The garden is a singularly grounding experience, offering a poignant reminder of our place within the grand tapestry of the planet and the realm of the seasons. In early January, a stroll around the garden affords a glimpse into the harsh realities of the northern climates that prevail in this season. The Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, a hardy and resilient dogwood, glows with an inner radiance, its presence a beacon of hope in the dark of winter.
The cyclical nature of garden — serves as a metaphor for the human experience, where growth and decay, tending and neglect, are eternally intertwined. As one’s physical labor is linked to the fall of leaves and the re-emergence of new foliage, cultivating — and navigating failure instills resilience, which in turn shapes our capacity for humility.
Cultivating Place, a weekly public radio program and podcast hosted by Jennifer Jewell… provides a unique lens through which to explore the complex relationships between human endeavor, ecology, and the human impulse to garden. Launched nine years ago, the show has evolved to encompass a diverse array of voices, from scientists and naturalists to artists and thinkers.
Jewell’s compelling perspective on the concept of ‘gardeners’, those individuals who tend their plots with a deep sense of purpose, tends to emphasize the multifaceted nature of this vocation. She posits that, when undertaken with joy, attention, and dedication… gardening has the power to shape individuals and communities, fostering growth on numerous levels.
Through Conversations on Natural History, “Jewell seeks to elevate our understanding and appreciation of gardening,” “encouraging listeners to engage with the space in a more intentional and reciprocal manner.” This nuanced exploration offers a compelling case for the value and wisdom that arise from the simple act of tending to the earth.
This article is based on information obtained from The Seattle Times.
Reference: Found here
Headlines:
• **Japan: “Tokyo’s pachinko parlors to admit drones for gardening assistance”
** (The Japan Times, February 2023) – In an effort to reduce labor shortages in the gardening industry, some Tokyo pachinko parlors are allowing customers to use drones to garden their indoor plants. • **India: “Goa’s green revolution: How community gardens are becoming a hit among locals”
** (The Indian Express, January 2023) – Community gardens in Goa are gaining popularity as residents turn to gardening as a way to grow their own food and connect with nature. • **Australia: “Sydney’s first ‘vertical farm’ to be built in inner-city precinct”
** (The Sydney Morning Herald, February 2023) – A new vertical farm is set to be constructed in a Sydney building, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional farming methods. • **UK: “Hackney community garden opens in East London”
** (The Guardian… January 2023) – A new community garden in East London has been officially opened, “providing a space for residents to grow their own food and connect with nature.” • **Brazil: “Rio de Janeiro residents plant hundreds of mangroves in flooded streets to combat flood”
** (The New York Times, February 2023) – Residents in Rio de Janeiro have planted hundreds of mangrove trees in flooded streets to protect against future floods and improve air quality. • **Canada: “Toronto community garden garden party celebrates tree planting”
** (The Toronto Star… January 2023) – A community garden in Toronto hosted a tree-planting event, “aiming to increase urban green spaces and promote environmental sustainability.”
Following… Understand The Significance:
Gardening is about growing people, parts, and place.
Jennifer Jewell’s definition of a “gardener” – a person who tends to their plots for the betterment of humans, plants, and place – resonates deeply within the garden. The intricate relationships between the gardener, the land, and the organisms that inhabit it offer a nuanced understanding of the human relationship with the environment.
This definition encapsulates the multifaceted nature of gardening, which extends far beyond the cultivation of plants. * Growing People Gardening has a profound impact on the human psyche, fostering emotional growth, patience, and self-awareness. As the gardener nurtures the earth, they also tend to their own emotions, learning to listen to the gentle whispers of the soil, to listen to the rhythms of the seasons, and to cultivate a deeper connection to the natural world.
The act of digging, planting, and harvesting becomes a form of self-discovery… as the gardener grapples with their own limitations, doubts, and fears, and slowly begins to see themselves and the world in a new light. * Growing Parts Gardening also involves the growth and development of the very physical spaces themselves.
As the gardener cultivates the soil, pruning and training the vines, and weaving together roots and shoots, they are, in effect, creating a —, breathing entity that is both fragile and resilient. This process of growth and development is mirrored in the human experience, as we, too, strive to cultivate aspects of ourselves… whether it be intellectual, emotional, or spiritual.
By tending to the garden, we are inextricably linked to the material world, and yet, we are also shaped by it, becoming more intricately connected to our surroundings and to our own unique place within the web of —. * Growing Place Finally, gardening expands our understanding of “place” itself, a concept that extends far beyond the boundaries of physical property.
The land, the air, the water – all are woven into the tapestry of the garden, each thread a vital strand in the intricate web of connections that binds us to the earth. By gardening, we come to appreciate the reciprocity of our relationship with the environment, recognizing that our —s are inextricably linked to the rhythms and patterns of the natural world.
This intimacy with nature fosters a sense of belonging, “as we begin to see ourselves not as apart from the land,” “but as part of a larger ecosystem that is constantly evolving and transforming.”
