethoughtsincludeCharlesDarwin,GiffordPinchot,andLynnWhite. LynnWhites’spaperTheHistoricalRootsof ourEcologicalCrisis(1967)sparkedinterestinchurchesaboutreligion’sroleintheenvironment.Whiteblamesreligionsforalltheearth’senvironmentaltroubles.Thiscausedgreatturmoil,butthemostessentialelementof thisworkisthat,“...theremedy(forenvironmentaldegradation)mustalsobeessentiallyreligious.”4TheappealforecosystemstewardshipbyPopeJohnPaulIIin1990remainsaneverurgentcallforreligiousorganizationstodaytodealwithglobalwarming,localfoods,anddisconnectedcommunities. Thesethoughtsarerepresentedthroughbothdepictionsandrealizationsof religiousutopias,placesinwhichagricultureandgardeningplayacentralrole.ThefirstreligiousgardenafterEdenwaswithinwallsof theBenedictineAbbey(550-1150).Laborinthegardenwasconsidered“anactof prayer.”5JohannValentinAndreaproposedanordered,religiousutopiainhisbookChristianopolis(1619).HisutopiawascomparabletothatinPluto’sRepublic.In1649,theDiggerswerethefirstgrouptoestablishutopianvillages.OtherreligiousutopiasincludedtheEphrataCloisterandShakercommunities.TheGreatAwakeninginthe19thcenturyspurredfurtherutopiansettlementsincludingOneida,theAmanaColonies,andBishopHill.Whilesomedisappearedinruin,othersliveontodaythroughtheircontributionstosociet.Theinventionsof theShakersorthefoundingof “HabitatforHumanity”bytheKoinoniaFarmareafewexamples.Today’schurchgardeninggroupsmayfindinspirationfromtheseutopias.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uaTm3abDFMrw1QewhFKqfQ
Benedictine Abbey
Amana Colonies
http://www.unipg.it/comunica/guide/site6.html
TypologiesWiththehistoricalcontextof ecocentrictoanthropocentricrelationshipsinnature,fourdifferentstewardshipgardentypesemerge.Thesearenotsituatedonalinearspectrumlikeecocentrism
Environment
FoodProduction
Community
The Community Gardencreatesaplacewherepeopleof varyingbackgroundscanshareanexperienceandpurpose.Itmayseektohelpmarginalizedcommunities.Activecitizenship,environmentalandpersonalhealth,andcommunitybuildingarethisgarden’sgoals.Mostimportantly,thegardenenablesthebuildingof relation-shipsthatmightnototherwiseoccur.
The Environmental Garden doesn’tproducefoodforhumans.Insteaditrestorestheenvironment,appreciatesnaturalaesthetics,andcreateswildlifehabitat.Humanusesof thisgardenarepassive.Walking,sitting,orweedingaretypicalactivities.
The Cultivation Gardenattemptstogrowasmuchfoodaspossibleeithertodonateorsellforprofit.Typically,onestaplecropisgrownformoreefficientmanagement.Whilequalityisanissue,thisgardenoftenemphasizesquantity.Considerationsof vegetablevarieties,pestsanddiseases,irrigation,andfertilizationaremostimportant.Thissystemwouldlikelyrequirescheduledtasksandfrequentmanagement.The Permaculture Garden strivesforanintegratedfunctioningof ecosystemprocessesandhumanmanagement.Observationandinteraction,designingfromnature’spatterns,producingnowasteandrecycling,catchingandstoringenergy,usingandvaluingdiversitywhilestillobtainingayieldareallimportantconsiderations.
toanthropocentrism,butareviewedasdiscreteformsthataren’tnecessarilymutuallyexclusive.Organizationsmustdiscovertheirdesiredgardentype.Thediagramontherightdepictsthepositionof gardentypesinthecontextof communitybuilding,foodproduction,andenvironmentalhealth.Itislikelythatahybridof thesetypeswillemergeinthegarden,butitisimportanttounderstandhowonetypeismoreprominentthananotherandhowtheycontributetothewholeof urbanagriculture.
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Typologies
Thecollectiveresultsmayalsoinformfurthergardenmanagementdecisions,suchasbuild-ingafence.Ononehand,therecouldbenofenceasarepresentationof sharedcommunity.Ontheother,eachindividualplotcouldhaveitsownfence.Amixbetweenthetwomayentailthatgroupingsof adjacentplotshavetheirownfence.
Onemightaskhowthegardentypesfitintothelargerpictureof religionandecology,whethertheyrepresenteco-oranthropo-centricideals.Thefollowingisalistof categoriesreflectingthedividebetweenreligionandecology.Theimagebelowspeculatesonhowthegardentypesfitintoeachcategory,whichisdepictedasaspectrum.Itisassumedthattheleftsiderepresentsanecocentricperspective,whereasanthropocentrismisontherightside.Althoughmerespeculation,theimageismeanttogeneratethoughtsaboutwhereyouseeyourself andwhereyouseethegarden.Yourthoughtsonthesediagramsmaycontributetothefinaldiscussiononthedirectionandpurposeof thegarden.
Environmental Concern
FoodProduction
TraditionalUnorthodox
Community Individual
Improvisational Planned
Myth Science
Intuition Reason
Extraordinary Mundane
Ecocentric Anthropocentric
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Using this GuideForm a Survey Committee-Thiscommiteemayormaynotbethesameasthegardencommittee.Thekeyistohaveadiversegroupof stakeholders.Theirtasksincludeleadingdiscussions,analyzingresults,andmakingrecommendations.Committeesizeisbasedonthenumberof thoseinvolvedandcanrangefromthreetotenmembers.
Understand and Define Goals -Allthoseinvolvedwiththegardenshouldreadthefirstsevenpagesaboutthemovement,historicalcontext,andtypologies.Ameetingshouldthenbeheldtodiscussgoalsforthegarden,themselves,andthecommunity.Discussionshouldfocusonthecontextof thegarden,itslocation,fiscalandphysicalfeasibility,itsdesign,anddesiredoutcomes.Theimaginingof outcomesisveryimportantanddiscussioncanbuildbyconsideringlong,intermediate,andshort-termoutcomesaswellaspossiblenegativeoutcomes.Thefourgardentypesareastartingpointforpossibleoutcomes,butitislikelythatahybridof thesetypeswillemerge.
Take the Survey -Churchmembersshouldcompletethesurvey.Itisorganizedbybasicgardeningvaluesonwhichdecisionsaremade.Valuesincludefulfillment,diversity,generosity,andecology.Peopleareaskedtoranktheiropinionsbasedonthefourchoicesgiven.Somequestionsarespecifictogardeningpractices.Othersaremoregeneralandask“bigpicture”questions.Innowaydoesthissurveydeterminerightandwronganswers.Rather,itallowsformoreinformeddecisionmakingandaction.
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1.
2.
3.
Survey - GenerosityTopicsarelistedinthefarleftcolumn.Fourresponsesarelistedintheremainingcolumnstotheright.Ranktheseresponses(#1-4),1fortheresponsethatmostcloselymatchesyoursentiment,4fortheleastfittingresponse.Thequestionsonthispageareaboutgenerosity.Variousformsof givingandthepurposeof thegardenareexpressed.
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Roleinneighborhood
What’stheviewof wildlifeinthegarden?
thereisnoneedtocontrolanyformof wildlife
allwildlifeandinsectsareunwanted
allowforwildlifeindesignatedareasdistinctfromfood
production
plantforinsectsthatwilldeterunwantedpests,butmostotherwildlifeareunwanted
thegardenshouldserveasacommunitygatheringspot,evenforthose
outsidethechurch
someof thefoodgrownshouldbegiventoneighbors,evenif theydon’t
participate
nousebythecommunityoutside
thechurch
neighborshavetheabilitytoparticipate
Whattypeof eventsshouldbeheld?
potluckswithfoodgrown
none,thegardenisasocialeventby
itself
educationalclasses
awardsceremonies,orgatheringsoutsideof thegarden(i.e.ataresidence)
Whatshouldtheproducefromthecommon’splot(if applicable)beusedfor?
donateproducetofoodbank
sellproducetodonateformissions
usefoodforindividualuseand
sharing
thefoodsupportswildlifehabitat
Levelof outreach
Relationshipwithotherorganizations
Ipreferthatannouncementismadewithinthechurchonly
Ipreferthatallotherchurchesandcommunitiesare
informed
Ipreferthatonlyimmediatelyadjacentneighborsareinformed
Ipreferthatalladjacent
communitiesareinformed,butnootherchurches
thechurchactsaloneinitsgardeningendeavors(sellsfoodonitsown)
thegardenrecognizeslocalfoodseffortsandparticipatesinthefarmer’smarket
churchpartnerswithschoolsandothergovernmentorganizationstorunthegarden
thechurchisnolongerthedirectorof thegarden,andthegardencommitteemayevenbreakoff andformitsown
coalition
Survey - DiversityThissectionfocussesonthevarietyandorganizationof thegarden.
Useof localknowledge
thereshouldbeorganizedgroupsof peopleforspecializedtasks
peoplevolunteerwithsomeguidance,but
mostactionisself directedandlittleisorganized
onlythosewithspecialized
knowledgeshouldserveonthegarden
committee
thoseongardencommitteearen’tnecessarilythosewithskilled
knowledge,butinputiscertainly
welcome
Degreeof multifaithacceptance
thegardenisonlyforthoseof thesamefaith,butthisistacitlyspecified
thegardenisforthoseof allfaiths,evennonreligious
thegardenisforthoseof allfaiths,butnotnonreligious
thegardenismostlyforthoseof onefaith,butother
denominationsarewelcome
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Survey - FullfillmentThequestionsonthispageareaboutfulfillment,ordesiredoutcomesfromthegardenandhowtheyareachieved.
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Reasonsforgardening
tosocializewithothers
togrowfoodforothersand/or
myself
Desiredgardensetting
lessexpansiveorganicvegetables
foranescapefromthecity.Thegardenisn’taboutfood,butratherprovideswildlifehabitatand/orrestoresthe
ecologicalintegrityof theland
Iliketogardenaspartof alargerorganization
Iliketogardenalone
Iliketogardenwithotherpeoplemostof thetime,butsometimes
alone
Iliketogardenaloneandwithothersequally
gardenasrelaxation
gardenasanecessity
gardenaboutsocialand
ecologicalchange
gardenasaformof self andculturalidentityandmayberelatedtoone’s
heritage
Desiredlearningopportunities
Learnaboutcreatingbutterfly
gardens
learnaboutenhancing
biodiversityinthefoodsystem
learnaboutcookingwithavarietyof
vegetablesgrowninthegarden
learnaboutpestanddiseaseidentificationin
fields
Appropriatedegreeof religiousaffiliation
thereisnooutward
expressionof religion,the
gardenisGod’screationandthat’s
enough
religionistherecognitionof one’ssituationwithintheworksof God,with
thegardenasthemedium
religionisexpressedbythoseinvolvedandtheirinteractions,butnoexplicitformof it
isseen
religionismademanifestbythegiftsgrantedfromthegarden,asignof God’sblessings
Whatisgardeningfor?
foodproductionisaboutquantity,growingasmuchaspossible
Ideasoninteractionwiththeland
thelandisaresourcetobeexploitedasagiftfromGod.Iworkinthegardenfortheproducethatitbrings.Workinghardismost
important.Onlywhenataskisfulfilledistheretimeforplayandenjoymentwithinthegarden
Shouldthegardenbeorganic?If so,towhatextent?
Soilamendmentsandexperimentation
100%organicorganiconcommonplots,
thenindividualcandecideforhis/her
ownplot
nopesticidesnorherbicidesshouldbeused,organicor
inorganic
noamendmentsshouldbeadded
experimentwithcheapandeasysolutionsusingvariouswasteproductssuchas
eggshells
makeuseof householdwasteproductsthatarefairlyreliable,suchasleaf mulchormanurefromone’s
farm
Whatshouldtheroleof foodproductioninthegardenbe?
there’snoneedtoproduceanyfood
ingarden
foodisabyproductof
gardening,aniceamenity
foodproductionisaboutappropriateuseof theland,soastoensureecologicalquality
Gardeningisadeep,personalandspiritualrelationship
withnature,notnecessarilysharedbyothers.Itallowstimeforself reflectionand
meditation
Imostenjoythestoriessharedwithothersaboutthegardeningprocess.Gardeningservesasacommon
interesttoconnectwithothers,eventhoseof varyingbackgrounds
Iparticipatefortheprocessof gardening
itself.Itallowsaconnectiontoallthingsspiritualandpersonal,
aboutthegreaterunderstandingof naturalprocessesandhowonefitsintotheprocess
noneedfororganic,it’snotworththecost
it’seasiesttobuyfertilizerfromthestorethatisknowntobeeffective
Survey - EcologyThequestionsonthispageareaboutecology.Thisisabouthowhumansandalllivingthingsinteractwiththeirenvironment.
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Toapplytheresults,therankingsmustbeaddedtogetherbycolumn.Thefirstcolumnmostcloselycoincideswiththecommunitygarden,thesecondcolumnwiththepermaculturegarden,thethirdcolumnwiththecultivationgarden,andthefourthcolumnwiththeenvironmentalgarden.Thelowerthetotalscoreforonegardentype,themorecloselythetyperesemblestheresponses.Thebestscoreforasinglegardenis17,whereasthehighestscorepossibleis68
Results
FulfillmentAdd the Results
Diversity
Generosity
Ecology
Total
Analyze the Results-Thesurveycommitteeshouldcompileallresults,identifyingpointsof largeconsensusandanyanomalies.Afterthis,thereshouldbeanopenmeeting.Thesurveycommitteecansummarizeresults,pointingoutcommonvalueswhichmaybesituatedonthetypologiesgraphonthenextpageforavisualaid.Talkcancenteronwhatwaslearnedandhowgoalsmayhavechangedovertime.Itisessentialtogainasharedunderstanding.Alineof actionbasedontheresultscanbeplanned.Sourcesof communitygardeninformation(providedonthebackcover)shouldbeconsulted.
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Forthepermaculturegardeninthecenter,onedotshouldbeplacedalongeachof thethreedottedlinesbasedonitsscore.Connectthesethreedots(theyshouldallbeequidistant)toformatriangle.
Nowconnectallof thedotsfromsteponeandthedotsof thetriangleformedinstep2.
17 5134 68
17 34 51 68
Analysis of Results
Thepermaculturegardenisplacedaroundthecenterasitsimpactsarevariedandcantakedifferentformsbasedonitscontext.Givenitsbroadnature,thepermaculturegardenrepresentsapulltowardsthecenter,whereastheothergardensarediscreteentities.Acombinationof individual
gardensandtheirpurposesismostpreferred;extremesof eachtypeshouldbeavoided.
Example
To apply results to this grid as a visual aid:Drawonedotalongeachdashedlinecorrespondingwiththethreegardentypesatthemarginsof thediagram.Thedotshouldbeplacedsothateachtype’sscoreonthepreviouspagefitsintothegivenscale#17-68(thepossibletotals).Eachred,curvilineartrianglerepresentsacontinuumof thescale. Thelowerascore,thecloserit willbetoitsassociated gardentype.
Thisgraphisstructuredforanindividual’sresults.Itisalsopossibletogenerateagraphdepictingthewholegroup’sresponses.Simplyaddtogetherallof theresultstogettotalsforeachgardentype,asonpage12.Thescale(17-68)onthegraphwillneedtobemultipliedbythenumberof surveysaggregated.Thencontinuewiththe
directionsabove.
1) 2)
3)
34 28 54 54
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Straw Bale Border
Common’s Plot #1
Sign & Flower Bed
10’x20’
Community Garden
Compost
20’x50’
Prototype - Community Garden
Thecommunitygardenfunctionslikeothers,withindividualplotsforrentthatgiveasenseof owenership.There’salsoacommon’splotinwhicheveryonehelps,creatingasenseof dutyandcommitment.Forthefirstseason,GoodGroundwasacommunitygarden.
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Theprototypesonpages15-18provideideasforthevaryingtypologiesbasedonthequarteracreGoodGroundGardensite.Theyserveasexamplesandaren’tmeanttobecopied.
Apple Trees
Bat HouseBird House
Tomato Ring
Goldenrod Border
Bird/Bat Houses - deter insects
Goldenrod &Sun�ower vegetative border - attract bene�cial insectssuch as ladybug
Irregular-shaped beds - greater perimeter - increased diversity - increase of 25 ft2/plot - greater connectivitybetween beds
Tomato Ring
Sign
Fruit tree border - wind buer - added harvest
Prototype - Permaculture GardenPermacultureisamovementaboutanecologicallysensitivesystemof designforfoodproducinglandscapes.Itbeganinthe1970sinAustraliawiththewritingsof BillMollison.Thisdesignmethodologyisaboutcreatinganintegratedwhole,butbecauseof itsbroadunderstandingandapplication,whatresultsseemsmoreattunedtobestmanagementpractices.Nevertheless,unifieddesignsmayresultif they’replacesensitive.
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Alternating Rows ofTomatoes & Winter Rye
Straw BaleBorder
Tomato Rows Winter RyeCover Crop
Sign
45 plants/row2 rows/plot8 rotating plots
720 tomato plants
7lbs/plant5040 lbs tomatoes
$2/lb
$10,080
Prototype - Cultivation Garden TomatoeswerechosenasastaplecropinGoodGroundbecausetheywereoftenseenduringamissiontripinthemarketsof Malawi,fromwhichthegardendrawsitsinspiration.Onasmalltractof land,lessthanaquarterof anacreinthiscase,agreatamountof producecanbegrownandsoldordonated.Inthisexample,cropsarerotated.Tomatoesareanapplicableexamplebecausetheycanbegrowninavarietyof climates.
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746.0
747.6
747.5
746.3
747.8
747.9
747.6
747.7
750.0
750.0
750.0
750.0
750.0
750.0
French Drain
BioRetention
BioRetention
Berm
Berm
Spillway
High MarshLow Marsh
Prototype - Environmental GardenThisgardenisamoredirectevolutionof typicallandscapingprojectsof floweringshrubsandtreesforaesthetics.Yet,theenvironmentalgardenappreciatesadifferentformof aesthetics,asa“messy”lookmaybeperceived.Thetruebeautyof thisgardenemanatesthroughitsroleasawildlifehabitatand,inthisexample,capturingstormwaterrunoff asapocketraingarden.Otherformstoconsiderareaprairieorabioswaledependingthesite.
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The Sacred GardenWhiletherearemanydifferenttypesof faithbasedgardens,theyareallpartof onemovement.Thefirstportionof thisguidedelineatedthemovementtounderstanditscontextandpossibledirections.Thissectionattemptstoreconnectthemovementintoaunifiedwhole.Thus,thecommondenominator,spiritualityandsacredlandscapes,becomeafocus.Fouressentialdesignelementsforthesacredlandscapearegiven:NaturalBoundary,Center,Connectedness,andParticularness.6Eachof thesearedescribedbelowwithdiagramsshowingtheirapplicationineachgardentype
Natural Boundary iswhatsetsthegardenapartfromitssurroundings.Thegarden’sboundarydoesn’tnecessarilyneedtobe“natural,”suchasatopographicaldemarcation.
Rather,naturalelements,suchasstrawbales,trees,andtallgrasses,mayserveasaboundary.Theformof thisboundaryissimilarinallgardens,typicallyalongtheperimeter,butthematerialmayvaryamonggardentypes.
Center istheplacewherepeopleknowtolookforeachother.It’salocationof sharedexperienceandidentity.Sometimesit’smarkedbyastructure.Othertimesit’s
knownbywhat’snotvisible.Atypicalformof centerfoundinfaithbasedgardensisthecommon’splot.Thesizeandplacementof thiscentervarieswithinthegiventypologies.
Connectedness isn’tnecessarilysomethingthatisseen.Itistypicallyafeeling.Likespirituality,itcanbebothinwardandself reflectionaloroutwardandshared.When
thisessenceispresent,feelingsof togetherness,integratedness,andcommunityfollow.Themostpalpableformof itingardensmaybethepathwaysandhowtheyrelatetothecenter.Moreimportantly,it’sabouttheanimateandinanimatethatmakethegardencomealive.
Community Garden
Cultivation Garden
Permaculture Garden
Environmental Garden
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Particularness isanelementof thegardenthatsetsitapartfromallothers.Itexpressesthegarden’sidentity,whichmaybebasedonculturalheritage,thegarden’s
inspiration,gardeners’values,etc.Whiletheothercharacteristicsmaybeunconsciouslyachieved,particularnessmustbeaconsciouseffortasitisnotalwaysapparentinfaithbasedgardens,norinmostothergardens.Thisresearchproposesthatparticularnessalsobetheelementthatunitesthewholefaithbasedgardeningmovement,suchthatitsstructureisconspicuousbutalsopermitsexpressionof theindividualgarden’sidentity.Detailsforthisstructurearedescribedonthefollowingpage.
Details on the Particular Thistableandshelterdesignrepresentsthestewardshipgardeningmovement.Avarietyof elementsinthestructureallowittobeuniquebothtothemovementandtoeachgarden.Thecenterof theroof ishasacircularpieceof glass,allowingaconcentratedviewof theheavens.Thelightshiningthroughsignalsthatinstancesof thedivinemaybediscernedonearth.Thefourpartsof theroof extendfromthecenterpointtoothergardens,demonstratingthatthisisnottheonlyone.Themuralsonthefoursidesdepicttheinspirationof thegarden.Theymaybefourdifferentimpetusesorallberelated.Itisthebenches,insteadof thetable,thatsupporttheroof.Thisrepresentsthatthegardenandthewholemovementwouldnotbepossiblewithoutthepeopleandtheiractsof stewardship. Thestructureissimpletobuild,withdimensionsshownbelow.Thematerialsareleftuptothegardeners,sothatthestructuremaywithstandregionallyvaryingelementsandbecostsensitive.Itisrecommendedthatwoodbeused,however,sothatpeoplemaycarvetheirnamesandgardeningstoriesinthetable,benches,andposts.Thesestoriessupplementthemuralsinbuildingindividualidentityandalsorepresentthesolegardener.Forstoryiswhatallurespeopletotheessenceof gardening.
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1 - Berry, R.J, ed. 2006. Environmental Stewardship. London & New York: T&T Clark.
2 - Merchant, Carolyn. 2003. Reinventing Eden. New York: Routledge.
3 - Taylor, Bron, ed. 2005. Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature. London & New York: Continuum.
4 - White, Lynn. 1967. “The historical roots of our ecological crisis.” Science 155: 1203-1207.
5 - Dewitt, Calvin B. and Ghillean T. Prance, ed. 1992. Missionary Earthkeeping. Macon: Mercer University Press.
6 - Hester, Randolph. 2006. Design for Ecological Democracy. Cambridge, MA & London: The MIT Press.
Works Cited
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Additional Resources
http://www.cacscw.org/garden_handbook.php
www.gardeningmatters.org/resources/job-descriptions.pdf
www.communitygarden.org/docs/new_farmers_training_manual.pdf
http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/publications/128-community-garden-starter-pack
http://www.canh.asn.au/projects/community-gardens.aspx
http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=MP906
http://www.foodsecurity.org/pub/WholeMeasuresCFS-web.pdf
http://www.cometothetablenc.org/
http://nccecojustice.org/resources/#environmentaljusticeresources
http://www.communitygarden.org/index.php
http://permacultureprinciples.com/principles.php
http://permacultureactivist.net/intro/PcIntro.htm
Biohabitats, Inc. 1993. Design manual for the use of bioretention in stormwater management. Ellicott City, MD: Engineering Technologies Associates, Inc.
Jones, J. Benton Jr. 2008. Tomato Plant Culture (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Forguidesonhowtoinitiateandrunacommunitygarden,thefirstsixresourcesareuseful.Particularly,theUniversityof Missouri’sextensionprogram’sguideisthoroughinthisprocess.Thefollowingsourceinspiredthecreationof thisguide.Thelasttworesourcesdealspecificallywithfaithbasedgardens.Theyprovidemeaningfulwaysforintegratingthegardenintoworshipandteaching.Theselasttwoalsodetailwaystoimpactthecommunityandenvironmentbeyondthecommunitygarden.
Thesenextfewsourcesaren’tnecessarilyguides,buttheymayintrigueandaddinsightforthosewhowishtolearnmoreaboutfaithbasedgardening,religionandecology.
http://fore.research.yale.edu/
http://www.faithinplace.org/
http://flourishonline.org/
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?924
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?927
http://stwdgarden.pbworks.com/w/page/28929540/FrontPage(thesis Wiki)
Formoredetailsonthespecifictypesof gardens,thefollowingsourcesshouldbeconsulted.