Abstract
Streetside gardening is an informal, resident-initiated activity undertaken in dense urban areas in many cities globally. We use the term convivial greenstreets (CG) to connote yardless city streets with a high incidence of residents engaged in neighborly, and potentially socially transformative, horticulture along sidewalks and facades. Our investigations in select western European and U.S. cities suggest that measurable social and ecological benefits may be found where CGs are most intense. To better understand the spatial distribution and urban morphology associated with CGs, our inquiry spanned several phases. First, we located and inventoried CGs in a dozen European cities. From this we devised a greenstreets typology based on land use, street morphology, horticulture density, and related on-site activities. We then selected neighborhoods in Delft, The Netherlands and Philadelphia, USA in formulating a GIS-based Convivial Greenstreet Intensity (CGI) index to provide a consistent method for mapping and comparing CG metrics between cities. And most recently, we conducted questionnaire surveys in two Philadelphia neighborhoods to assess CG gardener practices and compile resident and passersby opinions on the phenomenon. What is emerging is a picture of a spontaneous and pan-urban ecology that appears to provide many benefits with relatively few drawbacks. We conclude by suggesting that CGs may be contributing to the reconciliation of civil society and natural processes in these neighborhoods, and recommending them for further inquiry in urban policy, ecology and sociology.
Presenters
Ken TammingaDistinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture, Penn State University, Pennsylvania, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2023 Special Focus—Human/Nature: Toward A Reconciliation
KEYWORDS
Greenstreets, Urban Ecology, Socialization, Conviviality, Sustainability, Gardening, Civil Society, Streetscape
