An update post. For part 1 see https://www.thecreativecatalyst.com.au/blog/the-plant-project
A community garden is a piece of land gardened or cultivated by a group of people individually or collectively. Normally in community gardens, the land is divided into individual plots. Each individual gardener is responsible for their own plot and the yielding or the production of which belongs to the individual.
wikipedia
But it's so much more .....
They're places where people come together to grow fresh food, to learn and make new friends. At the end of my Plant Project in 2024, I felt a true need to continue in this space.
To continue to put in place what I'd learnt, to get my hands dirty, plant trees, grow food and generally play. Six months earlier I'd added my name to the community garden waiting list 10 minutes from home and, with perfect timing, a plot became available within a month of finishing the horticulture project course.
A few months in and it's been a joy meeting a diverse group in age and heritage. I'd expected to meet older folks growing food but there's many middle aged couples often exploring unique hybrid plants for bottling, jams or relishes. I'm fortunate also to have elderly Italian neighbours continuing there growing traditions and learning about how they get their tomatoes so sweet. But I think my favorite meeting so far is a middle aged father and his primary school aged son, taking turns watering, making joint decisions about what to plant and problem solving the inevitable series of pest issues they've encountered.
I've been very committed to my garden plot, visiting and working on it most days to replenish the soil, get my bearing with sun's orientation and establishing a water regime. As a project manager we see planning as a everyday part of what we do and problem solving as a means to determine the best way to deal with fruit flies, rats and other species we must share our gardens with.
But I'm struck by just how much joy I get from harvesting food, watching things grow and thinking I actually had something to do with it. With too many tomatoes and zucchinis that I was literally giving them away, it got me thinking that, even me who's been working in sustainability and environmental programs all my career, had disconnected from where my food was coming from.
Third Space
Ive had a few interesting 'take aways' during this time, primarily of the value that community gardens play as a third place in our towns and cities. A social place where we can go that's welcoming, low key, affordable, close by and safe. They play a role in both binding community and creating connections but also giving space for solitude without loneliness. What a good investment from local council.
We can linger and access wisdom from other's experience, where social status is irrelevant as your 'value' is based on the colour of your tomatoes.
Third spaces are not the same as public spaces says American sociologist Ray Oldenburg. 1
"Third places, then, are 'anchors' of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction. In other words, your third place is where you relax in public, where you encounter familiar faces and make new acquaintances." 2
Spend time in nature & gardens
I look forward to exploring how my experience in the community garden, aligns with my research and observations on social and creative prescribing. To continue to understand how I might assist to promote the role these third spaces could play for people recovering from mental health issues, long term unemployed and others feeling displaced or isolated.
Watering plants has been shown to be one of the activities that is most protective against the onset of dementia, while simple 20-minute potting activities performed 3 times a week showed a significant increase in recovery for cancer patients. Attention Restoration Theory (ART) asserts that people can concentrate better after spending time in nature, or even looking at scenes of nature. 3
There's growing evidence that positive health and wellbeing outcomes can be supported through a connection to plants and natural surroundings. Ive written extensively on this and recently found that there's a link to building immune function.
“The importance of spending time in nature is becoming a huge area of research,... You've heard about your microbiome [the collection of microorganisms that live on your skin or in your gut], but there's also an aerobiome, which refers to all the organisms floating around in nature that you need to be healthy.
Trees release chemicals called phytoncides that strengthen your immune system. When you garden, you inhale a bacteria called mycobacterium vaccae, which stimulates the production of serotonin in the gut and the brain, making it a natural antidepressant.” 4
Dr Helena Popovic
Stay tuned for more updates and personal revelations!
Footnote:
American sociologist Ray Oldenburg called a 'first place' the home and the people the person lives with. The 'second place' is the workplace—where people may actually spend most of their waking time.
Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place
References:
1. A public space is a place that is open and accessible to the general public. Roads, pavements, public squares, parks, and beaches are typically considered public space. Wikipedia
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place
3. Healing gardens at Perth City Farm, Toni Salter 2015. https://communitygarden.org.au/2015/09/healing-gardens-at-perth-city-farm/#_ftn3
Quoted from Koura, S (2013), Effects of Horticultural Therapy Garden on Autonomic Nervous System Against Elderly Persons with Severe Dementia. Kyushu University of Health & Welfare, Japan.
Meneghello, et al ( 2013), Garden Therapy in Neurorehabilitation Wellbeing and Skills Improvement, Agricultural Sciences Dept., Bologna University, Italy.
4. Dr Helena Popovic, Can Adventure Cure Dementia- A guide to outwitting Alzheimer's, 2023