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.