Greening Cities, Growing Communities
Greening Cities, Growing Communities: Learning from Seattle’s Urban Community Gardens focuses on cases of community gardens in Seattle where there has been a strong network of knowledge and resources. These case studies reveal the capacity of community gardens to serve larger community issues, such as community food security; urban ecosystem health; demonstration of sustainable gardening and building practices; active living and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods; and equity concerns.
Authors Jeffrey Hou and Julie Johnson from the University of Washington and Laura Lawson from the University of Illinois also examine how landscape architecture, planning, and allied design professionals can better interact in the making of these unique urban open spaces, and how urban community gardens offer opportunities for professionals to have a more prominent role in community activism and urban sustainability.
Greening Cities, Growing Communities: Learning from Seattle’s Urban Community Gardens
ISBN: 9780295989280
Paperback, 232 pages
Author: Jeffrey Hou, Julie M. Johnson, Laura J. Lawson
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Published with: Landscape Architecture Foundation
List price: $40
This is the fifth in LAF’s published series of case studies which aims to meet the public’s need for more livable communities and improved environmental preservation and protection; to inform public policy and support community and environmental advocates; and to enhance the skill and knowledge base of the planning and design professions.
Synopsis
Although there are thousands of community gardens across North America, only Seattle and a few other cities, include them in their urban development plans. While the conditions and experiences in Seattle may be unique, the city's programs offer insights and lessons for other cities and communities. Greening Cities, Growing Communities examines:
- Planning and design strategies that support the development of urban community gardens as sustainable places for education and recreation
- Approaches to design process, construction, and stewardship that use volunteer and community participation and create a sense of community
- Programs that enable gardens to serve as a resource for social justice for low-income and minority communities, immigrants, and seniors
- Opportunities to develop active-living frameworks through the location of community gardens and linkages with other forms of recreation and open space as part of pedestrian-accessible networks
Greening Cities, Growing Communities focuses on cases of community gardens in Seattle where there has been a strong network of knowledge and resources. These case studies reveal the capacity of community gardens to serve larger community issues, such as community food security; urban ecosystem health; demonstration of sustainable gardening and building practices; active living and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods; and equity concerns.
The authors also examine how landscape architecture, planning, and allied design professionals can better interact in the making of these unique urban open spaces, and how urban community gardens offer opportunities for professionals to have a more prominent role in community activism and urban sustainability.
