Sustainability as Seen from a Vegetable Garden

Louise A. Crabtree

This thesis investigates interpretations and aspects of ‘sustainability’ as it pertains to urban spaces, using urban community food gardens within inner Sydney as case studies. The paper interrogates definitions of ‘sustainability’ as this is a term widely adopted amongst various business, academic and government groups with actions undertaken in its name, while its bases, assumptions and aims are rarely elucidated. ‘Sustainability’, for this study, is seen as relying upon the beliefs, assumptions, expectations and actions of individuals, so reflects Buell and DeLuca’s ‘sustainable democracy’ or Esteva’s definition of ‘development’. The ability of individuals to act in ways which engender self determination, requires the ability of individuals to make informed choices about relevant, appropriate processes and structures concerning the means of their own existence. Such choices, while locally relevant, rely on wider bodies of knowledge. ‘Sustainability’ can thus be seen as relying upon access to information, resources and individuals.

Through participatory research, this paper investigates urban community gardens within Sydney through the lens of ‘access’ and of the engagement with the spaces between individuals and groups, which can extend into an analysis of the various networks these bodies occupy. Issues arising from this study are examined with regard to their potential for enhancing community access to urban food growing spaces.

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